The post I made the other day about "Catholic" jewelry and my reasons for wearing the jewelry that I do and those reasons having to do with my relationship with Jesus and what He has called me to do in my life and not Mary-worship or other superstitious stuff, sparked a conversation on the Catholic Spitfire Grill. The conversation was a good mix of those who fessed up to thinking (or formerly thinking) that those who wore distinctively Catholic jewelry often did so for idolatrous or superstitious reasons and many of us shared the various ways that wearing medals has assisted us with prayer and meditation in our very diverse lives. Eventually the conversation worked it's way around to those rosaries hanging from "our" rearview mirrors.
And I confessed to having a real issue with rearview mirror rosaries and rosaries worn as jewelry. Now you see there is ALL sorts of judgmentalism out there and the kind that leads to assuming that our brothers and sisters in Christ are superstitious and idolatrous because it is obvious from the jewelry they wear is not any less bad than my judgmentalism that leans toward assuming that rosaries hanging from necks or rear view mirrors are primarily decoration and not being used as objects of prayer. The Spitfire Grill members had lovely stories about the ways their rosaries hanging from rear view mirrors or from their necks act as a call to prayer for them. As visible or tactile reminders to ask for God's help in the problems of our everyday lives, for the big problems and the small ones. Sometimes they are rosaries or medals given to us by special people in our lives that remind us to pray for them. There are lots of very good reasons for this practice.
I knew all of that before….really I did….and I try very hard NOT to be judgmental about rosaries hanging from rearview mirrors but I still don't like them there. Especially the cheap plastic rosary that my husband insists on hanging from his rearview mirror on the flimsy grounds that my daughter made it for him. I am praying for an early death due to sun rot. Just sign me up for the bad mommy award……
And remember God looks on the heart not the outward appearance. What appears superstitious and trivial on the outside may carry very important meaning to someone else so let's all cut one another some slack.
More on the Rosary
3 responses so far ↓
1 ukok // May 14, 2008 at 2:27 am
I have a rosary hanging from my rear view mirror for a few reasons, but primarily it’s because
a) it prompts me to pray when I am sitting idly in the car in traffic or waiting for the kids to come out of school. I look at the crucifix and I am ‘bought’ back to Jesus….I become complacent throughout the day and the rosary dangling from rear view mirror can be a reminder to me to bring my life back to Jesus in the busyness of my life.
b)I have a Crucifix in nearly every room of my house, why would my car, an extension of my home in many ways (because I spend so long in it), be any different? I don’t have Crucifixes up because I’m holier than you, I have them up because….well ‘c’ will nicely conclude what I’m trying to say…
c) They are visible reminders of an inward faith.
You might have a bumper sticker or some other symbol of faith in/on your car or you might wear one on your person, it is basically a statement of faith saying ‘this is what I believe in’…and who knows how many conversations it may prompt from non Catholics? I have had conversations about my car rosary with non Catholics, I see it as an opening for evangelism, a quiet and relatively unobtrusive evangelism.
It’s no bad thing at all, not by a long shot.
2 Sister Spitfire // May 14, 2008 at 7:00 am
you are absolutely right Ukok, there are many good reasons to have a rosary hanging from a rear view mirror. I truly and honestly know that….I accept with love and charity those who choose to have rosaries hanging from their rear view mirrors. (I just don’t like it….sorry….I am probably hopeless!) Blessings!
3 Leticia Velasquez // May 14, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Rosaries worn around the neck are often related to gangs, and thus are forbidden in certain places, ie jails, and high schools. Very sad.
I don’t wear one, but I do have a rosaryfrom the rearview mirror for the same reason as Ukok. It also reminds me to treat other drivers with charity. It’s a lot harder to cuss at someone when you’re looking at a rosary!
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