Our Lady of Perpetual Help Niner Rosary
- Catholic Chaplet Bracelet - 

Dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, this chaplet bracelet features an Italian holy medal, Swarovski pearls and crystals, and gold-toned accent beads. The medal is nicely detailed, with the prayer "Protect Us" on the back. I particularly love how the Blessed Virgin Mary protectively holds the Baby Jesus as two angels present symbols of the crucifixation.

The spiritual image is based on the famous 15th-century icon of the Holy Mother and Child, originally painted in Crete, and beloved for its suggestion of the Blessed Virgin as the heavenly mother of us all. For this chaplet, I chose beads that reflect the colors of the restored icon, mainly gold, dark blue (for Mary's mantle) and red (for Mary's dress). Some versions of the imagery lighten the blue. In fact, the complimentary holy card that comes with the chaplet shows a much lighter mantle. But I wanted to accord with the original.

The jewelry design is based on the traditional niner style of three sets of three prayer beads. The main bead set presents a large blue pearl between a pair of gold pearls and flanked by small dark blue crystals (4mm bicones). Daisy spacers are used between each of these beads. Separating the three bead sets is a combination of a red crystal bicone (6mm) bordered by split pairs of gold-colored seed beads.

As with all my religious bracelets, making this piece was also a meditation on my mother, who loved the rosary and would have especially been delighted by this and any chaplet bracelet dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

This lovely and meaningful Our Lady of Perpetual Help chaplet bracelet was handmade by me with great care, thought, and best wishes for its destined wearer. It comes in a pretty organza bag, wrapped and ready for giving to someone special, including yourself! It would make a wonderful gift for a Marion devotee or for anyone who appreciates the powerful image of the Holy Mother.

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