St. Padre Pio Pocket Rosary Chaplet

- Catholic One-Decade Prayer Beads, San Damiano Cross -

This pocket rosary chaplet is dedicated to St. Padre Pio, the patron of stress relief, winter blues, adolescents, and civil defense volunteers. He was a Franciscan most of his life, from the age of 15, and was known for his experience of the stigmata. This one-decade chaplet was designed with dark rosewood beads, a nicely detailed base-metal holy medal (made in Italy), black onyx rounds, and a lovely Crucifix of San Damiano (made in Italy).
 

The chaplet also includes:
• TierraCast rhodium plated bead caps
• Sterling silver rondelle spacers
• Sterling silver heavy-duty crimps
• Large sterling silver crimp cover
• TierraCast silver plated oval jump rings
• Sterling silver wire guards
• High-quality 49-strand beading wire

All of the above were made in the USA except the sterling rondelle spacers, which were made in Italy. The length of the pocket rosary is approximately 10.75 inches, including the medal (1 inch) and crucifix (1.5 inches). The bracelet also comes with a complimentary holy card, which is shown in one of my shop photos on Etsy. I purchased that, the holy medal, and the San Damiano crucifix at the National Shrine of Our Lady of LaSalette in Massachusetts. The shrine is a beautiful place of peace and contemplation.

The pocket rosary's earthy wooden beads remind us of St. Pio's life as a Franciscan priest. They deepen the meaning of this devotional aid, which I designed with care, thought, and best wishes. It comes ready for gifting.

A BRIEF WORD ABOUT ST. PADRE PIO
One of the most popular saints in the world today, Padre Pio lived most of his 81 years in the 20th century; thus, like St Theresa of Calcutta, he was a person who saw the advance of the modern world. He became a Franciscan friar when only 15, and several years later was ordained as priest. His experience of the stigmata, which was widely witnessed, is one outstanding mark of this saint. His formal saint's name is St. Pio of Pietrelcina, and he is patron of civil defense volunteers, adolescents, stress relief, and winter blues.

ABOUT THE CRUCIFIX OF SAN DAMIANO
The design of this crucifix is based on the rood cross at the church of San Damiano near Assisi, Italy. It was in prayer before the San Damiano cross that St. Francis was instructed by Jesus to rebuild the church, which had been abandoned and allowed to deteriorate. St. Francis felt both a physical and an emotional transformation from this spiritual experience, and as a renewed man, did as Jesus commanded. The rebuilding of San Damiano became the physical counterpart of the self's interior reconstruction, the Franciscan vocation to discover one's genuine self in Christ. Compassion, mercy, love, acceptance, forgiveness, and the recognition of the worth and dignity of all people are the key elements of this personal reflection of Christ. The cross of San Damiano reminds us of these spiritual qualities and the importance of striving to imitate Jesus as we rebuild our interior lives and help rebuild the greater community, or house, of God. It is a spiritual challenge for all.

This style of crucifix is classed as an icon cross because along with Jesus it portrays various saints and figures of the crucifixion scene. The Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Saint John, and the Roman centurion who asked Jesus to heal his son flank the torso of Jesus. Above the crucified figure, the risen Christ is depicted leaving his tomb and ascending to heaven. More figures are depicted in the original cross in San Damiano.

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St. Rita Rosary Bracelet, Catholic Chaplet

Patron Saint of the Impossible, Abuse Victims & More

This St. Rita rosary bracelet is a meaningful chaplet dedicated to the patron saint of impossible causes, abuse victims, heartbroken women, widows, marriage problems, and more. It combines an Italian medal, white pearls, rosewood beads, pewter roses, and light green crystals in a sweet and elegant devotional piece. It is designed as a Catholic niner, a chaplet with three trios of prayer beads, which here are represented by two sets of wooden beads and a central set of two white pearls flanking a large round crystal bead.

The Italian medal is base metal and nicely detailed, showing the saint receiving a wound of Christ's Passion. The pearls and crystals are from Swarovski. These are sparkling beads that really catch the light! The rosewood beads have visible grain and remind me of beads that were used in vintage rosaries. The rose pewter beads are lovely additions, inspired by the legend of a rose blooming in winter when St. Rita was on her deathbead. The rose symbol also relates to her stigmata. To learn more, please see my "About" section below.

This rosary bracelet also includes the following:
• Sterling silver petaled bead caps  
• Antiqued rose charm with bloom and leaves
• TierraCast silver-plated daisy spacers and jump rings • Sterling silver twist crimps and wire guards
• Silver plate lobster clasp • Silver-tone extender chain • High-quality 49-strand beading wire

All these components were made in the USA except the chain and the antiqued rose charm. The length here is approximately 7.25 inches, with the extender chain adding another inch. Attached to the extender is a dangle of three beads, which represents the Holy Trinity.

This St. Rita Catholic chaplet with pearls, crystals, and rosewood was handmade by me with care, thought, and best wishes for its destined owner. It comes wrapped in a nice organza bag, all set for gifting. This is a lovely, meaningful bracelet for anyone who desires the patronage of this saint and finds hope and consolation in her.

ABOUT ST. RITA
An Italian saint, Rita was born Margherita Lotti in 1381. She was 76 when she died of tuberculosis in 1457. As a child, Rita developed a love of religious life and wanted desperately to enter a convent. Her parents had other ideas for her, though, and when she was only 12, they married her off to Paolo Mancini, who was much older. A man of violent temper, with many enemies, he quickly became an abusive and unfaithful husband. However, after a time, with Rita's help, Paolo realized he had to change and worked to become a better person and loving spouse. Years later, he fell victim to a feud between the Mancini family and Chiqui clan, and was betrayed and murdered by an ally. His sons sought to avenge him, but Rita, in dismay, begged God to take them into heaven so they would not commit the mortal sin of murder. Both sons died of an illness one year later.

St. Rita tried to enter an Augustinian convent in Cascia, but the town blocked her path, fearing that her entry would invite danger from the continuing Mancini family feud. Rita prayed for help. Again her prayers were answered in the form of an illness, this time the bubonic plague, which infected the Mancini family head and led him to end the feud. Now 36, Rita could finally fulfill her childhood dream and embark on a monastic life.

When she was 60, St. Rita experienced a sacred wounding to her forehead that resembled the piercing of a thorn—a phenomenon considered a partial form of stigmata. She had requested the wound from God because she longed to feel the pain of Christ's Passion. The cut never healed and later became an attribute of the saint, who is often shown with a head wound in religious pictures of her.

Another attribute, the rose, has a deathbed story attached to it. As she lay dying of tuberculosis, Rita asked for a rose from the garden of her former home. Although it was winter, a single rose was discovered and given to her. As a matter of note, bees are also an attribute of this saint, sourced from a legend in which Rita, when only an infant, was swarmed by white bees, who entered her mouth and then flew off, leaving her unharmed.

St. Rita is regarded as the patroness of the impossible. She is also the patron saint of abuse victims, heartbroken women, widows, sterility, marriage problems, parenthood, the sick, the wounded, and those with physical handicaps. Some people believe she is the patron saint of baseball too.

Interestingly, she was declared an incorruptible by the fifteenth-century Catholic Church after three exhumations over several years revealed no sign of physical deterioration. Today, her body is exposed in its glass casket at her beautiful basilica in Cascia. The feast day of this special saint is May 22.

To see more PrettyGonzo jewelry, please see the Etsy link below.

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Our Lady of Fatima Rosary Chaplet Bracelet
- Catholic Niner, Religious Jewelry Prayer Beads -

This lovely Our Lady of Fatima chaplet bracelet is handmade from blue sponge quartz gemstones, white pearls, Austrian crystals, and an Italian-made holy medal. A "niner" chaplet, it is designed around three trios of prayer beads, which here are represented by the blue quartz. These are delicately colored faceted gemstone rounds with light blue shading. Accompanying them are the white pearls, which are from Swarovski (made in Austria), and sparkly crystal bicones, also from Swarovski. The holy medal shows the Blessed virgin Mary revealing herself to the three Portuguese peasant children—Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta—at Fatima. This is a nicely detailed base-metal piece, with a simple cross and rose on the reverse side.

The bracelet is designed with three trios of quartz, each bead of which is nestled between beautiful sterling silver petalled bead caps (made in the USA). Within the trios, the beads are separated by single pearls; and between each trio is a larger crystal bicone flanked by a split pair of smaller bicones. On each end of the bracelet strand, the chaplet is finished off with a small bicone and pearl, a sterling silver twist crimp between TierraCast daisy spacers, and a sterling silver wireguard. The crimps secure the chaplet's high-quality 49-strand beading wire, and the wireguards help to prevent abrasion of the wire. The daisy spacers, beading wire, and sterling silver finishing components were all made in the USA.

The chaplet is approximately 7 1/4 inches in its basic length and its extender chain adds an extra inch. At the end of the chain, I added a decorative dangle to symbolize the Holy Trinity. It holds a Swarovski blue quartz bead, with a smaller crystal at the top and the bottom. The pearl is bordered with a split pair of daisy spacers.

This inspirational Our Lady of Fatima adjustable chaplet bracelet with blue sponge quartz, white pearls, and Austrian crystals was handmade by me with care, thought, and best wishes for its destined wearer and user. It comes wrapped in a nice organza bag, all set for gifting to someone who will appreciate its beautiful meaning—perhaps yourself! It is a sweet, inspirational bracelet of Catholic prayer beads, designed for Marian devotion.
 

Note About the Holy Medal and Complimentary Holy Card

I purchased the Our Lady of Fatima holy medal at La Salette Shrine in Massachusetts, a beautiful meditative place. While there, I also purchased the lovely laminated holy card shown in one of my photographs. The card comes as a complimentary extra with the chaplet bracelet.

About Nine-Bead Chaplets

A nine-bead chaplet (often called a "niner") facilitates a simple and easily remembered form of spiritual devotion. Its conventional prayer pattern is three recitations of each of the following prayers: "Our Father," "Hail Mary," and "Glory Be." The trios of each prayer correspond to the trios of the prayer beads.

Having a chaplet as a bracelet is nice because it easily goes with you, right on your wrist, and can act as reminder of spiritual practice as well as a helper with that practice. It can be used for any form of good intention—such as offering thanksgiving, reflecting on penance, or petitioning divine assistance for oneself or others—or simply as a "time out" of life's busy flow to engage in personal meditation. 

To see more PrettyGonzo jewelry, including more chaplet bracelets, please visit my Etsy shop via link below.

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St. Anthony of Padua Rosary Chaplet Bracelet

- Patron Saint of Lost/Stolen Items, Niner Prayer Beads -

Dedicated to St. Anthony, this rosary bracelet features tiger's eye beads, glossy white pearls, sparkly golden-hued crystals, and an Italian holy medal. A "niner" chaplet, it is designed around three trios of prayer beads, here represented by the tiger's eye. These gemstone beads have a beautiful sheen, with dark to light color variations. The white pearls are from Swarovski, as are the sparkling crystals, which are "Metallic Sunshine" in hue. The holy medal shows St. Anthony in his iconic aspect, holding the Child Jesus. This is a nicely detailed base-metal piece that, on the back, presents a lovely image of St. Francis of Assisi, who was instrumental in St. Anthony's life.

Also included in this Catholic chaplet bracelet are the following:

• TierraCast silver-plated daisy spacers
• Sterling silver twist crimps
• Sterling silver wireguards
• High-quality 49-strand beading wire
• TierraCast silver-plated oval jumprings
• Silver-plated 12mm lobster clasp
• Silver-tone one-inch extender chain

All of these components were made in the USA except the extender chain. The latter extends by an inch the chaplet's basic length of 7.25 inches. At the very end of the chain, I added a three-bead dangle that symbolizes the Holy Trinity.

An inspirational and meaningful Catholic meditation aid, this St. Anthony niner chaplet was handmade by me with care, thought, and best wishes for its destined user. It comes wrapped in a pretty organza bag, all set for gifting to someone special—perhaps yourself! Please note that the holy card in my photo is a complimentary extra, purchased by me at La Salette Shrine in Massachusetts, a lovely place of peace and prayer. 

ABOUT SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA
The patron saint of lost and stolen articles, St. Anthony was noted in life for his humility of manner yet power of speech and conviction: he was a highly respected and popular teacher. Born in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1195, he began his religious studies in the order of St. Augustine when still a teenager, and was ordained a priest when in his 20s. Inspired by the martyrdom of several Franciscan brothers in Morocco, Anthony then decided to become a Franciscan. However, his plans to continue the order's missionary work in northern Africa were derailed by illness and a near-shipwreck at sea. He ended up in Italy, where he was cared for by Franciscan monks. At age 27, his talent for public speaking and preaching was discovered when, at a large gathering of friars, the others shied away from delivering a sermon and he stepped in. Although Anthony preferred religious seclusion, once his gifts were known, he was assigned to the public life of a preacher.

Anthony lived as he taught, in poverty, and this was impressive and moving to people. Eventually, he was appointed a higher role, acting as a superior in Italy's northern province; thus developed his association with Padua, which is near Venice. His Lenten sermons became so popular, they attracted immense crowds of thousands of worshippers. These could exhaust him, and in time, after a particularly intensive Lenten season, he became exhausted and ill. Shortly thereafter, he died, at the young age of 36. A series of miracles at his tomb in the year following his death prompted Pope Gregory IX to declare him a saint.

St. Anthony became associated with the recovery of lost and stolen articles because of a well-known incident in his life. When teaching, he often used a beloved psalter that he had annotated with work notes; thus, there was quite a crisis when the book went missing. His prayers for its return were soon answered, though. The thief—a monastic novice who had decided to leave the order—not only returned the psalter but resumed his religious studies at the monastery. Always a celebrated by the Church, today St. Anthony is one of the most popular saints in Catholic hagiography. 

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Immaculate Heart of Mary Rosary Bracelet

- Catholic Prayer Beads, Devotional Niner Chaplet -

Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, this rosary bracelet features a lovely Blessed Virgin holy medal, blue quartz rounds, and a combination of white pearls and pink crystals. The holy medal is Italian-made from base metal and is nicely detailed. The blue quartz is eye-catching and represents the robe of the Holy Mother. The white pearls and pink crystals are from Swarovski and bring a light gloss and sparkle to the whole chaplet.

Also included are the following:

• Sterling silver round beads (made in USA)
• TierraCast spacers and jump rings (made in USA)
• One-inch silver extender chain
• 49-strand beading wire (made in USA)
• Sterling twist crimps and wire guards (made in USA)
• Complimentary holy card (made in Italy)
• Silver plated lobster clasp

To the extender chain is added a three-bead dangle representing the Holy Trinity. The basic length of the chaplet is 7.5 inches.

I purchased the medal at the Shrine of the Little Flower in Nasonville, RI. The shrine was founded in 1923, shortly after St. Theresa of Lisieux was beatified. It is the first shrine dedicated to this saint in the US, and is a beautiful place of peace and contemplation. As for the card, it is from Mount St. Mary's Abbey in Wrentham, MA. The abbey houses a community of Trappistine nuns in a peaceful, meditative environment. It is a very special place!

This lovely and meaningful 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 a Marian devotee or anyone who appreciates the sweet and touching image of the Holy Mother Mary. As with all my rosary bracelets, making this piece was also a meditation on my mother, who loved the rosary and would have been especially delighted by one dedicated to the Blessed Virgin.

About the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The symbol of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a human heart in flames, with a circlet of roses around it and rays of spiritual light emanating from it. Sometimes a piercing sword is also included. The devotion to this aspect of the Virgin Mary focuses on love—her love for Jesus, her love for God, and her compassion for humanity. The icon showing the Virgin pointing to her exposed heart reminds us of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which also focuses on love, particularly Christ's divine love for humanity.

The devotion to the Heart of Mary originated in medieval times. During World War II, Pope Pius XII consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart in a spiritual effort to protect humanity from complete destruction.

About Nine-Bead Chaplets
A nine-bead chaplet (often called a "niner") facilitates a simple and easily remembered form of spiritual devotion. Its conventional prayer pattern is three recitations of each of the following prayers: "Our Father," "Hail Mary," and "Glory Be." The trios of each prayer correspond to the trios of the prayer beads. Having a chaplet as a bracelet is nice because it easily goes with you, right on your wrist, and can act as reminder of spiritual practice as well as a helper with that practice. It can be used for any form of good intention - such as offering thanksgiving, reflecting on penance, or petitioning divine assistance for oneself or others - or simply as a "time out" of life's busy flow to engage in personal meditation.

To visit my PrettyGonzo shop on Etsy, please use the link below!

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Our Lady of Guadalupe Rosary Bracelet
- Catholic Niner Chaplet -

This chaplet bracelet, dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, is handmade from turquoise howlite rounds, Swarovski crystal bicones, and a silver-toned holy medal. A "niner" chaplet, it is designed around three trios of prayer beads, which are represented by the howlite beads. The colors of the crystal bicones are red-orange "Fire Opal" and light gold "Metallic Sunshine." The red-orange crystals echo the mandorla of sacred light around Our Lady of Guadalupe and add to the vivid color of the chaplet. The light gold crystals lend a beautiful starry sparkle.

The holy medal presents Our Lady on one side and the Baby Jesus on the other. The inscription for Our Lady is in Spanish and reads "Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe." The inscription for the Baby Jesus, also in Spanish, is "Divino Niño de Colombia." Also included is a rose charm to signify the miracle of the Castilian roses associated with Our Lady of Guadalupe and a three-bead dangle to represent the Holy Trinity. The basic length is 7 inches, with an inch-long chain extender for adjustment to a larger size. 

This inspirational and meaningful rosary chaplet was handmade by me with great care, thought, and best wishes for its destined wearer. It comes with a complimentary holy card in a pretty organza bag and wrapped up nicely, all set for presenting to a devotee of Our Lady of Guadalupe—perhaps yourself!

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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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