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Why is a string of prayer beads called a rosary?

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A rosery or rosarium was quite simply a rose garden. Roses had religious significance in ancient Greece and Egypt, but Roman excesses with the use of roses caused these flowers to fall out of favor. Even during the Dark Ages, though, roses had been kept and studied, but did not return to favor until the rose was linked to Mary. The rose became the symbol of joy and Mary was sometimes referred to as the Mystical Rose.
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Father Junipero Serra (killerPlants Tendril 7)
Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com

Early Christians adopted a practice dating to early Hinduism and Buddhism; the practice of using beads as an aid in prayers and meditations. A string of 150 beads helped monks keep track of their daily recitation of the Psalms. During the Middle Ages, monasteries were the seats of education and the practice of herbal medicine. Monasteries were also the location of most rose gardens—the monks had the time to tend the rose bushes and the garden provided a place of meditation and prayer. The strings of beads were made of anything that would serve the purpose—stones, rose hips, rosebuds, seeds, and wood.

Somewhere, someone discovered that rose petals could be used to make beads. It may have been a medicinal recipe gone awry or they may have had their origins in ancient Rome when many foods included rose petals. But rose beads often retain their fragrance and the crafting of rose beads may have been an uplifting experience. Roses, rosariums, and memory stimulated by fragrance, rose beads became one of the methods that helped people remember their prayers and the simple string of beads became the rosary.

If you wish to make rosary or simply a unique necklace of rose beads, you can find recipes for beads at:

http://www.nfobase.com/html/rose_beads.html

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~6~~7~~8~~9~~10~~

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens

Springhill Nursery®

Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

Complete Rose Garden

Springhill Nursery®

Nothing can compare with a professional Rose Garden to provide your home with the ultimate in floral beauty. For this collection we have blended together eight distinctive Hybrid Tea Roses with three outstanding Climbing Roses. By planting them where they will be on display all through the summer, you'll add instant charm to your landscape and have a host of gorgeous roses to fill your home with elegant bouquets day after day.

Each of the varieties in this exceptional Rose Garden is a delight in itself, but when planted together they create a display of special grandeur. The three Climbing Roses create an especially clever color harmony—crimson red, pink-red and a bright yellow, double flowering rose. Planted together, the canes intertwine to create what appears to be a tricolored Rose—the delightful illusion of three colors on a single plant.

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[More Gardens...]

Double Delight^TM
Hybrid Tea Rose

Springhill Nursery®

This American favorite has received many awards, beginning with All-America honors in 1977. Unusual blossoms start out creamy white and turn cherry red. Spicy-scented 5½" flowers throughout the season. Grows 3½-4' high. Click here for $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!
[Dazzling Rose Collection]

Super Sub-Zero Rose Collection

Springhill Nursery®

Bred in New England by the noted hybridizer Dr. Herbert Brownell, these classic Hybrid Teas are hardy to -15°F without protection. They survive the cold and return with vigor, increasing in size and productivity each year. Sub-Zero Roses offer a bounty of 4-5" flowers with a delightful perfume. They're also resistant to most common rose troubles. Click here for $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery! [More Roses...]