Curiosities
The Anatomy of a Rosary
Fifty-nine beads
A standard five-decade rosary has fifty-nine beads. The loop holds fifty small beads for the Hail Marys, in five groups of ten, separated by larger beads for the Our Father. From a central medal hangs a short pendant: a crucifix, one large bead, three small beads and another large bead. In all there are fifty-three small beads and six large ones. Going around the loop once is one 'part' of the Rosary, five mysteries.
Each part has its prayer. On the crucifix one makes the Sign of the Cross and says the Apostles' Creed; on the first large bead, an Our Father; on the three small beads, three Hail Marys, traditionally for faith, hope and charity; then the Glory Be. Each decade begins with an Our Father and ends with the Glory Be, often followed by the Fátima prayer, and the Hail, Holy Queen closes the whole. Rosaries have been made of wood, seeds, bone, glass, crystal and gold.