I was thinking the other day about how I came to be a rosary maker. I grew up in the protestant church and anything Catholic was looked upon with skepticism. Simply put, we didn't understand the meaning of or need for the rituals and rites of Catholicism. Ironically, I realized that many of the people I knew and admired for their moral character were Catholic. When my oldest sibling, who had joined the Catholic Church, invited me to attend
RCIA at her parish I saw it as an opportunity to answer some questions. I was hesitant but decided to check it out. I wanted to know if all that I had heard regarding Catholic belief was true. I wanted to know if Catholicism had anything to do with forming the character of the people I looked up to. I also wanted to know if what I had come to believe about God was compatible with their beliefs. They explained with clarity and simplicity the Catholic beliefs. Questions about my own faith became clear when explained through their understanding of the Scriptures. I felt like I had come home at last. To make a long story short, I joined the Catholic Church.
One of the most important parts of Catholic life is The Mass. I love The Mass. I love its order and beauty. I love how it follows a logical path that explains how the church came to be. I love that it helps us to understand how the church is still evolving and how we as part of the church are also growing and evolving. Most of all, I love how it gently and kindly reminds us of God's love for us. That is what drove me to want to be more Christian and to live a more Christian life. Searching to learn more, I learned that the church has Orders which follow a particular characteristic of Christ. That led me to
Discalced Carmelite Order. This Order follows the charisim of comtemplative prayer. Being a
Carmelite is not a way of being a bigger and better Christian. It is simply a way to live as a Christian by practicing the
charism of
contemplative prayer. A prayer of quietly being with God here and now. Praying the rosary, for me, is a way to quietly gaze on God. To contemplate the life Jesus led and what that means for us as Christians.
The quiet beauty of this prayer and the beauty of creation come together in a rosary. It is a simple string of beads crafted by combining the splendid elements of nature, stone and metal, seed and fiber. It guides your fingers and your thoughts through the mysteries of Our Lord's life. It brings peace to your life and lifts your soul to the Creator. Making rosaries is my way of sharing this joy with others.
