Rosaries - Types and Styles

Rosaries - Types and Styles
By Anthony J Valentine
Are you looking for the right baptism gift? Well what better then a nice, silver rosary. Silver rosaries are fantastic gifts for anyone following the religion. Wear it, display it, you name it. Most people now of says will use the rosary as a display till it's time to use in prayer. But others, usually the more religious people, will wear it around, and pray on a daily basis.
You can find rosaries of all different types. Like stated above, a silver rosary is a fantastic type, and is one of the better of it's kind. Other than silver, you can find wood rosaries, plastic, pearl, diamond, gold, and much much more. When it comes to material, rosaries can pretty much have it all.
Rosaries come in all different types as well. The most common type would be, of course the necklace. But little did you know, they also come in rings, bracelets, and much more. Depending on what you like, you can get. If you'd rather a ring, you can get a ring. If your more of a bracelet type of person, then you can get a bracelet. Necklaces are more common then anything and usually have more to offer then the other versions of the rosary.

When it comes to displaying a silver rosary, you must take care of it. your rosary must be important to you and stay in good shape. Keep your rosary mounted where pets, or siblings can not get to. When it's time to use the rosary you can take it down from your mount.
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Looking For the Right Baptism Gift?

Looking For the Right Baptism Gift?
By Anthony J Valentine
Looking for the right baptism gift? Baptism gifts are hard to find and tough to choose. When looking for the right gift there's a lot to take into consideration. How old is the person you are giving the gift to? How seriously is this person going to take the religion?
Most people who get baptized get baptized when they are very young, but it is possible to get it done at any age. Gifts can be tough when it comes to something like this. There are many great gifts that are great gifts for people who get baptized. One of the most common gift for a baptism is a rosary.
Getting a rosary when baptized is very common, and you are suppose to hold onto your rosary for the rest of your life. As a part of the religion you are to use the rosary to pray and study the religion. It's great to have and its a fantastic gift for a newly baptized person.
Other than a rosary gifts such as bracelets, necklaces, crucifixes, crosses and anything of that nature are all really good gifts. When I got baptized I was just a little boy and my grandma gave me a rosary which I still have till this day. I am now 21 years old and use the rosary on a weekly basis. My mother gave me a gold necklace and crucifix which I've taken off a total of 10 times. I love my gold cross and necklace more than anything and take it off on rare occasions.
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Why the Virgin Mary Matters in Spiritual Life

Why the Virgin Mary Matters in Spiritual Life

By Arthur R Policarpio

Is the Blessed Virgin Mary "necessary" in spiritual life?

For Catholics, the answer is a clear, resounding YES. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is an integral part of the Catholic Faith. Together with belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, devotion to the Blessed Virgin is what clearly differentiates the Catholic from non-Catholics.

And yet, should devotion to the Virgin Mary be the exclusive domain of Catholics? Or is this a precious spiritual heritage that Jesus left not just for Catholics - but for everyone, including our non-Catholic brethren?

It is interesting to note that an increasing trend currently is the conversion of so many previously high-profile non-Catholics to the Catholic Faith. Fierce attackers of devotion to the Virgin Mary during their non-Catholic days, these non-Catholic converts, upon converting to Catholicism, ironically end up the fiercest defenders of devotion to the Virgin Mary. In fact, many of these converts attribute their conversion to the intercession of the Virgin Mary.

One such convert is Steve Ray, a prominent Catholic convert who previously tried almost the entire spectrum of various sects - Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Fundamentalist, Evangelical, etc. Eventually, he found true meaning and happiness upon progressively reading book upon book, especially those by early Church fathers.

Interestingly, Steve Ray notes that their decision to enter the Church was on January 1st, the Feast of the great Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Nowadays, Steve Ray spends his time defending the Catholic Faith, through talks, seminars, and even appearances in prominent global channels such as EWTN.

Why the need for the Virgin Mary in our spiritual life?

The answer lies in the example of Jesus. Our Lord Jesus could have come to the world through a multitude of means. He could have come in a cloud of glory, in a blazing chariot. He could have parted the seas, and appeared in the middle of the parted waters in all his glory. Or He could have simply just materialized out of thin air.

And yet, the clear, undeniable fact is that Jesus chose to come to our world through the Virgin Mary. This is a clear fact that simply cannot be denied. Jesus came to our world through Mary. Is it not proper, therefore, for all of us to go to Jesus through the same way - through Mary?

Moreover, Jesus spent 90% of His entire life in the company of Mary - He spent thirty years with Mary in His undocumented "hidden life", then spent His remaining three years with the rest of the world for His public ministry.

Is the Virgin Mary necessary for our spiritual life? Again, the answer lies in Jesus' own example. Mary, solely through the grace of God, was necessary for Jesus' own life on earth - she is the way chosen by God to bring salvation to our world.

We all need Mary in our lives. Not just Catholics, but everyone needs the Virgin in their lives. After all, we all need a mother in our lives. The word "mother" is a wonderful chord that strikes the heart of all human beings. The mother is the human being's first experience of love, life, joy and happiness in this earthly life. Our spiritual mother, the Virgin Mary, is our first experience of love, life, joy, and happiness in our spiritual life.

Get to know our Virgin Mother more. Read up about her, study her - there are many websites that contain free articles about the Virgin Mary. Get to know our Virgin mother more, love her more - and you will see what miracles are in your own life!

Get free articles on the Virgin Mary! Totus Tuus Maria is your complete online resource for well-researched, easy-to-read articles on the Catholic Faith.

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Gifts for Baby Baptisms and Christenings

Unique Baby Christening Or Baptism Gifts Create Memorable Keepsakes

Unique Baby Christening Or Baptism Gifts Create Memorable Keepsakes

By Caroline Miller

Baby christening gifts are special in the life of a child, not only because they offer unique inspirational values and gels the family together, but also because it is the first step of Catholicism towards which the baby moves.

Christening and Baptism are two terms that are used interchangeably. While baptizing is a sacrament in the Catholic Church, christening can be used instead of baptizing also. Christening, by the way, also refers to the process of giving the baby a Christian name. Some other religions also baptize and christen babies, with term such as anointing and baby dedication given to this process. The process might seem too religious, but is used world wide.

Christening presents can be really fun and bring about a sense of belonging in your young one. There are certain christening gift ideas that are a hit the world over. Shadow boxes are one of the most unique and personalize-able baby christening gifts. A shadow box is a box containing a glass encasing on the face of it. Christening and baptism memorabilia such as baptism certificates, christening photographs, christening gown, the invitation and some related things can be kept in the box. The glass framing serves as the cover of the box, and may include a photograph or a name plate of the person the box belongs to.

Lockets and christening jewelry also make wonderful christening gifts. Lockets might contain the baby's picture at the time of christening, and serves as a gift that one can cherish for the rest of his life. Christening jewelry such as crosses in various forms, shapes and sizes can also be given as a gift. Crosses are primarily used as chains meant to be worn around the neck. But nowadays, rings and bangles having a cross embarked somewhere are also in the market and act more as style statement than christening gifts. If your child is a little grown up, and wants the hip alternative, you can always get him a cross tattoo or a ring as a christening present.

Another addition to this string of christening baby gifts is the Holy Bible. The Bible is probably the most-given christening gift in the world. There can be a few variations though. You can couple the Bible with a shadow box or another christening gift, preferably a piece of jewelry. The whole thing can be packed nicely in a christening gift wrapper, with a prayer or small note attached to it. This makes a perfect keepsake, and nothing could be more valuable to your baby than the Holy Bible itself. You can also add a small, personal rosary with the Bible and the prayer note to complete your baby christening gift. The Bible given alone also impresses an astounding effect on the child.

These were some of the most used gift ideas pertaining to christening presents. You can add your bits and pieces to these gifts to make them unique. The gift you choose would certainly depend upon your relationship with the baby. For example, a Bible would deem perfect if it is gifted by the parents or the grandparents, rather than from some one who is remotely associated with the 'family'.

This author lives in Hampton, NJ with her husband and 5 month old daughter and is an expert contributing author for a luxury unique baby gifts boutique offering variety of baptism gifts, baby gift baskets, handprint footprint kits and more.

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Unique Baby Christening Gifts - Picking the Ideal Baptism

Unique Baby Christening Gifts - Picking the Ideal Baptism Gift

By Catherine Jacobson

Usually, a baby's first gift is received during his christening. A baby undergoes christening, commonly known as baptism, to grant the baby his formal name and accept him in a family or church. This event calls for a gathering among relatives and friends. Celebration of this once in a lifetime event for every person does not really require gift giving. However, by tradition, guests and relatives give presents to the christened baby.

Christening is a tradition itself. It is a ceremony that is important in a person's life, so the parents of the celebrant surely want this celebration to always be remembered even after many years have passed. Today, what kind of presents do guests, especially the godparents, give the baby to make the event memorable? Do we need to follow the old, elegant Victorian tradition of giving something useful in silver like silver cross necklace or silver egg cups? Or shall we be practical enough to give the parents and the celebrant something that matches their way of life and something very usable? Will it be offending on our part if we prefer giving informal gifts?

Common baby christening gifts given during christening are clothing, toys and blankets. Some give more expensive items like strollers, play pens and moses blanket. However, if you are the one to make a list of baptism gifts after the ceremony, you will notice that the most popular baby christening gifts are made up of baby suits, shoes, socks, sweaters, pajamas, headband for girls and caps for boys. These vary in colors, design and especially the sizes. Everybody usually give allowances because it is better to have the item bigger than one or two sizes smaller. Some baptism gifts can only be used during special occasions and costume parties.

One of the unique baby christening gifts are blankets, especially the ones with the baby's name embroidered on it. Such items are favorites of the parents. Toys are also wonderful to give and to receive. Colorful gifts always attract a baby's attention. Although it can be outgrown, children still like playing with their old toys like rag dolls and stuffed toys.

If you want unique baby christening gifts and have the money to afford it, silver items like bracelets, necklace or comb are most welcomed by parents. However, if you can't afford such a lavish baptism gift but still want your gift to stand out, another ideal gift suggestion is a baby gift basket. Baby baskets may contain soft toys, crib-side music, baby blankets and sleeping bags; some include teethers, pacifiers and baby wash cloths.

Personalized gifts always stand out, no matter how inexpensive they can be. It shows closeness and concern for the baby. Examples of these personalized items are baby picture frames and photo albums.

As you can see, there are plenty of choices for baby christening gifts. Depending on your budget and need, you can always get yourself a unique baptism gift for the parents and the baby to remember you.

However, in spite of all the preparations for the ceremony, do not forget the godparents. These people are supposed to help the parents guide the child in his growing up years, at the same time loving the child in the same way a parent does. Instead of a thank you card, parents opt to give godparents of their child jewelry as a memento of the said event. If you find it too expensive, then you can opt for a personalized photo frame with the godparent holding the baby.

Catherine Jacobsen is a mother of three and is passionate about gifts for young families. She recommends visiting Blissliving.com for baby christening gifts, which has a large selection of unique baptism gifts.

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The History of Rosary Beads

The History of Rosary Beads

By Cris Harrold

The rosary beads date back to the twelfth century when Mary appeared to Saint Dominic. It was during this time that Mary vowed a promise to Dominic that if he spread the rosary's devotions, he would find peace. However, the original rosary held different beads from those of present time.

When the first sets of rosaries were crafted they contained 150 beads. This number mirrors the set of psalms that are contained within the bible. For those who didn't know or have access to the written psalms to pray on a regular basis, they could move through the string of beads and pray to God. This was especially beneficial for individuals who had no way of learning the written language, or blind.

Rosary beads however were not always strung together. The original sets of beads were stones carried in the pocket of an individual, and they would be sorted through as they prayed each prayer. It wouldn't be until much later that the actual beads were strung together.

The first Catholic rosaries were made from objects such a bone and stone. Over the course of time rosaries have evolved and have been crafted from wood, glass, metal, and precious stones. In poorer countries the Catholic rosary beads are usually made from seeds and dried flowers. More often than not the material used to create the rosary bead has some sort of religious significance. Sometimes they are crafted from wood directly from the Holy Land; others are glass beads that contain holy water, or religious relics. The purpose of these specially designed rosaries is to help the devoted bond closer with God. The string that would bind the rosaries together was most commonly made from silk. In recent times metal links have become a more common method of linking together the beads.

What some do not realize is that before the rosary the 'Hail Mary' didn't exist. Rather, the devoted would pray the 'Our Father' on their rosary beads. The prayer stemmed from an introduction of the angel Gabrielle was added just prior to the 'Our Father'. Over time the full prayer was added to the prayers of the rosaries the finalized version we say today coming into play in the sixteenth century. Those devoted that want to glimpse an original set of rosary beads can find one aboard the carrack Mary Rose.

In recent years, rosaries have become a stronger part of the Catholic religion. Originally in the 16th century, Pope St. Pius V made the church approved set of mysteries. However in 2002 Pope John Paul II announced that a new set would be prayed called the Illumines Mysteries. This brought the set to 20 mysteries. October 7 is the day used to celebrate the rosary.

Today we find that the Dominican rosary contains 59 beads. They are divided into ten sections which are called "decades". These beads are crafted with a larger bead used to say the 'Our Father' prayer followed by ten smaller beads used to say the 'Hail Mary'.

Baptism Gifts Now offers religious gifts for different occasions. That includes beautiful Baptism gifts, First Communion gifts, Patron Saint Medals, Religious Medals, Rosaries and our hundreds of other religious related gifts.

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Great Ideas For Baptism Gifts and Christening Gifts

Great Ideas For Baptism Gifts and Christening Gifts!

By KristyAnn Harrold

Baptism and Christenings are very important events in a child's life. During both of these events, a child is brought closer to God and embraces a long history of tradition they can be honored to be part of. Certain gifts can be given on both these important days to help memorialize that special day.

During a Baptism, an infant is cleansed of their sins and welcomed into the church they are joining. Some churches do this by placing the child into water either totally or partially and then lower them into the water. When they rise from it they are cleansed of their sins, and free to join the church. This is an important day in a child's life, and there are quality baptism gifts to signify this day.

One of the most popular items to give on this day is a birthstone rosary. This present builds a solid connection between the person receiving the rosary along with their new connection with God. They often come alone or in a set, with the devotional set including a specialized prayer card. Other great ideas for Baptism gifts would be an angel pin made from silver, a necklace that can be worn by the child at all times.

A Christening is similar to a baptism. During a Christening the difference is that an infant is given a Christian name during the Baptism. This is often considered a way of bonding the new child to a specific church, and establishes a covenant between an entire family. During this time, the community as a whole agrees to help guide them with the values of the church.

Christening gifts are also very similar to those of a Baptism. Often times religious medals with the Christian name of the child are given as a way to build a connection with their patron saint. Similar medals can be also found that can connect to a child's crib. Rosaries with birthstones are another good way to symbolize this special day. One other item to consider giving is again a pewter necklace that adorns the name of the child's patron saint.

There are other options for both these special days as well. Crucifixes and Crosses can be given to signify the bond with God. They can either be given in a necklace form or as a mount for the wall. As the child grows they can take them with them, or carry them around their neck at all times to remember their religious heritage.

Bibles are another way to begin a child's journey into their faith. Finding a good children's bible will allow the young one follow the stories inside with pictures that help explain the biblical stories. Often times these books can be found in a set with a standard bible that the child can enjoy in more detail as they grow older.

Baptism gifts and Christening gifts are both essential ways to help a child create a bond to a special day in their lives. There are many ideas that you can use, and giving it from your heart will help create a bond between the two of you as well.

Baptism Gifts Now offers religious gifts for different occasions. That includes beautiful Baptism gifts, First Communion gifts, Patron Saint Medals, Religious Medals, Rosaries and our hundreds of other religious related gifts.

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