Proper ways to wear/hold/display a Rosary?

[gfphoto]

Are there guidelines for this?

My wife saw a man wearing two Rosaries around his neck and it seemed to her he was using them as jewelry or decoration. Or was he just twice as pious?

I thought a Rosary is a sacramental but after looking up the meaning here I'm not sure. Or is it a "devotional"?

Thanks.

Gary

[Gabriel]

Rock stars like Madonna come to mind with the cross around their necks...
Gb

[JohnK]

The third definition of sacramental is relevant, yet seems lacking. This one seems more complete.

I think a rosary is both a sacramental and a devotion, since it is a devotion to which a grace (an indulgence) is attached. Since the reception of the grace is dependent upon the state of the person who is praying it (I'm not even sure having a physical rosary is necessary), debating methods if wearing or displaying is a non sequitur.

[richgr]

I have a question about wearing Rosaries.

A friend of mine wears her Rosary around her neck. She wears it with the intention of being unashamed of her religion and of the Blessed Mother and to serve as an aid in directing her thoughts towards God, and not primarily with the intention of vanity (I cannot say if this secondary intention is in her or not because she never told me so), as jewelery as some people wear Rosaries. She has an honest and deep devotion to the Rosary and the Blessed Mother. However, she's been criticized several times, by her Catholic friends and by the local parish priest himself, for wearing her Rosary and that she was dishonoring Mary by reducing the Rosary to mere jewelery (this was the rash judgment on their parts). They even told her directly to stop wearing her Rosary around her neck.

So the question is, are these criticisms valid in the case of my friend? Should she follow their orders? Is she actually dishonoring Mary by wearing a Rosary, considering her intentions? And how can she respond to such criticisms in the future?

Thanks!

[JohnK]

My thoughts: If she is wearing a Rosary primarily for the purpose of showing her faith to others, this may be immodest. Jesus says we should "pray in secret" (Matt 6:6).

Now, since she has a strong devotion to Our Lady through the Rosary, it is certainly helpful for her to keep one with her always and around the neck is a convenient place to keep it. Perhaps she should just tuck it into her blouse (a simply made one: string and wood or plastic beads would likely be most comfortable).

[holyjoe]

Members of the Dominican Order wear a large rosary with their habit. Nobody objects to that. Just an observation.