COME AND SEE   -   YEAR of the PRIEST
ROSARY    -   ABOUT THE CROSS   -    BEAD SYMBOLISM
HOW IT CAME TO BE   -   SCRIPTURAL REFERENCE   -   PRAYER

We are very excited about this rosary - a special rosary for priests, our church and the need for more vocations. the emerging design below was like manna falling --- 

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ROSARIES FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS
MARCH 19 2001 - On the death of my mother, Fr Joe suggested to set a rosary aside to pray -  just for her.  On any special occasion, do this to remind us of the direction of the prayer. He planted a wonderful seed.

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ROSARY CENTER & CRUCIFIX
JUNE 2001 - We searched for a long time for a eucharistic center - then Barbara Spear, a beautiful woman we met on the internet (Yankee Lady) shared one she had.  The crucifix came to us about the same time. We sent them to the Caster for general use thinking it was to be called the 'RISEN CHRIST'.
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SEPT 2001 - Arriving just before Sept 11, we then dedicated the crucifix to our firemen and police at the WTC.
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NOVEMBER 2001 - A customer noted this was not from the 60's but from probably from the 20's and was called 'CHRIST the HIGH PRIEST' - because of his priestly garment and the maniple over his left arm.

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EVENTS IN THE CHURCH BEGIN TO SWIFLY EMERGE
MARCH 2002 - We sensed we needed a special rosary just to pray for priests. What to use?  I pulled out the new crucifix of the High Priest (CRX 48), and set it on the worktable.  Then added the center of the Eucharist.  They worked well together.  They sat on the table for several weeks along with some vintage black beads - waiting - as we became very busy filling orders.
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APRIL  21st  2002 - An order comes in from Sister Anna Marie for this cross, our CRX.48 in bronze.  She is going to make a rosary for the priests.  What a wonderful confirmation!  The same cross, the same rosary for priests!  Then, out of the blue, a letter from our very prophetic Fr Joe, our Spiritual Director for the website:
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CONFIRMATION FROM FR JOE
APRIL 22 2002: Father writes about some of our other new rosaries 

"Dear Margot, Spent some time looking at your newest rosaries WOW I am sure even heaven could not have this much beauty! ... The attachment [ with this email ] is a special rosary for priests.  This rosary is being used by lay people in [ our ] area.  I picked up a copy at one of my masses today. 
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LOOK - this is one powerful set of prayers.  You might consider putting this on your web pages .... I have been told,  'why not wear civilan dress - and avoid the abuse?' I have decided I will still dress, act and be seen as Christ's servant - a priest. Please don't stop praying for us."
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APRIL 22 2002 - I thanked Fr Joe for the wonderful confirmation this was for our inspired new rosary for priests and he  wrote back : 

'So Margot, you must have the rosary center depict the Eucharist.  The rosary cross should be one with the Lord Jesus wearing the robes of a priest. 

(I was stunned, the Eucharistic center and cross were sitting on the work table ready to go and he was a 1000 miles away!) He continued:
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 "The six large beads along with the rosary center can represent the seven sacraments; the Ave beads could be any color of any of the stones on the High Priests breast plate - that represented God's people next to the priests heart.  Here are the names of the 12 tribes engraved in each modern gemstone in Hebrew that was in the High Priest's breast plate.  I can translate the Hebrew for you if needed." (Exodus 28:17-21 (ESV)
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Fr Joe continued answering a question I had asked:
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HOW DO YOU DEFINE THE PRIESTHOOD?
"Sacrament of the New Law, instituted by Christ at the Last Supper, which confers on a man the power of consecrating and offering the body and blood of Christ, and of remitting and retaining sins.
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The Holy Eucharist is totally dependent on the priesthood — no priesthood, no Real Presence and no Eucharistic Sacrifice (and no Holy Communion, either)."

EXODUS 28:17-21 (ESV)
17  You shall set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row; 18  and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond; 19  and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 20 and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold filigree. 21 There shall be twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel. They shall be like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes. 
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PLEASE NOTE
No matter whose translation of the word or scripture you read - Protestant, Catholic, Greek, Hebrew, Egyptian, Babylonian or Assyrian - you will note the placement of stones in the breastplate differ - as do the names of each.  This was because there were no specific names given to gemstones as there are today.  Many were named regionally. Some carried the name of the city or country of origin such as Chalcedony (Turkey). They did not analyze these favored stones by their composition or crystalline form in those days. And to confuse things even more, New Advent tells us their 'chrysolite is our topaz and sapphire is our lazuli'.
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To unravel the confusion, we took the traditional names used for the twelve tribes of Israel which are also seen as the twelve months of the year (birthday). These were set by the American Gem Society in the 30s.

Pray the rosary as you normally would, remembering the Pater beads remind us to pray for the priests, bishops and the Holy Father or use this link for special rosary prayer for Priests:

ROSARY PRAYERS FOR PRIESTS

... to pray for them ...
Each of the beautiful rosaries I have purchased from the Guild guides my thoughts.  The rosary for priests guides my thoughts to pray for them.  The rosaries dedicated to 911 guilds my thoughts to pray for peace on this earth and in especially protect our country from any more attacks.  To guide the leadership of this coutry to make the right decisions to preserve peace on this earth for our children and future generations.  Aleta T (DC)

... truly an icon of our faith ...
 This rosary depicts the transcendent spiritual aspects of the priesthood visually that is truly an icon of our faith.  Exceptional in design and takes your breath away!  I am sure the guild members are aware this design is another evidence of  the  working of the Holy Spirit in your midst!  This rosary invites people to pray!!!
Praise to the Risen Christ!  Fr. Joe (USA)

... very spiritually appropriate ...
 You did it again!!! Your new design and the thought and prayers that obviously lead to its design are simply gorgeous! Bravo!!!! I love it and many will also love it.  It is both beautiful and very spritually
 appropriate.   Mary Schilhavey - (IN)

... woe to those who despise priests ...
“Woe to those who despise priests.  Even if they fall into sin, no one should pass judgment on them, for God has reserved judgment on them to Himself.  They are in a privileged position because they have the charge of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which they receive and which they alone administer to others, and so anyone who sins against them commits a greater crime than if he sinned against anyone else in the whole world.”
St Francis of Assisi  -  (shared by Sister Anna Marie)
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... from “My Catholic Faith” ...
 The Priesthood is the highest dignity on earth.  The dignity of a priest surpasses that of emperors, and even of angels.  No angel can convert bread and wine into the Body of Christ by the mere power of his word; nor can any angel forgive sin.  The priest stands between God and man.  He is God’ representative, God’s ambassador.  Therefore whatever honor we pay to the priest, we render to God Himself.  St. Francis of Assisi said that if he met an angel and a priest at the same time, he would salute the priest first.
by Most Reverend Louis Laravoire Morrow, S.T.D. (shared by Sister Anna Marie)

  ... Why should Catholics show reverence and honor to the priest? ...
 Catholics should show reverence and honor to the priest because he is the representative of Christ Himself, and the dispenser of His mysteries.
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 The dignity of a priest is higher than any earthly dignity, for he is the representative of God.  He has the power that the most powerful civil rulers do not possess.  The humblest priest by his word can call down God upon the altar and convert bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.  He can say to the sinner, “I absolve thee,” and the sinner’s soul is saved from hell.  Not even the Blessed Virgin possessed the power to forgive sins, to grant absolution that erases the very guilt of sin.
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We owe the priest reverence due to his dignity as representative of Christ.  Even if a priest’s life does not correspond with the requirements of his office, we should give respect; this we offer to his office.
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ALTER CHRISTUS
 The priest is “alter Christus” – another Christ.  Our Lord called him “a city built upon a hill,” the “salt of the earth.”  He is in the world, but not of it.  St. Francis of Sales said of priests: “I will close my eyes to their faults, and only see them in God’s representatives.”
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 When we meet a priest, we should salute him.  We should not gossip about priests, even if we notice something we do not like.  To calumniate a priest is a sacrilege.  One who lays hands on a priest is excommunicated.
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In recognition of his dignity and the respect and support we owe him, we should not neglect to help our priests, with money and other means. (shared by Sister Anna Marie)