Rosaries with 10 Beads: History, Meaning, and Use of Decade Rosaries

What is a Decade Rosary?

A decade rosary is a shortened form of the traditional Catholic rosary that consists of only one decade, or 10 beads. Rather than the standard 59 beads separated into sets of 10 Hail Marys, a decade rosary contains only the 10 beads used to count a single decade. This makes decade rosaries highly portable and easy to carry, allowing the faithful to pray the rosary anywhere they go. Despite having fewer beads, decade rosaries retain the key elements of the traditional rosary prayer.

Elements of the Decade Rosary

While abbreviated, decade rosaries include the essential components of a full rosary. These elements are:

• 10 beads for counting the 10 Hail Mary prayers
• A crucifix
• 1 bead for the Our Father prayer
• 1 bead for the Glory Be prayer

To pray the rosary on a 10 bead model, the user prays the Our Father on the single Our Father bead, 10 Hail Marys while counting on the decade beads, and finishes with the Glory Be prayer. Though short, this allows the user to meditate on a mystery of the rosary and recite the central prayers.

History of the Decade Rosary

The exact origins of decade rosaries are obscure. However, many sources suggest they arose alongside the popularity of the full rosary during the Middle Ages. The first rosaries were innovative aids to prayer and meditation, allowing the faithful to keep track of Hail Marys said and contemplate Jesus and Mary. Initially, rosaries varied greatly in form, ranging from 10 to 150 beads. The now standard 59 bead rosary became predominant in the 16th century. Even after this, abbreviated rosary forms persisted as a more portable and simple alternative.

Key Dates

• 11th century - First clear references to using beads as prayer aids within Catholicism.
• 12th century - Rosaries gained wider popularity across Europe.
• 13th century - Extant examples of decade rosary forms date to this period.
• 14th-15th century - Rosary became a Dominican devotion and standard 59 bead model became norm.
• 20th century - Decade rosaries reemerged as portable alternative for soldiers in WWI and WWII.

While decade rosaries waned as the 59 bead rosary dominated, they occasionally surfaced in various times and places. Soldiers in WWI and WWII carried small decade rosaries into battle, finding comfort in the abbreviated prayer. Missionaries travelling to remote areas often brought portable 10 bead rosaries to share with new converts. In the 1960s and beyond, decade rosaries had a renewed popularity among Catholics desiring an easy to carry rosary. Recent popes have also encouraged this devotional practice.

Decade Rosary Variations

Several common variations on the decade rosary have emerged, catering to different needs and tastes among the faithful. While the 10 bead counting rosary is standard, other differences distinguish types.

Ring Rosaries

Ring rosaries feature 10 beads linked together and anchored to a ring worn on the finger. The ring has a short cross attached, allowing the rosary to be worn unobtrusively. When needed, the user can remove the rosary from their finger to pray a decade. Ring rosaries provide an accessible option always close at hand.

Wrist Rosaries

Wrist rosaries attach the 10 beads to a band worn around the wrist. This provides easy access similar to ring rosaries. However, the beads are positioned to better allow holding and touching as you prayer. Wrist rosaries can have the crucifix and additional Our Father/Glory Be beads attached to the band or just have the decade counting beads on their own.

Chaplet Rosaries

The chaplet of the Divine Mercy is a decade rosary format popularized in the 1930s. It adds a longer intro prayer and the Divine Mercy chaplet prayer after the decade to focus the meditation on God's mercy. Other chaplets modify the format to focus on Sacred Heart, Precious Blood, or Holy Wounds devotions.

Auto Rosaries

Auto rosaries built the 10 beads into a finger ring that can be rotated around as you pray. This allows you to progress through the prayers without holding a bead rosary. However, having something to physically touch as you pray is important to many.

How to Pray the Rosary on a Decade Rosary

Praying on a 10 bead rosary follows the same basic format as a standard rosary. The prayers themselves are identical. Only the number of decades changes.

1. Make the sign of the cross.
2. Holding the crucifix, say the Apostles' Creed.
3. On the Our Father bead, say 1 Our Father prayer.
4. On the 10 beads, say 10 Hail Marys while meditating on a mystery.
5. On the Glory Be bead, say the Glory Be prayer.
6. Repeat steps 3-5 until you have reflected on all desired decades.
7. End by saying the Hail Holy Queen prayer and making the sign of the cross.

When praying with others, a leader announces the mystery being contemplated before each decade. Solo prayer may involve reading the mystery from a guide before beginning the corresponding decade. The decades said generally follow standard rosary order - Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, Glorious mysteries.

Tips for Praying Well

• Settle into a calm, comfortable posture in a quiet spot.
• Take time at the start to relax and center your thoughts on God.
• Pause and breathe between each prayer to maintain awareness.
• Avoid rushing through and focus on the meaning of each prayer.
• Meditate deeply on the mystery within each decade.
• Close by offering gratitude to God and Mary for the grace of prayer.

Benefits of Praying the Decade Rosary

Though briefer than a full chaplet, the decade rosary comes with abundant spiritual benefits.

Portability

The compact size of a decade rosary makes it highly portable. You can easily keep one in a pocket or purse to pray at any moment during the day. Many attach decade rosaries to keychains so they are always close at hand.

Simplicity

Praying a decade rosary provides a simple way to take a short yet meaningful break for prayer. The simplified format helps focus the mind and brings ease when time constraints make a full chaplet difficult.

Accessibility

The limited number of prayers in a decade rosary allows those new to the rosary to get acquainted with the practice. Children or converts to Catholicism may find working with 10 beads less overwhelming to start.

Flexibility

With the decade rosary, you can choose to pray anywhere from one decade to however many you have time and focus for. This makes it adaptable when you only have a few minutes or want a longer meditation.

Remembrance

Frequent decade rosary prayers, especially when linked to certain routines like commuting or mealtimes, help root us in remembrance of Jesus and Mary.

Connection

The concentrated nature of the decade rosary can deepen your connection with the mysteries and prayers as you become very familiar with each over time.

Using the Decade Rosary in Everyday Life

Integrating the flexible decade rosary format into your daily routines allows you to enrich your spiritual life at any time and place.

Home Prayer

Pray a decade or more with family at mealtimes or in the evenings to strengthen domestic

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.