Rosary tattoos are undeniable confirmations of faith and Christian values. The focal point of these particular tattoos are rosary beads (strands of beads accompanied by a cross that represents the Roman Catholic religion) that are typically made of wood, plastic, metal or seeds. They may be tattooed to look like any of these materials, thus, giving the wearer more creative options to create a unique rosary tattoo design.

The cross on the rosary represents passion and is a very important part of the rosary necklace, even though it is not actually used for prayer. Although rosary tattoos are usually inked in black or dark gray ink, they are also quite stunning when done with one or more brightly colored inks.

Layout of the Rosary
To understand the meaning of rosary beads, you must first understand the layout of the rosary. A rosary consists of a crucifix, one larger bead, three small beads, another large bead and then a medal. Beyond the medal is where the rosary chain begins, with another large bead, followed by a group of 10 smaller beads. Around the chain are five sets of each of these beads, one large, 10 small. The large bead is separated from the smaller beads, signifying the different prayers recited while holding the beads.

Prayers of the Rosary
To pray the rosary is to recite specific prayers corresponding with particular beads on the string. The rosary prayer is composed of sets, referred to as decades, of shorter prayers: on the larger beads the “Our Father” is said, on the smaller beads the “Hail Mary’s” and in the spaces, the “Glory Be” and the “Oh, My Jesus” prayers are recited. Saying a rosary means saying either 5 or 20 decades, with each decade concentrating on an event in the life of Jesus.

Rosary Tattoo Designs and Placements
One of the most commonly used rosary tattoo designs consist of a string of rosary beads wrapped around the ankle or foot with the image of a classic cross displayed in plain view. This design is a popular choice among women of Christian faith and can make a very stunning impression. Other popular places to wear rosary tattoos are around the neck, wrist and even upper thigh areas.

There are many other rosary design options to consider as well. For example, the image of the rosary draped over the image of the cross or wrapped around the image of praying hands. These designs are more commonly used by men and are typically tattooed on the forearm, upper arm, shoulder, calf or chest areas.

Celebrities with Rosary Tattoos

ALYSSA MILANO / Actress: rosary tattoo on her right shoulder blade.

NICOLE RICHIE / Actress: rosary tattoo around her left ankle and on top of her foot.

MARK WAHLBERG / Actor: rosary tattoo around his neck and down onto his chest.

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