"Mere sitting at home and meditating on the divine presence is not enough for our time.  We have to come to the end of a long journey and see that the stranger we meet there is no other than ourselves -- which is the same as saying that we find Christ in him."

   -- Thomas Merton, Trappist monk, Abbey of Gethsemani


This rosary was inspired by the dialogues between Thomas Merton and Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama -- and by their shared dedication to interfaith dialogue and to deepening compassion. 

The delightful Coptic cross is made in two parts, and hinged.  The four small birds are a traditional element of the old Ethiopian design;  the interlaced pattern is reminiscent of Celtic knotwork.   It's hand-cast from a 19th century original, in solid bronze.

The Pater beads are old, well-traveled, red Masai glass -- with tiny nicks and scratches they've picked up along theilr way.  Alongside the Paters are caps of antiqued brass. 

The Aves are Bodhi seeds -- traditional Buddhist prayer beads -- separated by beads of red horn and ribbed brass.  

This rosary is made all-in-one-loop, rather than in the familiar "Y" form.  We don't see lots of all-one-loop rosaries lately, but they were pretty much the norm until just a couple centuries ago.

The rosary is strung on premium quality Soft Flex jewelers' cable, composed of 49 strands of steel encased in nylon, with a test strength of 26 pounds.  Each end is double-crimped for security.  The connecting rings are solid brass and bronze.


Cross:  about 2.5" including its bail
Pater Beads: about .8" long
Ave Beads:  about .5" (14mm) diameter
Length: 21.75" from the top of the loop to the bottom of the cross
Weight: 4.6 oz.