This is a bright, warm variation of our “With the Women” rosary.  The design arose from imagining being with the women of the Gospel. Our earlier variations of this rosary focused on Tenebrae and times of darkness, but this one imagines daytime — at extraordinary moments, and in ordinary routines: Running with Mary Magdalene to relay the Easter news… Keeping house with Martha… Arguing alongside the Canaanite woman…. Drawing water with the Samaritan woman… Traveling with Phoebe…  Tending shop with Lydia… Watching the children together down by the river…

The Milagros attached to this rosary remind us of those women  — and of those around us now. The large crucifix arises from a heart — a lovely traditional motif. It’s embellished on both sides. The rosary center depicts two doves atop a heart. All these pieces are solid bronze, cast from vintage Latin American originals.

The Pater beads are free-form disks of natural Mother of Pearl, reminiscent of the moon. Of course the moon is an age-old symbol of all women, but it’s a particular symbol of the Blessed Mother: we imagine Christ as the sun and — just as our moon reflects our sun — Mary reflects the light of Christ.

(Getting photos that accurately show the colors and luminescence of this rosary has been a real challenge — the third photo is a little more accurate than the others. We’re still trying!)

The Aves beads are natural mother of pearl, with swirls of luminescence.

Separating the prayer beads are smaller beads of solid brass and matte glass in muted mauves. The connecting rings are all solid bronze.

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.

Crucifix: 2 7/8” (73mm)
Center: 1” (24mm)
Paters: about 3/4” (20mm)
Aves: 5/16” (8mm)
Milagros: from 1 1/8” to 1 1/2” (28mm to 40mm)
Length: about 27 3/4” (70cm) from top of loop to bottom of crucifix