A six-decade rosary was held by Our Lady when she appeared to St. Bernadette at Lourdes, France in 1858. The peasants around that area of France commonly used this kind of rosary; it differs from the the more common six-decade Brigittine Rosary (see below) only in the Mysteries prayed. The peasants used the accepted mysteries of the common everyday rosary that Catholics pray (known as the “Dominican Rosary”) but added a sixth decade for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. 🙏 From what I can find out online, the residents of the area still practice this devotion.
I’ve been obsessed with a book I’ve started reading: Champions Of The Rosary: The History And Heroes Of A Spiritual Weapon by Fr. Donald Calloway. (I’ll write up a review of it soon.)
I have learned quite a lot about the Rosary and while I have deeply loved it from my reversion through today, reading nearly 200 pages on its history and the saints who’ve championed it has really made me appreciate the extent by which it is critical for Catholics to pray the Dominican Rosary, especially every day. Its role in the salvation of souls is underappreciated and perhaps even little known. Anyway, and more to the point of this post, after reading a few chapters of the heroes of the rosary, I suddenly became obsessed very needful of having my own six-decade rosary, which is odd considering the book doesn’t mention it much. It must be some sort of God-incidental thing where my subconscious mind connected Calloway’s book to my increasing devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes and the lore surrounding the Apparition that I finally thought “I must have one of my own!”
I started looking online for “six decade rosaries” and discovered they’re called “Brigittine Rosaries.” (OK, so I forgot that Calloway did mention those.) They’re just like the cDominican Rosaries except there’s the additional sixth decade. Many online stores sell them; often for a lot more money than I’m willing to spend. I did find one nice source from Canada that offers quite a huge variety, and many are very affordable; but I was turned off by the high shipping costs (tariffs? 😡🤬 ) (If you’re curious, they are Discount Rosaries. They offer a great selection of rosaries and chaplets and other resources for Catholics. If I had a longer shopping list, I might have risked the shipping fees. Please patronize them to make up for my not having done so! 🥺😇 )
So then I thought, “I’ve got a lot of broken and busted rosaries around here. Maybe I can salvage parts from some and make my own!” My first attempt was succesful for about 2 minutes (if that) before it fell to pieces. 😢 After the typical feeling sorry for myself period ran its course, I thought, “There’s a LOT MORE parts left, let me try again!” 💪🏻
SUCCESS! 🎆🎉
It looks a little odd, but after much trial and error (and squinting,) I managed to make a six-decade rosary out of three damaged or broken ones. Saves me money in not having to buy one. 😃
Mine’s a far cry from the gold chain-and-white-beaded rosary Mary held, but I’m happy with it. 😇😃 Like I said above, you pray the Lourdes Six-Decade Rosary using the same Mysteries as the regular rosary, just that the sixth Mystery is for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.
Just two months ago I made a St. Rita Chaplet from busted rosaries! 🤜🏻🤛🏻 There will be a post on that soon!
The “Brigittine Rosary” is named after St. Bridget of Sweden who propagated it. It was often referred to as the “peasant’s rosary” which had no assigned mysteries to it. The peasants made up whatever suited their fancy. However, the Brigittine Rosary does have formal, assigned Mysteries. (I guess the peasants didn’t care. 🫤 )
The Brigittine Rosary was instituted and propagated by St. Bridget of Sweden. She was favored with visions and extacies but remained profoundly humble with a deep devotion to the Passion of Our Lords and His Holy Wounds, and great love for the Blessed Virgin and made a rosary in her honor. When describing the rosary she constructed, she explained it was 63 Hail Mary beads to honour the 63 years of life the Blessed Virgin lived on earth. This is why it has 6 decades.
How to recite the Brigittine Rosary:
The Eighteen Mysteries of the Brigittine Crown Chaplet
Joyful Mysteries:
The Immaculate Conception
The Annunciation of Gabriel to Mary
The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth
The Birth of Jesus
The Presentation of Jesus In The Temple
The Finding of Jesus In The Temple
The Sorrowful Mysteries:
The Agony of Jesus In The Garden
Jesus Is Scourged At The Pillar
Jesus Is Crowned With Thorns
Jesus Carries His Cross
The Crucifixion
The Body of the Lord was placed in the Arms of His Sorrowful Mother
The Glorious Mysteries:
The Resurrection of Jesus
The Ascension of Jesus
The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth
The Patronage of Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace (Brigittine Rosary)
or
The Patronage of Mary, Queen and Beauty of Carmel (Carmelite Rosary)
To St Bridgett, Queen of Sweden
WITH confident hearts we fly to thee, blessed Bridgett, and ask, in these times of darkness and unbelief,
thy intercession on behalf of those who are separated from the Church of JESUS CHRIST. By the clear
knowledge which thou hadst of the cruel sufferings of our crucified SAVIOUR, the price of our
redemption, we beg of thee to obtain for those who are outside the one fold the grace of faith, so that the
scattered sheep may return to the one true Shepherd.
Through CHRIST our LORD. Amen.
St Bridgett, fearless servant of GOD, pray for us.
St Bridgett, patient in sufferings and humiliations, pray for us.
St Bridgett, wonderful in thy love towards JESUS and Mary, pray for us.
PATER, Ave, Gloria.
Source: Discover a Lost Devotion of Brigittine Crown Chaplet
This source has the Luminous Mysteries: OCDS Tulsa.
If you are curious as to how it became a part of the Carmelite tradition:
How Did it Become Part of the Carmelite Habit?
St. Teresa of Avila prayed the rosary daily and it is believed that when she was traveling throughout Spain founding her monasteries of the reform, she would visit the Brigittine Monastery. It was there that she learned about their six-decade Rosary. As time went on, the six-decade Rosary became part of the Carmelite Habit, with a large medal of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in addition to, or even in place of, the crucifix found on the Dominican Rosary.
Source: The little Brown Scapular Coloring Book
I hope you liked this!
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