The Pro-Life/Tecla Hashimoto Rosary

As it was explained to me, the "pro-life rosary"  is an all-white rosary but with one of the Hail Mary beads in the five-decade set painted bright red in remembrance of babies killed by abortion.

I have since then discerned that this rosary could also be called the "Tecla Hashimoto Rosary," not only because Tecla's picture represents an abortion taking place before our very eyes, but, on a more specific level, because she is one of 52 martyrs that have been recognized, while the child in her womb has not been included in the count of martyrs. Since the rosary has 53 Hail Mary beads in all (five decades plus three initial beads), the bead that is painted red could apply to the unrecognized child in Tecla's womb.

Now I have been unable to find contact information for the nun who gave me the Pro-Life Rosary, nor have I been able to find samples of the Pro-Life Rosary via Google search.  But, on a tip from a friend, I have taken to buying all white rosaries on my own and painting one bead red with nail polish.  Not that I'm an expert on nail polish, but the color "Red Red" from "Wet 'N Wild" works great for me, giving a nice, ruby-red hue.  And it only costs 99 cents!

Now it's nice to pass these Pro-Life/Tecla Hashimoto rosaries to others, (with proper explanation, of course), but when giving a rosary away, it's even nicer to present it in a nice new cellophane wrapper.  I buy mine for 65 cents apiece at one of the local Catholic gift shops.  In order to keep the rosary appearing fresh and new, I cut a slit in the side of the cellophane package, pull out one of the Hail Mary beads, paint it red, then reinsert the bead back into the package with the rest of the rosary.  When I hand it to another person as a gift, they have no idea it has been "doctored."   

It is, in other words, very cheap and easy to make the Pro-Life/Tecla Hasimoto Rosary.  Any volunteers to help make them?

Posted July 3, 2009