Each one stands for a recitation of the Hail Mary.
Each section of a rosary is called a decade as it contains ten beads for the ten Hail Mary's that you say while meditating on the mystery.
The rosary is made up of 59 beads. If you look at a normal rosary, there are five groups of beads that consist of a tight string of 10 beads with single beads in-between. Each decade begins on the single bead where an "Our Father" is said. Next, a "Hail Mary" is said on each of the 10 beads. Finally, a "Glory Be" is said on the single bead following the 10 beads as well as the customary "Fatima prayer - O My Jesus". This, just accomplished, is considered a decade of the rosary. The process is then repeated, starting with another "Our Father" on the bead you just said the "Glory Be" and "O My Jesus" prayer.
To say the rosary, begin with the Sign of the Cross, then recite the Apostles' Creed. On each bead, say an Our Father, followed by a Hail Mary for each of the ten beads in a decade, and conclude with a Glory Be. After each decade, reflect on a specific mystery from the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, or Luminous mysteries before moving to the next decade, finishing with the Hail Holy Queen at the end.
The three beads in the beginning of the rosary are for the increase of Faith, Hope and Love and a Hail Mary prayer is said on each of them.
A traditional rosary bracelet typically contains 10 beads, which are used for prayers such as the "Hail Mary" or the "Our Father." Each bead represents a different prayer or reflection in the Catholic faith.
Roman Catholic AnswerYou are talking about a rosary that is for one set of mysteries, the old habit rosaries had 169 beads. There is a bead for each prayer. Each decade (there are five decades in a set of mysteries) has an Our Father bead and ten Hail Mary beads, plus there is one Our Father and three Hail Mary's for the preparatory prayers before you begin the Mysteries, the total comes to 59 for five mysteries.
Yes, it is acceptable to pray only one decade of the rosary. Each decade represents a different mystery and can be prayed individually if desired.
Rosary beads are used in prayer by Catholics to keep track of the prayers they are saying. Each bead represents a specific prayer, such as the Our Father or Hail Mary. The person holding the rosary beads moves from one bead to the next while reciting the prayers. This helps them focus on their prayers and meditate on the mysteries of the rosary.
Traditionally, the Rosary consisted of three mysteries concerning the life of Christ: The Joyful Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries and the Glorious Mysteries. Each Mystery has five meditations assigned to it, during which the person prays an Our Father, 10 Hail Mary's and a Glory Be on the beads - this sequence is known as a "decade of the Rosary". If you pray an entire 15 decade Rosary that means you have pondered all 3 mysteries through the 5 meditations for each mystery which totals 15 decades. Recently, the pope added one more mystery, the Luminous Mysteries with 5 more meditations, so technically this now makes a full Rosary a 20 decade Rosary. The Rosary devotion dates back to the time of St. Dominic who was given it by the Blessed Virgin Mary as a powerful devotion to her for the asking of powerful graces, especially those of converting heretics.
The Rosary was create back in history when people couldn't read and therefor didn't read the bible. Most bibles were hand written so copies were very rare. So, the Rosary and it's Beads were created as a form of early prayer, each representing a psalm from the bible. 150 psalms, 150 beads.
To make a rosary, you'll need a set of beads, a crucifix, and a centerpiece. Begin by stringing the crucifix onto a length of strong cord or wire, followed by a series of five sets of ten beads (decades) separated by a larger bead (Our Father). Each decade typically starts with an Our Father bead, followed by ten Hail Mary beads. Finish by attaching the centerpiece, which often features a saint or religious image, to the end of the rosary.
The Rosary typically consists of 20 decades, with a prayer for each bead on the rosary. Each decade includes the Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, and a Glory Be, usually taking about 1-2 pages to recite.