Irish Penal rosaries are from when England outlawed Catholism in Ireland. A string with knots on it and a ring on the end was easy to hide from the authorities, if need be. The idea is to slip the ring on your thumb, pray the decade, then slip the ring on the next finger over from your thumb, pray the decade, and so one along your hand. When you have reached your pinky, you have completed a rosary. Very helpful device for people who couldn't count, since going to school was also illegal if your were Irish. Priests used to hold classes in the ditches and along stone walls where the children could easily disperse and the priest could act like he was out for a stroll if any English "cops" came along. The song "The 12 Days of Christmas" was written to teach people the Catholic faith without arousing English suspisions. Here is a list of the symbols with their meanings:
One Partridge in a pear tree = The One true God revealed in the person of Jesus Christ
Two Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
Three French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity
Four Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
Five Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch" which contain the law condemning us of our sins.
Six Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
Seven Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments of the Catholic faith
Eight Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes
Nine Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Spirit
Ten Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
Eleven Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
Twelve Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed
The Irish people underwent a lot of persecution for their faith, as have many people in this world. And many still are. Do not take your freedoms lightly. Say a rosary for those who saying a rosary is illegal and possibly even deadly.
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