Black Benedict Rosary
The Benedictine Path
“May the holy cross be my light”
You pray the rosary every day, often on the way somewhere. Sober beads that stay in your pocket, ready for the next decade.
Discover what it means- Your faith, worn close to you every day
- Arrives in our gift box, ready to give
Order processed within 24 hours on business days
- Free shippingTracked to your door
- 30-day returnsEasy & simple
- 1-year warrantyAgainst defects
Size guide
Where it sits
- 40 cmChoker
- 45 cmCollarbone
- 50 cmJust below the collarbone
- 55 cmUpper chest
- 60 cmMid-chest
- 70 cmOver clothing
Sizes shown on an average build. An extender adds a few centimetres of freedom.
Measure at home in 2 minutes
You need a strip of paper (or a string or shoelace), a pen and a ruler.
- Take a string or a shoelace and mark on it the length you are considering, for example 50 cm.
- Hold the two marks together at the back of your neck, wearing the kind of top you usually wear.
- Look in a mirror: the lowest point of the string is where the chain will sit.
- Too high or too low? Try 5 cm more or less: that is one size up or down.
Already own a chain you like? Lay it flat, clasp closed, and measure it end to end. A broad neck or chest makes every length sit a little higher.
No ruler? A bank card is 8.6 cm long: count how many fit along your strip.
Still unsure? Ask us, a real person replies within 24 hours.
Product details
Black wooden beads, the medal of Saint Benedict and a crucifix marked INRI. A traditional rosary in a sober, modern colour.
- Material
- Natural wooden beads
- Finish
- Black finish
- Length
- 45 cm (17.7 in) in total, with a 15 cm (5.9 in) drop to the cross
- Pendant size
- Cross: 3.1 x 5.3 cm; Medal: 2.1 x 2.0 cm
- Symbol
- Rosary, Saint Benedict medal, Crucifix, INRI
- Cross size
- 31 x 53 mm
- Beads
- 10 mm wood
- Weight
- About 31 g
- Packaging
- Signature gift box and polishing cloth
How to wear it
The rosary measures 45 cm (17.7 in) in total, with 10 mm black wooden beads, a 3.1 x 5.3 cm crucifix and Saint Benedict medals of 2.1 x 2.0 cm. It is compact enough to carry in a jacket pocket, a car or a bag, and it can also be worn around the neck over a dark sweater.
Keep it dry: wood does not like water, so take it off before a shower, a swim or the gym, and wipe it with a dry cloth. Its sober black suits a man as well as a woman, at a confirmation, on Father's Day or at Easter.
Questions
What is the Saint Benedict medal?
One of the oldest and most widespread Catholic medals. It shows Saint Benedict, founder of Western monasticism and patron of Europe, with the initials of short Latin prayers, among them a prayer rejecting evil.
What does INRI on the crucifix mean?
The four letters abbreviate, in Latin, the title Pilate had written above Jesus on the cross: Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews (John 19:19).
How big are the crucifix and the medals?
The crucifix is 3.1 x 5.3 cm and each Saint Benedict medal is 2.1 x 2.0 cm. The beads are 10 mm.
Is a black rosary suitable for a man?
Yes. Matte black wood looks sober and masculine, which is why many men choose a black rosary for daily prayer.
What do the Latin initials on the Saint Benedict medals of The Benedictine Path ask?
Among them, C.S.S.M.L. stands for Crux sacra sit mihi lux, May the holy cross be my light. The other initials reject evil and ask God's help, which is why the medal sits so naturally on a rosary.
Should a Saint Benedict medal be blessed?
Many Catholics have it blessed, and there is a traditional blessing for this medal. It arrives unblessed; any priest or deacon can bless it, usually after Mass.
The prayer
Crux sacra sit mihi lux. Non draco sit mihi dux. (May the holy cross be my light. Let not the dragon be my guide.)
Latin verses on the Saint Benedict medal, found in a 1415 manuscript at Metten Abbey, Bavaria
Shipping & returns
Free standard shipping on every order. Your order is processed within 24 hours on business days, then shipped with tracking.
Every order arrives in our signature gift box, with a microfiber cloth to keep your piece shining.
- OrderToday
- ProcessedWithin 24 hours
- DeliveredTo your door, tracked
Returns. You have 30 days after delivery to return your piece, unworn and in its original packaging.
1-year warranty & care
Covered for 1 year against manufacturing defects: a clasp that fails, a stone that falls out without impact, a structural defect. Send your order number and 3 to 4 photos and we ship a replacement once your claim is approved, with no return needed. Full warranty
- Handling: Hold the beads gently and avoid pulling on the cord.
- Water: Keep the beads dry; water can dull natural wood and stone.
- Storage: Store it flat in its signature gift box.
- Cleaning: Wipe it with the microfiber cloth included.
Its meaning
INRI and the medal of Saint Benedict
The four letters above the crucifix, INRI, abbreviate the Latin Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. The Gospel of John says Pilate had this title written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin and fixed to the cross. The Saint Benedict medal on this rosary adds the prayers of the Benedictine tradition, beginning with a request that the holy cross be a light. Catholics carry a rosary like this to pray it, and many keep it on them through the day. The beads are natural wood with a black finish, with a...
Giving it as a gift
A sober gift for a confirmation, for Father's Day, or for anyone at Easter. Its black beads suit a man or woman who wants a rosary meant for daily prayer rather than display.
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