Paternosters & Rosaries

After reading and research, I decided to make a paternoster. There have been some interesting issues as to what to string the beads with. Because the paternoster rubs on my belt, the cotton threads have broken on me twice. You can imagine beads flinging everywhere in the middle of an event. Talk about embarrassing. After several tries, I decided to combine the thread with a stronger clear filament. So far, it seems to have worked. This was made with glass beads, metal beads, and cotton tassles.

From my earliest days in the SCA, I have always loved Paternosters. There is just something beautiful and soothing about the beads; patterns and symmetry… I am always surprised by how under-represented these special items are in the society.

I acquired the bone beads to construct this Paternoster some time ago. This summer, I found the perfect pewter cross while at Pennsic – from none other than Billy & Charlie’s.

St. Benedict the Moor (1526-1589) was born to enslaved African parents but freed. He spent much of his life in Palermo, Italy. Benedict was beatified by Pope Benedict XIV in 1743 and canonized by Pope Pius VII in 1807. He was the first black person to be canonized. He is the heavenly protector of the city of Palermo, the patron saint of blacks in North America, and is remembered for his charity. Having suffered persecution for his dark skin throughout his life, he is also known for his racial tolerance.