#rosaryhistory catholichistory

[lilliameadow]

The myth of the Government Issue rosary

The story goes something like this: During World War I, soldiers and other military personnel were issued official GI Catholic rosaries made from sturdy steel ball chain for use in the fox holes and ramparts, battlefields and bunkers at government expense, almost as part of the uniform.  Even Protestants, Jews and atheists, too, were seen charging the enemy with these special rosaries flapping around their necks for protection and comfort.  They were called "Combat rosaries."

The truth is, all those rosaries and holy medals weren't issued by the US military at all, they were paid for and shipped to the battlefields by the folks back home, the mothers, fathers, sisters, sweethearts, parish members and communities, who had rosary drives and collected money to buy "soldier kits" and "soldier rosaries" to send to the troops overseas.  Some sent the kits and beads directly to their sons on the front, others sent them to medics and chaplains to distribute to the troops as needed.  Although they were given to soldiers from the hands of military chaplains, they were not paid for with federal tax dollars or commissioned by the federal government or the US military.  They came from ordinary Americans who wanted to support the spiritual needs of the men in the trenches.

Solider kits contained a ball chain rosary, a field missal that had steps to take when a comrade was dying and prayers for safety and courage, etc., and a "dog tag" medal that had the Miraculous Medal/Sacred Heart/St Christopher/St Joseph on the front and "I am a Catholic" on the back.  The medal usually had a enameled red, white and blue military shield in the center of the cross.  The typical medal was steel, but mothers could pay a dollar extra to get sterling silver on a sterling chain.

In fact, though, many soldiers made do with rosaries they fashioned themselves by knotting string or drawstrings and cords from their own uniforms, or with bits of shrapnel or shot tied together in groups of tens.  These were called "trench rosaries," and were often more beloved than any other peyer because every bead reminded the soldier of a friend, a battle, a place encountered during the war.  The cords were worn and dirty, because they had passed through soldier's grubby hands many times, and sometimes one cord had to serve and entire unit, each man saying a Hail Mary on it, then passing it to his neighbor.  Some trench rosaries have as many as 100 knots, 50 for the standard Marian rosary, and 50 more for the Lorento litany, a prayer cycle with 50 names of the Virgin Mary.  These rosaries are very rare now.  Most have been tossed out because heirs didn't know what they were or understand their importance.

The term "service rosary" was invented during World War II to market the ball chain rosaries in newspaper and radio ads.  One radio spot said, "Don't send your son to war with a rosary that could break when he needs it most. Send him a rosary that will withstand everything Hitler can throw at it. The Service Rosary is strong as American steel because it is made from American steel."  

"Combat rosary" was first used in the 1980s to market reproductions of the ball chain rosaries.

Most of what is sold as WWI service rosaries are actually from WWII.  The First World War ball chain rosaries had a simple oval centerpiece and a plain Latin cross. Heart-shaped centers and fancy crosses came much later, during WWII and Korea.  Many "combat rosaries" being marketed now are reproductions and sometimes even fakes, newly made reproductions that are intentionally aged by burying them in the ground for months so they develop a rich patina, and even beaten with hammers and chains to make the dents and marks buyers expect to see on a rosary that went to war.  So be cautious when buying an “antique” combat rosary.