Editing Rosary (section)

===Materials and distribution===

[[File:Coronilla san miguel.jpg|thumb|A [[Chaplet of Saint Michael|Saint Michael Chaplet]]]]
The beads can be made from any materials, including wood, bone, [[glass]], crushed flowers, semi-precious stones such as [[agate]], [[jet (gemstone)|jet]], [[amber]], or [[jasper]], or precious materials including [[Coral (precious)#Coral as a gemstone|coral]], crystal, [[silver]], and [[gold]]. Beads may be made to include enclosed sacred relics or drops of [[holy water]]. Rosaries are sometimes made from the seeds of the "[[Abrus precatorius|rosary pea]]" or "[[Adenanthera pavonina|bead tree]]." Today, the vast majority of rosary beads are made of glass, plastic, or wood. It is common for beads to be made of material with some special significance, such as jet from the shrine of [[St. James the Greater|Saint James the Greater]] at [[Santiago de Compostela]], or olive seeds from the [[Garden of Gethsemane]]. In rare cases, beads are made of expensive materials, from [[gold]] and [[silver]], to [[mother of pearl]] and [[Swarovski]] black diamonds. Early rosaries were strung on thread, often [[silk]], but modern ones are more often made as a series of chain-linked beads. Most rosaries used in the world today have simple and inexpensive plastic or wooden beads connected by cords or strings. [[Italy]] has a strong manufacturing presence in medium- and high-cost rosaries.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

There are a number of rosary-making clubs around the world that make and distribute rosaries to missions, hospitals, prisons, etc. free of charge. [[Our Lady's Rosary Makers]] produce some 7 million rosaries annually that are distributed to those deemed to be in economic and spiritual need.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.olrm.org/| title = Our Lady's Rosary Makers, access-date: 15 May 2008.}}</ref>