How many beads are in a rosary?
Here is a graphic, courtesy of Rosarycard.com, which shows the beads in a rosary: There are 59 beads altogether, 6 large beads and 53 small beads (all the beads can be the same size, if you wish). It is not necessary to have the connecting medal, but it’s a nice touch; nor does the connecting medal have to have Mary on it, though it often does. Not all rosary necklaces have this configuration, although my understanding is that this is the most common arrangement. Each large bead is for one recitation of Our Father, and each small bead is for one recitation of Hail Mary. If you wish, you can say the Glory Be prayer at the end of every ten Hail Marys.
