Why Rosaries?

I received my first finger rosary over twenty years ago from my good friend Steve Banonis' father Vince. At the time I was a free spirited high school senior that felt like most 18 year olds, invincible. Vince was a former professional football player with the Detroit Lions in the late 50's, so when he spoke we normally listened.

He stopped me at a graduation party that he and his wife Marilyn were having for their son. After he presented me with the finger rosary, he proceeded to tell me what it was. Now mind you I knew it was a religious article since we had all been raised catholic and attend catholic schools all of our lives, but it needed some explanation. He told me that even if I had forgotten how to say the rosary just keep it and it will be a reminder of your faith. I quickly shoved it into my pocket.

Well I kept that original rosary for years. I had it most of the time on my key chain and over the years many people would ask me what it was. I guess we all knew what a rosary was of course, but not many people had ever seen a finger or pocket rosary.

In 1987 after the birth of our sixth child, I did two other major things that year. I quit my job to start a business from scratch and I started to pray. Of course I was praying I could keep all the kids fed and in catholic schools and that this business I was starting would actually work.

In about 1989 it looked like the business was going to stick and the prayers seemed to be working. I got so many requests from people on where they could find these rare finger rosaries, I decided to find a source. I bought about 50 finger rosaries that year and started to pass them out. Then I bought 200 more and they seemed to be gone in about three months. If sales were only as easy as giving away these rosaries….

Well the rest is history. I have been giving away these rosaries free for inspirational purposes for about the last 15 years. In January of 2001 I decided to formalize my mission by using the web as an easy way for people to order a free finger rosary. My goal this year was to give away as many rosaries as my cash flow or donations will allow. But the real goal is to expose people to Jesus and his profound, unconditional love for us.