An Paidrín Beag

An Paidrín Beag, or Irish penal rosary, is a rosary created by Irish Catholics in the 17th century, when they were being persecuted. Small enough to be held in the hand, this rosary has a ring on one end that may be slipped over a finger. The petitioner could then say the rosary without being detected, moving the ring from one finger to the next.
The Lutheran version of the penal rosary uses 6 beads, rather than 10. It retains the use of the traditional style of crucifix, while modifying the design to fit a practice of praying Luther's Small Catechism.

​