Don Bosco Philippines South Province

This is a weird and misplaced topic for a blog entry in a blogsite that is focused on things religious, holy, and anything between heaven and earth. Yet this is what I would like to explore, this deeply profound 😉 construction material – stainless steel.

What is stainless steel? A little google search will result to a more than sufficient answer. To simply put it, stainless steel is an alloy (a metal composition of many components) made primarily of iron and some other elements like carbon, chromium, molybdenum, nickel, and others. In other words, it is basically iron made strong and corrosion resistant. Stainless steel is a very popular material because it is fairly cheap, readily available, easy to maintain, and is highly durable. It can be applied to a variety of applications in construction, transportation, medicine, food, craft, etc. It is everywhere.

For more than 8 years of making rosaries I’ve been experimenting on different kinds of materials ranging from simple cord and wood beads to a more sophisticated combination of metals and gemstones. Of all the materials available my all time favorite is stainless steel. When I said my all time favorite, I mean, a rosary entirely made of stainless steel – beads, crucifix, medal, wire, chain, all the goodies. That is why my personal rosary is just that – a literal heavy duty set of solid metal beads that could be mistaken for a deadly weapon or a flagellation tool for Good Friday.

“The Rosary is the weapon for these times.”
– Padre Pio

The reason behind the choice is very practical – it’s inexpensive yet extremely strong and simply elegant-looking, and does not corrode. It’s price compared to gold or silver is laughable, it is way stronger, and has an old platinum look, minus the price. Unlike other rosary materials like zinc alloy, stainless steel does not loose it’s bright silver color over time. As your fingers glide through the beads as you, hopefully, meditate on the prayers you are, at the same time, also polishing its finish, making it shine all the more brilliantly. It will perpetually look brand new. It is “ever ancient, ever new”.

Now, what makes stainless steel stainless? Iron, being the major component (more than 60%) is a highly corrosive element. If left to itself, exposed to the elements, iron will rust and corrode, and over time it will loose its integrity and disintegrate. The addition of other elements like carbon, chromium, molybdenum, nickel, etc. gives iron its strength and stainless quality. Hence, the name.

Throughout the years of using stainless steel it made me think and mull over how this plain material could be something more – the goal of Christians life. Yep, you read it right. Stainless steel is the goal of Christian life. It is truly amazing how such a mundane item could conjure profound inspirations and reflections. I think such is the Holy Spirit.

Aren’t we all much like iron? Left to ourselves, we will rust, corrode, loose our integrity, and disintegrate. A little blowing of the wrong kind of breeze and a rust of sin will start to develop. Exposed to the harsh chemicals of daily life then we begin to internally corrode. The ever present elements of temptation and trials will easily degrade our moral standing. Yep, that is what we are – iron, strong yet easily corroded. Our spiritual life is as vulnerable as it is precious. A much needed intervention is more than required to survive the attacks of the unforgiving world.

However, as what was lightly explained earlier, if iron is introduced with certain elements and components (carbon, chromium, molybdenum, nickel, etc.) then, as if miraculously, its strength is heightened and its resistance to any form of degradation is maximized. The plain old steel is now stainless. Much like our Christian life, we need an abundance of assistance from on high to resist the corroding effects of our nature and “supernature”. We need the heroic virtues of the Saints: our Lady’s surrender, St. Joseph’s silence, Don Bosco’s trust, the courage of the martyrs, the purity of the virgins, and the total dedication of the Angels. Most importantly, we need God’s grace to accept them all. If we possess these add-ons to the mixture of our humanity, then we could become as strong and resisting as stainless steel. We will be able to survive the onslaught of degrading and corroding attempts of the demonic elements. If we are as strong as stainless steel, we can have the security to pass through this world of perversion in a glorious fashion.

As I have been using stainless steel in producing rosaries, we can only hope that we, too, will be used as “rosaries” for others – one who is in constant intercession, in an unceasing reechoing of God’s goodness.

Disclaimer: This section of the website is a personal creative writing of the author and does not necessarily reflect the official views, opinion, or policies of the Salesians of Don Bosco – Philippines South Province. For concerns on the content, style, and grammar of this piece, please contact us.