How to Use Anglican Prayer Beads

Anglican prayer beads, also commonly called the Anglican rosary, offer a new take on the ancient practice (in both Christianity and other world religions) of using beads as an aid for contemplative prayer. Anglican prayer beads were developed in the mid-80s by a group of Episcopalians (American Anglicans) who were studying methods of prayer. While developed within the Anglican tradition, Anglican prayer beads are not officially endorsed by any governing Anglican body. However, their use has been adopted by many Anglicans and by other Protestants (who sometimes refer to them simply as "Christian prayer beads"). Some Protestants also pray the Catholic rosary.

Anglican prayer beads are a blend of the aesthetics and ordering of the Catholic rosary and the Orthodox Jesus prayer rope. The Anglican rosary contains 33 beads, one for each of the years of Jesus' life. These 33 beads are split into 28 small beads, four large cruciform beads (so called because their arrangement forms an invisible cross) and an "invitatory bead" that is located outside of the main circle of the prayer beads and connects the circle of beads with a cross. The smaller beads are divided by the larger beads into four "weeks" of seven beads. Generally, one prayers around the circle of prayer beads three times, with the three-fold repetition representing the trinity.

Unlike the Catholic Marian rosary or the Orthodox prayer rope, the Anglican rosary does not have set prayers to be used with the beads. There are a wide variety of prayers that have been developed for the beads and many people also develop their own prayers for personal use. While there are a diverse number of prayers to be used, there is a set format that is employed in praying the beads regardless of the prayer chosen.

• First, start with the cross. Hold the cross in your fingers and say (aloud or silently to yourself), "In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit."
• Then, move to the invitatory bead. Many people choose to say the following on this bead: "O God make speed to save me./O Lord make haste to help me./Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning and is now and will be forever. Amen." Some forms prescribe a different prayer for this bead.
• Move around the main circle of prayer beads three times. You will say two different prayers: one for the large, cruciform beads and one for the smaller beads that compose the "weeks." These differ based upon the prayer you choose.
• After moving through the circle three times, return to the invitatory bead and say the Lord's Prayer: "O Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen."
• Finally, return to the cross and say "Thanks be to God."

There are a huge variety of prayers available for use with Anglican prayer beads. The following websites are a great resource (for concerns of copyright, I have decided to not reprint any of the prayers here):

• King of Peace Episcopal Church offers prayers based on the Orthodox Trisagion and Jesus prayers, the Agnus Dei and (my personal favorite) a form based upon the prayer of Julian of Norwich.
• St. Mary Magdalene's Resort's website contains prayers based on the Eucharist and the Serenity prayer.

• Full Circle Beads, a manufacturer of prayer beads, offers a wide variety of prayers including a Celtic prayer.

You may also wish to incorporate the Kyrie or other elements of the liturgy or the Book of Common Prayer that are especially important to you.

If you are interested in prayers to use during different parts of the liturgical year, you may want to look at Nan Lewis Doerr and Virginia Stem Owens' Praying with Beads: Daily Prayers for the Christian Year, which proscribes prayers based on scripture for each week of the liturgical year.

If you'd like to buy a set of Anglican prayer beads, there are plenty of sites to choose from. I haven't used all of these sites, but I've indicated my experience with them in cases where I have ordered something from the site:

• The Solitaries of DeKoven are a group of Episcopal hermits who support their hermitage in part through the sale of prayer beads. You may choose various types and colors of beads and can select from five different types of crosses. Prices run from $22.50 to $26.00 depending on the type of bead chosen. Wholesale pricing is also available for large orders. I ordered my set of prayer beads from this site and have been very happy with them. My beads included instructions for using the beads and a copy of four prayers.
• Episcopal Bookstore offers prayer beads from $29.95 to $34.95. While I've never ordered prayer beads from them before, I have ordered other products and was very impressed with their speed and friendliness.
• Full Circle Beads offers a wide selection of prayer beads ranging from $19.00 to $65.00. Free shipping is offered for orders over $50.00.

If you're crafty, you might want to consider making your own.

I hope that you'll consider making prayer beads a part of your spiritual practice. I know that using beads has been a great benefit to my own prayer life. If you're interested in exploring other contemplative practices, you might be interested in my article on how to practice lectio divina. May God bless you on your spiritual journey!