Anglican Prayer Beads

A Companion to Contemplative Prayer

Anglican prayer beads are a relatively new form of prayer, blending the Orthodox Jesus Prayer Rope and the Roman Catholic Rosary.

The use of prayer beads helps to bring us into contemplative or meditative prayer... really thinking about and being mindful of praying... of being in the presence of God... by use of mind, body, and spirit. The touching of the fingers on each successive bead is an aid in keeping our mind from wandering, and the rhythm of the prayers leads us more readily into stillness.

Mahogany Obsidian

Snowflake Obsidian

Sodalite

Anglican prayer beads consist of 33 beads, one for each of the years that Jesus walked the Earth. The 33 beads are divided into four sections of seven beads each, called "weeks".

The number seven symbolizes the number of days in Creation as well as the temporal week. There are also seven seasons in the Church year, and seven sacraments.

The four cruciform beads that separate the weeks" form the four points of a cross. Four also represents the changing of the four seasons and the four cardinal directions.

The invitatory bead, strung just above the larger Canterbury Cross, invites us into the presence of God. A cross is used more often than a crucifix with the Anglican prayer beads signifying a risen Lord.

Praying with Beads

Praying with prayer beads helps to focus the wandering mind. Repetitious prayers are often used to lull one into a rhythm, encouraging a relaxing stillness. It's a form of meditation. The guidelines for praying the Anglican Rosary are less structured so you can choose from a number of already penned prayers... or, you can pen your own.

To begin...

• Hold the cross and recite an opening prayer.
• Move to the invitatory bead and recite its prayer.
• Move to the first cruciform bead and say the prayer that you will repeat at each cruciform bead.
• Go bead by bead through each week... praying as you go.
• Exit the prayer circle after the last cruciform bead, by say of the invitatory bead and the cross.
• Go slowly... be deliberate... relax in your prayers... be very still... and, listen.

A Celtic Prayer
For your Canterbury Cross Prayer Beads

At the Cross
In the name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

At the Invitatory
O God make speed to save me (us)
O Lord make haste to help me (us)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen

At the Cruciforms
Be the eye of God dwelling with me,
The foot of Christ in guidance with me,
The shower of the Spirit pouring on me,
Richly and generously

At the Weeks
Pray each phrase on a separate bead.
I bow before the Father who made me,
I bow before the Son who saved me,
I bow before the Spirit who guides me,
In love and adoration.
I praise the Name of the one on high,
I bow before thee Sacred Three,
The ever One, the Trinity.

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