Anglican prayer beads explained
Anglican prayer beads, also known as the Anglican rosary or Anglican chaplet, are a loop of strung Christian prayer beads used chiefly by Anglicans in the Anglican Communion, as well as by communicants in the Anglican Continuum. This Anglican devotion has spread to other Christian denominations, including Methodists and the Reformed.[1] [2]
Description
Anglican prayer bead sets consist of a cross and thirty-three beads.
Beads
The loop is formed of thirty-two beads. Twenty-eight of the beads are divided into four groups consisting of seven beads, each which are called "weeks". The four larger beads separating the four groups are called "cruciform" beads. When the loop of an Anglican prayer bead set is opened into a circular shape, the "cruciform" beads form the points of a cross within the circle of the set, hence the term. Next after the cross on Anglican prayer bead sets is a single bead called the "invitatory" bead, which brings the total of beads to thirty-three.
Materials
The beads used can be made of a variety of materials, such as precious stones, wood, coloured glass, or even dried and painted seeds.
Symbolism
The number thirty-three signifies the number of years that Jesus Christ lived on the Earth, while the number seven signifies wholeness or completion in the faith, the days of creation, and the seasons of the Church year.[3]
Cross
Anglican prayer bead sets are made with a variety of crosses or, occasionally, crucifixes. Christian crosses such as the Celtic cross and the San Damiano cross are two which are often used, though other styles are used too.
Prayer
Anglican prayer beads are most often used as a tactile aid to prayer and as a counting device. The standard Anglican set consists of the following pattern, starting with the cross, followed by the Invitatory Bead, and subsequently, the first Cruciform bead, moving to the right, through the first set of seven beads to the next Cruciform bead, continuing around the circle. He or she may conclude by saying the Lord's Prayer on the invitatory bead or a final prayer on the cross as in the examples below. The entire circle may be done thrice, which signifies the lifetime of Jesus Christ and the Holy Trinity.[3]
See also
Bibliography
- Book: Duckworth. Penelope. 2004. Mary: The Imagination of Her Heart. Cambridge, Massachusetts. Cowley Publications. 978-1-56101-260-2.
- Book: Schultz. Thomas. 2003. The Rosary for Episcopalians/Anglicans. 2nd. Oakland, California. Regent Press. 978-1-58790-055-6.
Further reading
- Book: Crosby. Gilbert T.. 2000. Praying the Rosary: An Introduction for Episcopalians. Cincinnati, Ohio. Forward Movement Publications. 48854131.
- Book: Durrad. W. J.. The Anglican Use of the Rosary. London. A. H. Stockwell. 36764926.
- Book: Elliott. Kristin M.. Seibt. Betty Kay. 2001. Holding Your Prayers in Your Hands: Praying the Anglican Rosary. 10th. Denton, Texas. Open Hands. 229217288.
- Book: Price. Anthony. 1991. Reconsidering the Rosary. Grove Spirituality Series. 36. Bramcote, England. Grove Books. 978-1-85174-170-0.
- Book: Smith. Charles. 1969. The Rosary. London. League of Anglican Loyalists. 978-0-900894-08-4.
- Book: Society of St. John the Evangelist. Society of St. John the Evangelist. 1975. The Mysteries of the Rosary: A Short Treatise. London. Church Literature Association. 2031861.
- Book: Stowell. Renata. 2004. The Anglican Rosary for Children: Prayers for the Young at Heart. Kelowna, British Columbia. 978-0-9735332-1-7.
- Book: Vincent. Kristen E.. 2013. A Bead and a Prayer: A Beginner's Guide to Protestant Prayer Beads. Nashville, Tennessee. Upper Room Books. 978-0-8358-1217-7.
- Book: Winston. Kimberly. 2008. Bead One, Pray, Too: A Guide to Making and Using Prayer Beads. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Morehouse Publishing. 978-0-8192-2276-3. registration.
External links
Notes and References
- Book: Vincent, Kristen E.. Beads of Healing: Prayer, Trauma, and Spiritual Wholeness . 1 March 2017. Upper Room. 9780835816373. 11–12.
- Web site: Prayer Beads for United Methodists. Walsh. Fran. 20 April 2016. The United Methodist Church. 11 March 2017 . At the United Methodist General Conference, every delegate and church leader received a set of prayer beads made especially for 2016 in Portland. The United Methodist artist who helped craft the design says Protestant prayer beads are an idea that is catching on..
- Web site: Anglican Prayer Beads. King of Peace Episcopal Church. 2007-10-18. 2019-02-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20190201164947/http://www.kingofpeace.org/prayerbeads.htm. dead.
