Rosary Prayers Introduction
New to the Anglican Rosary?
An Anglican Rosary
That’s not surprising, since it’s only been around for about twenty years. It is used as an aid to prayer and reflection.
The total number of beads is 33, representing the 33 years of Christ’s life. There are 28 smaller beads, divided into four groups of seven, and called the weeks beads (seven days in a week, four weeks in a month). The four larger beads separating the four weeks are called cruciform beads.
If you lay the beads out in a circle, these four beads form the shape of a cross. The large bead at the end is called the invitatory bead. Its purpose is to invite you to enter the circle of prayer formed by your Anglican rosary.
There is no prescribed set of prayers to be used with your Anglican prayer beads. We offer one suggestion only, but you will want to explore your own ways of using your beads as an aid to prayer. Our suggestion is called the ACTS of Prayer. Please follow the link: Anglican Prayers >>
The Catholic or Marian Rosary . . .
A Catholic Rosary
Is an active and powerful way to gain a deeper relationship with Jesus through reflecting on the events of his life and ministry. The way is pointed by his mother, Mary, his first disciple. People who pray the Rosary are not just using beads as counters. They are engaged in prayer and very effective reflections on the life of Christ.
The complete Rosary consists of twenty decades (groups of ten beads) divided into four sets of Mysteries: the Joyful, the Luminous, the Sorrowful, and the Glorious. Most people pray one set of Mysteries each day. Traditionally the five Joyful Mysteries are prayed on Monday and Saturday, the Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesday and Friday, the Glorious Mysteries on Wednesday and Sunday, and the Luminous on Thursday.
Please follow the link to find a brief set of instructions for praying the Rosary and a listing of the Mysteries: The Catholic Rosary >>
The Peace Chaplet
A Peace Chaplet
The Peace Chaplet is a traditional Croatian devotion, composed of the Apostles Creed, and seven times the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Gloria. It is also sometimes known as the “Worker’s Rosary.” This simple devotional is over a hundred years old, and its major purpose is to provide a means of prayer for peace. Much loved by Catholics, its popularity is growing. The idea of using the seven sets of three beads to pray for peace is both simple and beautiful. Meditations on peace seem to follow naturally.
With a sincere desire to make the Peace Chaplet available to all Christians, I have put together a set of prayers from the Book of Common Prayer (as I am an Episcopalian) and brief passages from Scripture. These form a set of prayers, responses, meditations for the chaplet that can be used by anyone wishing to pray for peace. Please follow the link to review and explore these meditations: Peace Chaplet Prayers >>
The Rosarymaker’s Hints
Some Interesting and Unusual Prayer Beads
There are some lovely and fascinating uses of beads in prayer. Here are a few:
“Good Deed” or “Sacrifice” beads: Based on the teachings of Thérèse of Lisieux, ten beads are strung together on a cord or thong with a cross or medal at the end. Try each day to do one good deed for each bead. If your bead-stringer is artful, you can actually move the beads up on the cord after you’ve done your good deed. Ever popular with children, they also make a fine addition to your key ring.
“Niner” or Nine Bead Chaplets: Dedicated to a particular saint, they include three groups of three beads. Pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and Glory Be on each bead in each set.
“Tenners” are simply a single decade of the rosary.
Lutheran Prayer Beads. Yes, there is a Lutheran rosary. Called the Wreath of Christ, it incorporates a complex symbolism involving the various sizes and colors of the beads. Lovely to look at . . . a bit difficult to learn to pray with. We feature another Lutheran rosary based on the Shorter Catechism.
