Introduction to Anglican Prayer Beads – a.k.a. the “Anglican Rosary”

I. Uses & Purposes A. Most basically, used to keep count of prayers or other devotions B. Used in various ways:

1. repetition of the same prayer/devotion 2. repetition of several different prayers in some sequence3. meditation on a series of spiritual themes

C. Purposes, or: Why pray like this?1. touch as an aid to contemplative prayer, a tactile focus of attention2. Repetition: to bring us closer to God3. Internalization of prayer: “read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest”4. In Scripture: - Parable of the persistent widow: persistence rewarded (Luke 18:1-8, see also 11:7-8) - St. Paul: “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) - Jesus often went away either alone or with a couple of disciples to pray; i.e. Luke 6:12 ON THE OTHER HAND: “do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.” (Matt. 6:6-8)

II. In Various Traditions A. Roman Catholic (Rosary)

- highly Marian: addresses Mary, not God- combines sequence of prayers with meditations on events from the life of Christ

B. Orthodox – 100 beads- typically with the Jesus Prayer: “Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.”

C. Anglicans (“The Anglican Rosary;” some Anglicans pray the traditional [Roman] rosary)- Anglican Rosary: no set sequence of prayers

D. Other faiths – Islam, Buddhism, Hindu, Baha’i.

III. History A. Eastern Christianity

1. Prayer Ropes - The monastic “Desert Fathers,” 3rd - 5th c. 2. Very early on, monks might have counted prayers with piles of pebbles

B. Evolution of the Roman Rosary1. The popular devotional practice of reciting the 150 Psalms in sets of 50.

a. For illiterate Christians, 150 “Our Fathers” were substituted b. strings of 50 beads used to count these prayers.

2. In the Middle Ages, the repetition of the Haily Mary began to be prayed alongside, or instead of Lord’s Prayer in the use of such beads3. 15th –16th centuries, the 3 traditional sets of meditations (“Mysteries”) are developed, and the current wording of the “Hail Mary” develops

C. Anglican Prayer Beads1. Developed in the mid-80’s by Episcopal priest, the Rev. Lynn Bauman2. Unlike the rosary, usually have a cross, not a crucifix (a cross with a “corpus”)3. Adaptable, may be used in various ways, a sort of “blank slate” for personal use

ONLINE RESOURCESYou can find a good deal more about Anglican Prayer Beads (or Anglican “Rosary” – try both terms in search engines) online. Even a simple Wikipedia query on the term brings up an interesting article.

King of Peace website - http://www.kingofpeace.org/prayerbeads.htmGeneral information on APB’s, how to make your own, and several forms of prayer for use with the beads. The Anglican Rosary at St. Gabriel’s site - http://www.saintgabriels.org/rosary.htmlGeneral information, and some suggested prayers for use with the beads. Also offers rosaries for sale.Society of St. Francis website - http://www.franciscan.org.au/anglicanrosary.htmlThis web page was prepared using notes from workshops on Prayer Beads run by Br Nathan-James of the Society of St Francis. Good general background to the Anglican Rosary, a bit of history on prayer beads, and how to make your own prayers.