Anglican Prayer Beads (or rosary beads) are a relatively new form of prayer, blending the Orthodox Jesus Prayer Rope and the Roman Catholic Rosary. The thirty-three bead design was created by the Rev. Lynn Bauman in the mid-1980s, through the prayerful exploration and discovery of a contemplative prayer group.

The prayer beads are made up of twenty-eight beads divided into four groups of seven called weeks. In the Judeo-Christian tradition the number seven represents spiritual perfection and completion. Between each week is a single bead, called a cruciform bead as the four beads form a cross. The invitatory bead between the cross and the wheel of beads brings the total to thirty-three, the number of years in Jesus’ earthly life.

The use of the rosary or prayer beads helps to bring us into contemplative of 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. One of the features of the anglican rosary that makes it so attractive is the fact that you can develop your own prayer format selecting prayers and/or passages that have particular meaning to you or your situation. There are several sample formats available on the Internet for Anglican prayer beads, please see below for a small selection - but, as there is no set ‘formulae’ for the Anglican rosary, people can develop prayers for use with the rosary that reflect their own spiritual journey. Enjoy!

Prayers For The Anglican Rosary:

Eternal God and Father, by whose power we are created and by whose love we are redeemed: guide and strengthen us by your Spirit, that we may give ourselves to your service, and live this day in love to one another and to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Cross
Blessed be the one, holy, and living God.
Glory to God for ever and ever. Amen.

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.

The Cruciforms
Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord. You that stand in the house of the Lord, lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the Lord.

The Weeks
I lift up my eyes to the hills;
From where is my help to come?
My help comes from the Lord,
The maker of heaven and earth.

Rosary Diagram:

To begin, hold the Cross and say the prayer you have assigned to it, then move to the Invitatory Bead. Then enter the circle of the prayer with the first Cruciform Bead, moving to the right, go through the first set of seven beads to the next Cruciform bead, continuing around the circle, saying the prayers for each bead.

It is suggested that you pray around the circle of the beads three times (which signifies the Trinity) in an unhurried pace, allowing the repetition to become a sort of lullaby of love and praise that enables your mind to rest and your heart to become quiet and still.

Praying through the beads three times and adding the crucifix at the beginning or the end, brings the total to one hundred, which is the total of the Orthodox Rosary. A period of silence should follow the prayer, for a time of reflection and listening. Listening is an important part of all prayer.

Begin praying the Anglican Prayer Beads by selecting the prayers you wish to use for the cross and each bead. Practice them until it is clear which prayer goes with which bead, and as far as possible commit the prayers to memory.

Find a quiet spot and allow your body and mind to become restful and still. After a time of silence, begin praying the prayer beads at an unhurried, intentional pace. Complete the circle of the beads three times.

When you have completed the round of the prayer beads, you should end with a period of silence. This silence allows you to center your being in an extended period of silence. It also invites reflection and listening after you have invoked the Name and Presence of God.

Closing your Prayers -
You may mix and match, or put together your own concluding prayers.

 

Prayers

A General Thanksgiving Prayer:

“Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you most humble and hearty thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all people;
We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your inestimable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ,
for the means of grace,
and for the hope of glory.
And we beseech you, give us that due sense of all your mercies,
that our hearts may be thankful,
and that we show forth your praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives;
by giving up ourselves to your service,
and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom with you and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory,
world without end. Amen.”

 

An Evening Prayer:

The Cross
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Invitatory
Open my lips, O Lord,
and my mouth shall proclaim
Your praise.

The Cruciforms
Guide us waking, O Lord,
and guard us sleeping;
that awake we may watch
with Christ, and asleep
we may rest in peace.

The Weeks
Jesus, lamb of God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins, have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world, give us your peace.

The following prayer is from The Society of Saint Francis but you can find a plethora of prayers that are more suited to you online or from your own heart.

The Cross
In the name of the creator, redeemer and sanctifier of life. Amen.

The Invitatory Bead
We adore you most holy Lord Jesus Christ, here and in all your Churches throughout the whole world, and we bless you because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

The Cruciform Beads
Most high and glorious God, enlighten the darkness of our hearts and give us true faith, a certain hope and a prefect love. Give us a sense of the Divine and a knowledge of yourself, so that we may do everything in fulfillment of your holy will.

The Week Beads
My God, my all.

The Invitatory Bead
May our blessed Lady pray for us. May St Francis, St Clare and St Elizabeth pray for us. May all the saints of God pray for us. May the angels of God befriend us and watch around us to protect us. May the Lord Jesus give us his blessing of peace. Amen.

The Cross
In the name of the creator, redeemer and sanctifier of life. Amen

 

O LORD our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day: Defend us in the same with your mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither fall into any kind of danger; but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance, to do always that is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O GOD, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed; Give unto your servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our hearts may be set to obey your commandments, and also, that by you we being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.