A Baptist using prayer beads
To people who are not Roman Catholic, one of the mysteries of Catholicism is the rosary. The rosary in the Catholic tradition has a whole theology behind it, but the simplest definition of a rosary is "prayer beads." A couple of years ago I was exploring the whole ancient/future thing and became intrigued by prayer beads. I discovered Anglican prayer beads, developed by an Anglican priest as an aid to prayer, and offering the same guidance and focus that the rosary offers for Catholics. I also discovered that prayer beads, prayer ropes, and other aids to prayer are ancient practices with origins in Egypt and Ethiopia.
I searched the internet for sources and found Full Circle Beads. They have excellent background material on prayer beads, including various prayers that can be used with the Anglican-style beads. A nice description of the symbolism behind the Anglican beads is on the Full Circle site here.
In addition to an attractive, user-friendly site, the Full Circle folks are a delight to work with. I ordered a set of beads from them and Debbie liked them so much that I ordered a set for her. A couple of weeks go by and no beads arrive. I emailed Full Circle, and immediately they sent out another set. Guess what? The lost beads arrived only a couple of days later, delayed in the US mail system. Full Circle never cashed my check for the missing beads, even though I emailed them of the beads arrival! Good folks to work with.
The beads pictured above are a design Debbie made for me because I wanted a smaller version to carry in my pocket. This single line of beads is my version of a chaplet. It contains a cross, an invitatory bead, two cruciform beads, and 7 weeks beads. For the definitions and placement of these bead types, see the Full Circle Symbolism page.
Full Circle also has several prayer sequences which are mostly scripture. I have used a couple of their examples, and some of my own as well. Although I do not use them in prayer everyday, I like carrying the beads in my pocket. Feeling the smooth glass cross, and the irregular cruciform beads is a prayer experience in itself. — Amicus Dei
My father was raised in the Catholic faith, when he married my mother he converted to the Methodist faith. He never gave up his rosary though, which he always carried in his pocket, along with all the other cool stuff Dad’s carry in their pockets. (mints, quarters, etc.!)He called it his “reminder”, and he used it kind of like a worry stone. Remember those oval shaped stones with an indent for your thumb to rub in? Dad passed when I was just 15. When I grew up and remembered things about my father, I remembered the rosary in his pocket, and from that simple set of beads, I knew that my father had a personal relationship with God. What a lesson to teach your child, in such a simple way.
Now that I’m a Mom, I keep my father’s rosary on my rear-view mirror. Before we leave in the car I reach up and touch the beads. I hope that my simple action, will be a good example for my children, and that they will look back on my life one day, and know that I too had a relationship with God. Big lesson, for a small chain of beads.
Lori
January 25, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Lori, what a great memory and story. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Chuck Warnock
January 25, 2007 at 5:07 pm
I came across Anglican prayer beads while researching Eastern Orthodox spirituality and “The Jesus Prayer.”
My experience was much like yours when my wife saw them. It’s great to be able to pray together with her using the beads. Ours came from White Street Bead Co.(also great to do business with.) Another great Anglican prayer bead site is http://www.kingofpeace.org.,which has several variations of prayers to use, including The Jesus Prayer and the Trisagion.
Larry Nielsen
November 16, 2008 at 4:27 pm