Pray with beads? Is that something I should do? But, I’m not Catholic and I’m not sure about praying the rosary.
I’d been getting questions for a while about how to pray with prayer beads, but had resisted the idea. I wasn’t sure prayer beads were for me – or were for Protestants for that matter.
Then, when one of the ministry directors at my church asked me to write a Lenten devotional for the church based on praying with Anglican prayer beads I knew I had to dig deeper.
Turns out, praying with beads is for anyone – even Protestants – and it’s become one of my favorite ways to pray.
As I began to pray with prayer beads, I found myself slowing down in my prayers, focusing more on the words I was praying, and spending more quality time with God.
- I wasn’t as rushed in my prayers.
- I brought more scripture to my prayers – and was able to keep those verses with me through the day.
- I prayed longer, lingering in my prayers. I found myself wishing for more time to spend in prayer.
Holding the prayers beads was an unexpected blessing, helping pace and guide my prayers, something tangible and tactile to ground my prayers.
I hope you’ll read on to learn more about Anglican prayer beads, how to use them, and why you may want to try praying with beads. I’ve also included lots of resources on praying with beads, including my Lenten devotional.
Christians have been praying with beads for centuries. The tactile nature of beads helps bring focus to prayers.
While the Catholic rosary has been the most predominant form of prayer with prayer beads, Protestants can also pray with prayer beads.
In the 1980s, an Episcopalian priest in Texas, Rev. Lynn Bauman, created Anglican prayer beads with more Protestant symbolism. While these were originally created for the Episcopal / Anglican tradition, they have been adopted by many Protestants over the years.
These prayer beads start with a Cross as a reminder of Christ’s act of salvation and include 33 beads to represent the 33 years of Jesus’ life.
The first bead is the largest one, called the Invitatory Bead. This one invites you into prayer, calling God into your presence.
The remaining 32 beads are divided into 4 ‘weeks’. There are four Cruciform Beads to start each week, which are symbolic of the 4 Gospels and the 4 seasons of the year. Each ‘week’ includes 7 Week Beads. The number 7 is symbolic of spiritual perfection, 7 days of creation, 7 liturgical seasons of the year, 7 days in the week.
Some may also include a Resurrection Bead next to the Invitatory Bead, as a reminder that Christ has triumphed over death and promises us eternal life in his kingdom.
There is no set prayer to use with Anglican prayer beads. Instead, the intent is to use them in any prayer, for any intent. Prayers with prayer beads are most often based on scripture.
Praying with beads adds a tactile component to your prayers. The act of holding the beads and moving from one bead to the next brings focus to your prayers.
If you struggle to slow down for prayer or feel like you’re always rushing through your prayer time, prayer beads are a great way to bring more focus to your prayers.
I’ve found I spend more time in prayer when I pray with beads and I am more fully present with God. The beads help eliminate the distractions and stray thoughts in my mind. I pray longer because I’m committed to praying through all the beads.
I also love to use the prayer beads for praying with scripture and have found it helps commit the verse to my heart and my memory through the repetition of the beads.
You can find many prayer guides online and in books for praying with Anglican prayer beads, or you can make your own.
- Start by holding the Cross, and say an opening prayer.
- Next, move to the Invitatory Bead and say a prayer to invite God into your presence.
- As you enter the circle of Weeks Beads, say one prayer or scripture at each Cruciform Bead.
- Next, repeat a small prayer or verse for each of the Weeks Beads. Allow the repetition of these prayers to help you pray more deeply and focus more fully.
- Go slowly through the beads, allowing some silence between beads. This is a meditative prayer, intended to help you slow down and pray deeper.
- You may choose to go around the circle three times, or you can simply go around once.
- Return to the Invitatory Bead to close your prayers. I personally like to close with the Lord’s Prayer and then a prayer of my own at the Cross to conclude my prayer time. You can also use a simple benediction at the Cross to close your prayers.
This prayer is one of the ones included in the Prepare Your Heart devotional. You can use any scriptures as you pray with beads. I especially like to use the Psalms, but the beauty of praying with beads is that you can use any verse to guide your prayers.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.“All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced;those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them.Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all.For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right handand says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you. (Isaiah 41:10-13 NIV)
How to Pray with Anglican Prayer Beads – Prayer & Possibilities
Pray with beads? Is that something I should do? But, I’m not Catholic and I’m not sure about praying the rosary.
I’d been getting questions for a while about how to pray with prayer beads, but had resisted the idea. I wasn’t sure prayer beads were for me – or were for Protestants for that matter.
Then, when one of the ministry directors at my church asked me to write a Lenten devotional for the church based on praying with Anglican prayer beads I knew I had to dig deeper.
Turns out, praying with beads is for anyone – even Protestants – and it’s become one of my favorite ways to pray.
As I began to pray with prayer beads, I found myself slowing down in my prayers, focusing more on the words I was praying, and spending more quality time with God.
Holding the prayers beads was an unexpected blessing, helping pace and guide my prayers, something tangible and tactile to ground my prayers.
I hope you’ll read on to learn more about Anglican prayer beads, how to use them, and why you may want to try praying with beads. I’ve also included lots of resources on praying with beads, including my Lenten devotional.
Christians have been praying with beads for centuries. The tactile nature of beads helps bring focus to prayers.
While the Catholic rosary has been the most predominant form of prayer with prayer beads, Protestants can also pray with prayer beads.
In the 1980s, an Episcopalian priest in Texas, Rev. Lynn Bauman, created Anglican prayer beads with more Protestant symbolism. While these were originally created for the Episcopal / Anglican tradition, they have been adopted by many Protestants over the years.
These prayer beads start with a Cross as a reminder of Christ’s act of salvation and include 33 beads to represent the 33 years of Jesus’ life.
The first bead is the largest one, called the Invitatory Bead. This one invites you into prayer, calling God into your presence.
The remaining 32 beads are divided into 4 ‘weeks’. There are four Cruciform Beads to start each week, which are symbolic of the 4 Gospels and the 4 seasons of the year. Each ‘week’ includes 7 Week Beads. The number 7 is symbolic of spiritual perfection, 7 days of creation, 7 liturgical seasons of the year, 7 days in the week.
Some may also include a Resurrection Bead next to the Invitatory Bead, as a reminder that Christ has triumphed over death and promises us eternal life in his kingdom.
There is no set prayer to use with Anglican prayer beads. Instead, the intent is to use them in any prayer, for any intent. Prayers with prayer beads are most often based on scripture.
Praying with beads adds a tactile component to your prayers. The act of holding the beads and moving from one bead to the next brings focus to your prayers.
If you struggle to slow down for prayer or feel like you’re always rushing through your prayer time, prayer beads are a great way to bring more focus to your prayers.
I’ve found I spend more time in prayer when I pray with beads and I am more fully present with God. The beads help eliminate the distractions and stray thoughts in my mind. I pray longer because I’m committed to praying through all the beads.
I also love to use the prayer beads for praying with scripture and have found it helps commit the verse to my heart and my memory through the repetition of the beads.
You can find many prayer guides online and in books for praying with Anglican prayer beads, or you can make your own.
This prayer is one of the ones included in the Prepare Your Heart devotional. You can use any scriptures as you pray with beads. I especially like to use the Psalms, but the beauty of praying with beads is that you can use any verse to guide your prayers.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.“All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced;those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them.Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all.For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right handand says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you. (Isaiah 41:10-13 NIV)