Christian Prayer Beads

Near the end of this rather lengthy article, you will find how the beads are prayed, suggestions, and reflection on personal prayer with the beads.

Historical Background: Prayer beads are a tradition in many faiths and historically have been used for meditative prayer and drawing closer to God in every age. Most of the religions of the world have used some physical method of counting prayers. The use of Christian prayer beads is a more recent development, but one that has widely found its place during the past 20 years, partly because these are not denominational, partly because of their very personal nature and because the use of these prayer beads is Scripture-oriented. Episcopalians, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, Disciples, Presbyterians, and non-denominational Christians are only some of those who have adopted them for their own use.

Most of the world's inhabitants, nearly two-thirds of the planet's population, pray with beads. Traditionally, prayer beads have been strings of similarly sized beads, seeds, knots, or even rose petals and beads made from crushed roses, from which we get the word "rosary." In addition to helping keep the place in structured prayers, prayer beads also symbolize the commitment to spiritual life. A circular form represents the interconnectedness of all who pray. Each bead counted is an individual prayer and repetition of prayers is meant to help maintain a sole focus on the prayer itself. According to history, lay brothers in monasteries who, unlike the monks, knew no Latin, were to say the Lord's Prayer a certain number of times per day, usually 150. To count the prayers, they used pebbles or beads strung on a cord, and this cord was known as a Paternoster. The Paternoster is the original Christian prayer rope. A Paternoster is a linear rope of beads, not in a loop. It has a cross at one end and a tassel at the other. It would be surprising to those who associate Lady Godiva merely with unusual horsemanship, but the first recorded mention of Christian prayer beads is in her will. She bequeathed her paternoster beads of precious gemstones to the convent she founded in 1057.

Most scholars believe that the use of prayer beads originated in ancient India with the Hindus. The strand of Hindu prayer beads, called a mala, was designed for wear around the neck, and consisted of 108 beads for repeating mantras or counting one's breath. The word mala means "rose" or "garland" in Sanskrit. The earliest known mala still in existence is around 2,000 years old.

Christian prayer beads have been traditionally associated with Roman Catholicism or with the Greek and Russian Orthodox tradition. John Calvin discouraged their use by Protestant believers. He rejected materialism and ritual, feeling the faithful should read and analyze spiritual texts in direct relationship with God, rather than just memorize a set of prayers. However, in the late 1980s, an Episcopal priest created an Anglican rosary of 33 beads, representing the years of Jesus' earthy life. Originally known as Anglican prayer beads, and now also termed Anglican rosaries or Christian prayer beads, these prayer beads are a loop of beads which Christians use as a focus for prayer. Symbolism: Christian prayer bead sets are 33 beads divided into groups of seven with additional larger beads separating the groups. The number 33 represents the years Christ lived on the Earth. The groups of seven beads are called Weeks. The beads between the Weeks are Cruciform beads. When the loop of beads is opened into a circular shape, these beads form the four points of the cross within the circle of the set, hence the term Cruciform. The "fours" in prayer beads represent the four Gospels and the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, while the "sevens" represent the days of creation, the Biblical number for perfection, the seasons of the church year, and more.

With the passage of time and the growth of interest in these beads, some organizations have developed their own prayer formats, often selecting prayers that reflect the distinctive beliefs of the churches to which they belong. Readers can be left with the erroneous impression the suggested prayers (and meditations) listed there are "official" ones to use with Christian prayer beads. While it is true that there are certain prayers which are more commonly said, the vision behind Christian beads remains, as always, that you make your own selections in keeping with your own intentions and personal beliefs. View these prayer beads as a way to deepen your prayer life, by meditating on what Jesus has done for us, and on the truth of his resurrection.  

Spiritual practices, simply put, are those activities that connect us more deeply with the virtues of the Spirit, with the Divine. They are practices that provide us with a unique opportunity to experience sacred time and space; to remove ourselves from the distractions and noise of a too busy world, and remember our spiritual connection. Spiritual practices, properly cultivated, enable us to access inner calm, joy, and gratitude for life. These Christian prayer beads are one such practice.

How to Pray:  An initial prayer is prayed on the cross, followed by (1) the Invitational bead, an “invitation” to prayer and a point to settle into quiet reflection and meditation, (the “33^rd” bead, if you will) (2) the first Cruciform bead, (3) followed by the four groups of seven beads, each group separated by the second, third, and fourth Cruciform beads.

One example of how the beads may be prayed: CROSS: (here we invoke the Triune God) In the name of God the Creator, God the Redeemer, and God the Sustainer. Open my heart to your grace and truth. INVITATORY BEAD (first bead above the cross): God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble. (Ps. 46:1) CRUCIFORM BEADS: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior. (Luke 1:46) THE WEEKS: Come, Lord Jesus, draw us to yourself. (John 12:32) Other suggestions: Many people like to say the Jesus prayer all the way around. "Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner".

The Cruciform beads may be prayed with a different Bible verse. One may conclude by saying the Lord's Prayer after returning to the Invitatory bead following the full circle. Some users pray the entire circle three times, which signifies the Holy Trinity. There are numerous variations of the particular prayers used with Anglican prayer beads.

There is no right or wrong way to engage in personal prayer. If there is a rule, it would be to simply follow your heart. You can use the beads differently from day to day if you wish. Feel free to make up your own prayers from your favorite Psalms or Scripture. Said aloud, in silence, or in a group, we pray that God will honor our praise and devotion, drawing us into the healing, life-changing Presence.

A few suggestions to get you started: You might decide to repeat the same prayers for the two beads above the cross. Repeating the same prayer twice may help you to gain composure and focus. This is important since most of us have trouble focusing. Prayer repetition can be helpful when you’re troubled, have difficulty thinking of what to pray, or simply want to pray, but are finding trouble with concentration. You might devote each smaller bead to a short meaningful prayer, and the larger beads to a different prayer. Consider your personal goal in your prayer, if you have one. Are you praying for someone else, for something specific, or something general? What prayers speak to you today?