Anglican Prayer Beads Guide

The Text

Introduction

These beads are meant to be useful for grounding, meditation, and facilitating prayer. There are no prescribed prayers for these beads; instead, one is invited to use them however is beneficial for one’s own spiritual life. They can help one to attend to the Divine presence, meditate upon Christ, and offer intentions for loved ones.

Physical Practice

Many people find that a physical implement is helpful in grounding their thoughts. It gives the hands something to do, helping calm the distracted mind. It adds a rhythm to the prayer, turning it into something more intentional, even musical. Over time, a physical habit of prayer is developed, and simply picking up the beads shifts one’s mindset into a prayerful space. Even if the mind is distracted, or the heart tumultuous, the body can still express one’s desire to pray by holding each of the beads. Going through the rhythm of prayer beads is, in itself, a prayer of the body. God works through our faithful action.

The Weeks (4 sets of 7 beads)

7 represents the Completion or Perfection of something. These weeks symbolize complete…

○ Rest (the 7th day, the Sabbath)
• Genesis 2:3, Exodus 35:2

○ Prayer (7 Divine Office prayers)
• Psalm 119:164, 1 Kings 18:42-44

○ Holiness (purity rituals)
• Leviticus 14:13-16, Joshua 6:3-4

○ Forgiveness (70x7, atonement)
• Matthew 18:21-22, Leviticus 4:16-20

○ Healing (washing away, sunlight)
• 2 Kings 5:10, Isaiah 30:26

The Cruciform Beads (4 large beads)

4 represents Humanity and their Trials. These beads recall….

40 days of flood rains (Genesis 7:12)

40 days of fasting (Matt 4:2 -Jesus; 1Kng 19:8 -Elijah; Ex 24:18 -Moses)

40 years Israel wandered (Joshua 5:6)

40 year rulers (1Kng 11:42 -Solomon; 1Kng 2:11 -David; Acts 13:21 -Saul)

4 days Lazarus was dead (John 11:17)

4 corners of the earth (Isaiah 11:12)

4 scattering winds (Jer 49:36; Zec 2:6)

These Cruciform beads are four points of a cross, forming an invisible crux in the center of the chain. This recalls the many crossroads of life we face, which are central, yet often unseen or mysterious, and are framed both by human trails (4 beads) and Divine perfection (7 beads).

It is also an invitation to contemplate Christ crucified. Christ is the intersection of Divine relationship (the vertical beam) and human relationship (the lateral crossbeam), his face at the center, suffering for love of God and all humanity. Each cruciform bead also marks a point of Christ’s wounds (feet, hands, and crown).

The Invitatory Bead

This bead invites us into the prayer, and later invites us to exit. We are invited to notice our spirit, our emotions, thoughts, and sensations, and take them with us through the prayer and into the world.

The Cross Bead

The beginning and the end of the chain. It is an appropriate place to say The Lord’s Prayer or another recited prayer which helps dispose our heart to prayerful intention.

33 Beads Total

3 represents Non-Duality and Divinity. These beads recall the 33 years in the life of Jesus.

Breath Prayers

Breath prayers are short prayers prayed in sync with one’s breath. They are fitting to pray with prayer beads, one breath for each bead. This helps keep time, engage the whole body, and keep one from becoming “stuck” on one bead, or conversely, moving too quickly through them.

Here are some example prayers which can be prayed on each bead (and can be used with the example prayer exercise):

• May they be peaceful, solid, and light in body and spirit.

• May they be free of worry, disturbance, anxiety, and fear.

• May they see themselves with the eyes of understanding and love.

Sample Prayer Exercise

Cross: The Lord’s Prayer

Invitatory: One full breath

Weeks 1-4 and the Cruciform beads:
• Breathe one full breath on each bead.
• Let the Spirit bring to mind one person to hold in your heart.
• For each bead, allow yourself to be guided to a new person.
• On the cruciform beads, you may consider a collective/group of people.

Invitatory: One full breath

Cross: The Lord’s Prayer