Prayer Beads

As an Episcopalian, I came in contact with the Catholic Rosary as a young person. I was very intrigued with the concept of praying with beads, and I loved the beauty of the rosaries I saw. The process was complicated, though, and the prayers didn't exactly fit with my personal theology or sense of liturgy.

Over the years I saw other examples from other faiths & sects. I experimented with creating my own prayer bead sets, and although I enjoyed the process I never found anything that really fit. A few years ago I came across something called the "Anglican Rosary" and was immediately captivated - I had found my prayer beads. The process is shorter than the Catholic rosary, and the beauty of it is that you create your own prayer set. I made one for myself and was making one for my husband as I sat in a public area at a convention we attended. A woman came over, asked what I was making. Turns out she is Anglican and asked to buy the one I was working on! I realized there might be a market for these, and began to make them to sell. I have quite a few in my shop, and would be very excited to create a custom rosary for you if you don't see something that quite fits your style.



You can find my prayer beads at ArtFire!

The Rosary itself:

You have a cross at the beginning, followed by one bead called the invitatory. The rosary can begin either with the cross or the first bead.

Following the invitatory is the first of four large beads, called the cruciforms. Between each cruciform is a set of seven smaller beads, making up a week.



You pray around the circle to your right, ending once again with the invitatory bead.

With each rosary I send out a copy of the above diagram, and I also include text of the prayer set I chose, that comes straight from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. It's merely an example of how it can be prayed, but there are many, many other ideas and possibilities.

My prayers:

Cross (beginning):

Our Father, who art in heaven
hallowed by thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Invitatory (first):

O God make speed to save me,
O Lord make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

The Cruciforms


Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy upon me.

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.

Invitatory (ending):

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

Cross (ending):

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give thine angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for thy love's sake. Amen.