The rosary

The Anglican rosary

Anglican prayer beads, and how to pray with them

The Anglican rosary is a simple way to pray with beads, created in the Episcopal Church in the 1980s. It is quiet and unhurried: a short prayer on each bead, said slowly, three times around the circle.

The beads

The Anglican rosary has thirty-three beads, often said to stand for the years of Christ's life on earth, and a cross. Four larger cruciform beads form a cross within the circle. Between them are four groups of seven week beads, often said to stand for the seven days of creation. One more bead, the invitatory, sits between the cross and the circle.

How to pray it

1. Holding the cross, pray the prayer for the cross from one of the sets below.
2. On the invitatory bead, pray: O God, make speed to save me. O Lord, make haste to help me. Then Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
3. On each cruciform bead, pray the cruciform prayer.
4. On each of the seven week beads that follow, pray the week prayer.
5. Go around the circle three times, a prayer of quiet repetition.
6. Close the circle on the first cruciform bead. On the invitatory bead, pray the Lord's Prayer.
7. Holding the cross, end: Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Prayers for the beads

Any short prayers may be used. These three are among the most loved.

The Jesus Prayer

The cross: In the Name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

The cruciform beads: Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us.

The week beads: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Agnus Dei

The cross: In the Name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

The cruciform beads: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: give us your peace.

The week beads: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.

Come, Holy Spirit

The cross: In the Name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

The cruciform beads: Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created; and you shall renew the face of the earth.

The week beads: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Many Anglicans also pray the rosary while thinking on the mysteries of the life of Christ. See how to pray the rosary and the mysteries.

The rosary: How to pray the rosaryJoyful MysteriesSorrowful MysteriesGlorious MysteriesLuminous Mysteries

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