Not too long ago, my friend SSW (her blog, La Fin des Haricots, is a mouth-watering read) suggested that I write about the Anglican Rosary. Describing the Anglican Rosary, she wrote:the rosary is fairly new in the Anglican tradition but plays off the Catholic and Greek Orthodox versions. Mine has 33 beads (to represent the years of Christ's life). The rosary has 4 "cruciform" beads (representing the points of the cross, the 4 seasons, etc.) that separate the 4 "weeks" (groups of 7 beads, which can represent, inter alia, the 7 days of creation, the 7 seasons of the church year, or the 7 sacraments). A cross (not a crucifix as in the Catholic tradition) centers the rosary and, above that, is an invitation bead.I have always associated the rosary only with the Catholic tradition, but was intrigued to learn of the Anglican Rosary. Interestingly, there is also an Ecumenical Rosary. Prayer beads are present in nearly all world religions, including Islam (the tasbih) and Buddhism (the japa malas). I truly appreciate, as does SSW, the melding of the spiritual and physical and prayer beads (the rosary) seem a logical extension.
Unfamiliar with the rosary, I have researched how it is prayed. There are numerous explanations of this on the web; I will not repeat them here.
Although the Catholic rosary emphasizes the role of Mary (the Queen of the Holy Rosary), the Anglican (and Ecumenical) rosaries emphasize contemplative prayer. Contemplate the wonders of God and his role in your life. A number of different prayer sequences can be utilized or you can design a sequence that works best for you and your spiritual needs. Below is the Trisagion (meaning "thrice holy") and Jesus Prayer:
The CrossPhoto source: anglicanrosary.net
In the Name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Invitatory
O God make speed to save me (us),
O Lord make haste to help me (us),
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
The Cruciforms
Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy upon me (us).
The Weeks
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
Have mercy on me, a sinner.
Or, in a group setting:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy upon us.
