Description

Prayer Beads are used in most major religions, from Catholicism to Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. They are used to count the repetitions of prayers, chants, or mantras of the user. Anglican prayer beads were developed in the 1980s modifying and simplifying the concepts of the Catholic Rosary. They are not associated with the Marian devotion, nor are they limited to any specific faith tradition.

There are no hard and fast rules to using the prayer beads! You may follow suggested and specific prayers, or simply hold them while praying or meditating. These prayer beads follow the Anglican Prayer beads and consist of a cross or other special charm and 33 beads that represent the years of Christ’s life.

The prayer beads start at the cross, or symbolic charm, on which a prayer or simple supplication is said. The first bead is the Invitatory bead, the Invitatory bead is the link between the circle of week and Cruciform beads and the cross. It is the “invitation” to the prayer cycle. This leads you to the circle of beads. The beads are divided into four groups of seven beads called weeks. Between the week beads is a larger bead called a Cruciform bead. The four Cruciform beads form a cross when the beads are laid out. They represent the four Gospel writers and the four directions. Often a special or specific prayer is recited at each Cruciform bead and different prayers on the week beads.

The traditional mode is going through the circle of beads three times, ending with the cross, which would be 100 prayers. Again, one round of prayers is fine. Or, one simple word or prayer for each bead. There are no rules, it is your time.

Each prayer bead set comes with an introduction story sheet and a titled gift tag, in a gift box.