The Anglican Rosary
A Form of Contemplative Prayer

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The Anglican Rosary is a relatively new form of prayer which uses a blending of the Roman Catholic Rosary and the Orthodox Jesus Prayer Rope.

Since the earliest of times, people have used pebbles or a string of knots or beads on a cord to keep track of prayers offered to God. Some form of a rosary or prayer beads can be found in virtually every major religious tradition in the world.

Sacred Symbolism

The configuration of the Anglican Rosary relates contemplative prayer to several levels of traditional Christian symbolism. Contemplative prayer is enriched by these symbols whose purpose is always to focus and concentrate attention, allowing the one who prays to move more swiftly into the Presence of God.

The circle of the Anglican Rosary symbolizes the wheel of time. Prayer, which moves around the wheel of the Rosary, represents the Christian's spiritual pilgrimage through time following Christ as Lord.

The Anglican Rosary is made up of thirty-three beads divided into four groups of seven called weeks. Between each week is a single bead called a cruciform bead.

In Christian tradition the sacred number four represents the four quadrants of the church's year. In theology there are also the four cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance which are the four corners in the moral foundation of all human life. In addition to these there are four weeks to a lunar month and the four cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west, as well as the four primary elements: earth, water, wind, and fire.

The number seven is repeated four times in the Rosary to create a conventional month. In the Judeo-Christian tradition the number seven represents spiritual perfection and completion. Prayer is the Christian's cry for completion. Symbolic completion is represented by adding together the four weeks of seven week beads to the four cruciform beads plus the additional entry bead representing the divine Unity at the beginning of the Rosary. The full number of the beads, thirty-three, the number of years Christ lived (a multiple of three), prayed three times (signifying the Trinity) equals ninety-nine, which in the Middle Eastern traditions is the complete number of the Divine Names. Adding the crucifix at the beginning or the end, brings the total to one hundred which is the total of the Orthodox Rosary and represents the fullness of creation.

How To Use

The use of the rosary or prayer beads helps to bring us into contemplative prayer, really thinking about and being mindful of praying, of being in the presence of God by use of mind, body, and spirit. The touching of the fingers on each successive bead is an aid in keeping our mind from wandering, and the rhythm of the prayers leads us more readily into stillness.

To begin, hold the Cross and say the prayer you have assigned to it (most often The Lord's Prayer), then move to the Invitatory Bead. Then enter the circle of the rosary with the first Cruciform Bead, moving through the Weeks and the other Cruciforms, saying the prayers for each bead, and then exiting by way of the Invitatory Bead and the Cross. It is suggested that you pray around the circle of the beads three times (which signifies the Trinity) in an unhurried pace, allowing the repetition to become a sort of lullaby of love and praise that enables your mind to rest and your heart to become quiet and still. A period of silence should follow the prayer, for a time of reflection and listening. Listening is an important part of all prayer.

Saying the Rosary

Begin praying the Rosary by selecting the prayers you wish to use for the cross and each bead. Practice them until it is clear which prayer goes with which bead, and as far as possible commit the prayers to memory.

Find a quiet spot and allow your body and mind to become restful and still. After a time of silence, begin praying the Rosary at an unhurried, intentional pace. Complete the circle of the beads three times.

When you have completed the round of the Rosary, you should end with a period of silence. This silence allows you to center your being in an extended period of silence. It also invites reflection and listening after you have invoked the Name and Presence of God.

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Two Sample Collections of Prayers
Mix and match or put together your own.

The Cross Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be 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. The Invitatory Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in you sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. The Cruciforms Oh, Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world have mercy upon us, Oh, Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world have mercy upon us, Oh, Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world give us Thy Peace. The Weeks Almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us. Amen.

The Cross 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. The Invitatory Open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall proclaim Your praise. The Cruciforms Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace. 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.

 

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