I learned to make Anglican Rosaries in seminary from now-bishop Greg Rickel. My best friend, Suzanne, and I were in a class of about a dozen. The others made their rosaries and went on with their lives. Suzanne and I loved the process. We continued to make them, taught classes on how to make them, and created a variety of handouts and flyers about them. That was back in the day when handouts and flyers were a thing. Suzanne has an online class here. These days when I google “Anglican Rosary” I don’t find exactly what I want to share with others, so I decided to take some of our old flyer material and get it online.
What is an Anglican Rosary?
High church Episcopalians/Anglicans have used the traditional Catholic rosary, based on sets of 10 beads, and using the traditional rosary prayers. In the early 1980s some Episcopalians wanted to keep the tradition of praying with beads, but wanted to break away from the catholic prayers. They created a new format to go along with the new way of praying.
An Anglican Rosary has four elements: A God Symbol, an Invitatory Bead, four Cruciform beads which separate sets of seven Week beads.
God Symbol
When I taught Anglican Rosary classes, I brought a wide variety of God Symbols for people to choose from. We had traditional crosses and crucifixes. But also doves, peace symbols, saint medallions, and more. This way people could use their Anglican Rosary to connect to a particular aspect of God. I like using ones with a peace symbol as I’m praying for conflict. I use one with the Holy Family as I pray for my children.
Invitatory Bead
The Invitatory Bead is the first bead and the last bead prayed when you use the rosary. It usually matches the Cruciform beads, but holds a different meaning. The Invitatory bead invites our soul into more intentional connection with God during this time of prayer. At the end of the prayer time, this bead holds space to offer thanks for this time with God.
Cruciform Beads
The four evenly spaced larger beads on an Anglican Rosary are called Cruciform beads because when lines are drawn from one to another, those lines create a cross or cruciform shape.
Week Beads
Between the Cruciform beads are sets of seven smaller beads, called Week beads. Seven beads = seven days in a week.
Altogether, there are thirty-three beads in an Anglican Rosary, the number of years Jesus lived.
Using the Anglican Rosary
When praying the Anglican Rosary, you begin by holding the God symbol. You then hold the first big bead, the Invitatory Bead. Then the next bead, your first Cruciform Bead. You then start moving around the circle. You may move in either direction. Just choose one and move through the 7 Week Beads, then a Cruciform Bead, then 7 Week Beads, then a Cruciform, then 7 Week Beads, then a Cruciform Bead, then 7 Week Beads and you are back at the base. Go to the final Cruciform Bead, the Invitatory Bead, and the God Symbol.
The Anglican Rosary can be done alone or with others. You can use it as a bedtime ritual, or a morning devotion. Some people keep Anglican Rosaries in the car to use when stuck in traffic, or to pray upon arrival before an important meeting. A few congregations have a practice of inviting people to pray the Anglican Rosary just before worship, or have a mid-week time to pray the Anglican Rosary together. This is a tool — use it in whatever way enhances your prayer life!
What I love about the Anglican Rosary is that it is simply a tool to support your prayers, however you want to pray. There is not One Right Way to pray the Anglican Rosary. Rather, it is a blank form which you can use to organize your prayer time. Let me share a handful of prayer forms for the Anglican Rosary so you see what I mean.
Breath Prayers
God Symbol
The Lord’s Prayer or another memorized prayer, with a full, deep breath between each phrase
Invitatory Bead (in)
“I am filled with God in every breath.”
Cruciform Beads
Use a timer. Sit in silence for a certain period (if you’re new to silence, start with 2-3 minutes per Cruciform Bead. If you’re experience, try 10-20 minutes.)
Week Beads
Take a deep, full breath on each week bead.
Invitatory Bead (out)
“I am filled with God in every breath.”
God Symbol
Repeat the pray you used to begin the prayer time
Intercessory Prayer
God Symbol
The Lord’s Prayer or another memorized prayer.
Invitatory Bead (in)
“Holy God, be with these people for whom I pray.”
Cruciform Beads
Name someone “For Suzanne”
Week Beads
Say a different prayer for that person on each bead
“Give her strength…Heal her wounds…Bless her family…Give her patience…Let her feel Your presence…Help her share Your love…Bless her work…”
Continue with different names/prayers for each week.
Final Cruciform Bead
“May my life, too, be transformed by these prayers.”
Invitatory Bead (out)
“Holy God, be with these people for whom I prayed.”
God Symbol
The Lord’s Prayer or another memorized prayer.
Baptismal Renewal
God Symbol
The Lord’s Prayer
Invitatory Bead (in)
Blessed by God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and forever.
Cruciform Beads
There is one body and one spirit. There is one hope in God’s call to us; One Lord, one faith, on baptism. One God and father of all. (BCP 299)
Week Beads:
- I am a baptized Christian.
- I renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God.
- I renounce the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God.
- I renounce all sinful desires that draw me from the love of God.
- I turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as my Savior.
- I put my whole trust in God’s grace and love.
- I promise to follow and obey Jesus as my Lord. (BCP 302-303, edited to first person)
Repeat the Cruciform and Week Beads through the full circle, then exit with:
Invitatory Bead (out)
Sustain me, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit. Give me an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works. (BCP 308)
God Symbol
Lord’s Prayer
For Your Congregation
God Symbol
Lord’s Prayer
Invitatory Bead
Recite your congregation’s mission statement
Cruciform Bead
“For clergy and Lay Minister serving today”
Week Beads, Set 1
Name 7 ministers/leaders
Cruciform Bead 2
“For those who are newer to our congregation”
Week Beads, Set 2
Name 7 newcomers and recent attendees (you may need to regularly get an updated list from your Newcomers Ministry or church office)
Cruciform Bead 3
“For those who need an extra measure of Christ’s presence”
Week Beads, Set 3
Name 7 people on the prayer list or in need
Cruciform Bead 4
“For the work you are calling us into”
Week Beads, Set 4
Name 7 events, tasks or other work of the congregation
Final Cruciform Bead
“That we may understand more fully Your call to us, and for the strength to live into that call.”
Invitatory Bead
Repeat your congregation’s mission statement
God Symbol
Lord’s Prayer
Week by Week Beads Podcast
Suzanne Edwards-Action spent a season creating Anglican Rosary podcasts. She guides you through many different ways to pray with an Anglican Rosary. Listen here.
And You?
You can buy handmade Anglican Rosaries from many independent sellers. It’s also especially nifty to make your own set.
How have you used the Anglican Rosary for prayer? Or what would you like to try? Comment below, or send me an email.
