Prayer Beads in the Life of the Prayerful Christian
The Confessional and Orthodox Application of Prayer Beads in the Life of the Prayerful Christian
BY KELLY KLAGES
These guidelines include suggested forms of prayer for various forms of prayer beads offered by Ad Crucem. Beads and counters have been used by Christians since the early years of Christianity to recite prayers and psalms. Lutherans do not use prayer beads to invoke the saints (as the Catholic rosary does) nor as a “sacramental” or a meritorious work. They are a purely optional form of private practice which some find helpful as a means to give a tactile rhythm to certain devotional prayers. Like using a bookmark in a book or artwork in a sanctuary, beads serve as a reminder and a way of “keeping track” of words and thoughts. The following usages are just a few possibilities, but there is no one correct way to use them; the form is up to the user and you can create your own.
Protestant Prayer Beads
This form of prayer beads, originally invented in the Anglican communion, typically includes a cross and 33 beads, representing the life of Christ in His humiliation. There are five larger beads and four separate groups of seven beads each (“weeks”). There may or may not be a separate connector piece in the design. You can pray around the loop of beads either to the left or the right. Here are a couple of possible forms of prayer for this style of beads.
Trisagion and Jesus Prayer Cross:
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
This is a shorter form of prayer beads, originally designed by Kelly
Klages for the purpose of meditating on the Six Chief Parts of
Luther’s Small Catechism. The chaplet consists of a cross, a series
of six beads, one separate seventh bead, and a medallion on the
opposite end. This is a small and versatile set of beads that can be
used in a wide variety of ways. Here are some possibilities.
Catechism Meditation
[Note: The beads can be used to recite the full text of the
Catechism with explanations. Below is a shortened form.]
Cross:
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
First bead:
Recite the Ten Commandments
Second bead:
Recite the Apostles’ Creed
Third bead:
Recite the Lord’s Prayer
Fourth bead:
“He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us
generously through Jesus Christ our Savior; so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become
heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying.” [Titus 3:5-8]
Fifth bead:
“The Lord Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his
sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’” [John 20:22-23]
Sixth bead:
“Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He
broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: ‘Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in
remembrance of Me.’ In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks,
He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed
for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’” [Matthew
26:26-28, et al]
Seventh bead:
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock
and my redeemer.” [Psalm 19:14]
Medallion:
Conclude with Luther’s Morning or Evening Prayer
Hymn Chaplet
Cross:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Beads:
Sing one verse each for a seven-verse hymn. Examples include “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (LSB 357),
“O Love, How Deep” (LSB 544), and “Jesus Sinners Doth Receive” (LSB 609).
Medallion:
Glory be 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.
Psalm 23 Chaplet
[Note: This form can be modified for the recitation or memorization of any Bible verses.]
Cross:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
First bead:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Second bead:
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
Third bead:
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Fourth bead:
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Fifth bead:
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Sixth bead:
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Seventh bead:
Glory be 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.
Medallion:
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” [Psalm 19:14]
Psalter Beads
This large set of prayer beads consists of a cross, an invitatory bead, and 15 sets of 10 beads (“decades”) for a total of 150+ beads. The decades are for the reading or recitation of the 150 psalms. Additional beads separate the different decades. This set of prayer beads requires a dedicated amount of time for when it is used. Here are two ways of using these beads.
The Psalter
Cross:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitatory:
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Decades:
One psalm per bead, in groups of 10.
Individual beads separating each decade:
Glory be 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.
Conclusion:
After circling the loop, conclude on the connector with a final “Glory be” prayer.
Prayers for Congregations
[Note: This form of prayer involves first making a list of 150 church members and/or clergy.]
Cross:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitatory:
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” [Philippians 1:3-5]
Decades:
Say a brief prayer for each church member or pastor on your list
Individual beads separating each decade:
Lord have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us.
Conclusion:
Glory be 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.
Leave a comment
Comments will be approved before showing up.
