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Anglican Beads

How to use Prayer Beads

There is no set way to use Anglican Prayer Beads. The most common way is to begin with the cross, followed by the invitatory bead that leads to the circle of beads beginning with the Cruciform bead.

Three times around, beginning each time with the Invitatory bead equals 99 beads, or mantras. The Orthodox prayer beads have 99 beads, perhaps reminiscent of the parable of the ninety-nine sheep safe in the fold and the shepherd who searches and finds the one who is lost. Three is also a reminder of the Holy Trinity.

The same prayer can be said on every bead like the Orthodox beads. "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner."

A variety of prayers may be associated with the cross, invitatory, cruciform and week beads.

The same prayer or a different prayer can be said on each of the seven week beads. If a different prayer is used, these same prayers will be repeated on the next set of week beads.

The prayer beads can also be used as a short morning or evening prayer office. A scripture reading may be inserted after the invitatory bead each time. When the third circle is finished a period of silent contemplation follows. The silence is ended by slowly reciting the Apostles' Creed. Intercessions, Collect of the Day, the Our Father, and a dismissal may follow.

Variety is the richness of Anglican Prayer Beads.

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