ANGLICAN PRAYER BEADS:
A Militia Christi Method of
Use
Nearly
all the great religions and philosophies in our world have had some form of
prayer or focus using prayer beads or knotted cord. In studying how we learn as humans we know that there are
basically three modes: Auditory
(by listening), Visually (by seeing), and Physically (by touching or
doing). The more modes of learning
that are combined the greater the learning that takes place.
Each major monastic order has, at one
time or another, had their own prayer beads.
Mostly they were rosaries, for the veneration of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. It is a wonderful way to
learn prayers. If the selection of
the words, prayers and scriptures, are done thoughtfully it is a great way to
learn the faith.
There
is always an opportunity to make your own APB set. I live in an area that has lots of beading and craft
shops. They have been extremely
helpful for quality of materials and color and texture. It was invaluable to tap into their
knowledge. There is also an
opportunity to select the prayers and scriptures that are important to
you. I would suggest that you
select great writing and not write it yourself. I am old and experienced in theology, and I did not write
any of the pieces in this APB.
To
begin with, we start and end the APB at the same location: The Cross or some other Fob such as a Celtic
knot. This location begins and ends
with God. That is where our heart and
mind should be. Let me
list/diagram how the APB for Militia Christi is used. I think that may give you a better understanding of using
this learning tool for your own private edification in the faith, especially if
you have no experience with Roman Catholic Rosaries.
Militia Christi (MC) Usage When Praying the Anglican Prayer
Beads (APB)
The
MC-APB consists of the following pattern, starting with the cross/fob, followed
by the Invitatory Bead, and subsequently, the first Cruciform bead, moving to
the right, through the first set of Week Day (seven) beads to the next
Cruciform bead, continuing around the circle, saying the Week Day beads for
each Cruciform bead. One concludes the cycle by saying the Apostles Creed on
the Invitatory Bead and concludes with the final prayer assigned to the
Cross/Fob. The entire circle is done once:
The Cross/Fob-Enter
For there are three that bear record in heaven,
the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost:
and
these three are one.
(1 John 5:7)
The Invitatory
Bead-Enter (The Summary of the
Law)
Hear what our
Lord Jesus Christ saith to the Scribe:
“The
first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Isreal; The Lord our God is one Lord;
and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: This is the first commandment.”
“And the
second is like,” Our Lord continued, “namely this, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. There is
none other commandment greater than these.”
(
St. Matthew 22:37‑40 & St. Mark 12:28-31)
The Cruciform
Bead (Our Lord’s Prayer)
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.
(St. Matthew 6:5-13 & St.
Luke 11:1-4)
The Week Day
Beads (Glory to God…)
Glory to God in the highest,
and
on earth peace,
good
will toward men
(St. Luke 2:14)
The invitatory
Bead-Exit (The Apostles Creed)
I
believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator
of heaven and earth,
and
in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who
was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born
of the Virgin Mary,
suffered
under Pontius Pilate,
was
crucified, died, and was buried.
He
descended into hell;
the
third day he rose again from the dead;
he
ascended into heaven
and
is seated at the right hand of the Father;
from
thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I
believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church,
the
communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the
resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
The Cross/Fob-Exit
Charity (love) suffereth long, and is kind;
charity (love) envieth not; charity (love) vaunteth not
itself,
is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly,
seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no
evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things,
hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity (love) never faileth:
but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;
whether there be tongues, they shall cease;
whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
And now abideth faith, hope, charity (love),
these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love).
(NOTE: “charity” is “love in action”)(1
Cor.13:4-8,13)
or
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another;
as
I have loved you, that ye also love one
another.
(St. John 13:34)
or
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me,
a sinner.
(The Jesus Prayer)
In Christ's love, Fr. Robert Pax
