12 May 2016

ANGLICAN PRAYER BEADS (MC)

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