The Anglican Rosary is a relatively new form of
prayer which uses a blending of the Roman Catholic Rosary and the Orthodox
Jesus Prayer Rope.
Since the earliest of times, people have used
pebbles or a string of knots or beads on a cord to keep track of prayers
offered to God. Some form of a rosary or prayer beads can be found in
virtually every major religious tradition in the world.
Sacred Symbolism
The configuration of the Anglican Rosary relates
contemplative prayer to several levels of traditional Christian symbolism.
Contemplative prayer is enriched by these symbols whose purpose is always
to focus and concentrate attention, allowing the one who prays to move
more swiftly into the Presence of God.
The circle of the Anglican Rosary symbolizes the
wheel of time. Prayer, which moves around the wheel of the Rosary,
represents the Christian's spiritual pilgrimage through time following
Christ as Lord.
The Anglican Rosary is made up of
thirty-three beads divided into four groups of seven called weeks. Between
each week is a single bead called a cruciform bead.
In Christian tradition the sacred number four
represents the four quadrants of the church's year. In theology there are
also the four cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, and
temperance which are the four corners in the moral foundation of all human
life. In addition to these there are four weeks to a lunar month and the
four cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west, as well as the
four primary elements: earth, water, wind, and fire.
The number seven is repeated four times in the
Rosary to create a conventional month. In the Judeo-Christian tradition
the number seven represents spiritual perfection and completion. Prayer is
the Christian's cry for completion. Symbolic completion is represented by
adding together the four weeks of seven week beads to the four cruciform
beads plus the additional entry bead representing the divine Unity at the
beginning of the Rosary. The full number of the beads, thirty-three, the
number of years Christ lived (a multiple of three), prayed three times
(signifying the Trinity) equals ninety-nine, which in the Middle Eastern
traditions is the complete number of the Divine Names. Adding the crucifix
at the beginning or the end, brings the total to one hundred which is the
total of the Orthodox Rosary and represents the fullness of creation.
How To Use
The use of the rosary or prayer beads helps to bring
us into contemplative prayer, really thinking about and being mindful of
praying, of being in the presence of God by use of mind, body, and spirit.
The touching of the fingers on each successive bead is an aid in keeping
our mind from wandering, and the rhythm of the prayers leads us more
readily into stillness.
To begin, hold the Cross and say the prayer you have
assigned to it (most often The Lord's Prayer), then move to the Invitatory
Bead. Then enter the circle of the rosary with the first Cruciform Bead,
moving through the Weeks and the other Cruciforms, saying the prayers for
each bead, and then exiting by way of the Invitatory Bead and the Cross.
It is suggested that you pray around the circle of the beads three times
(which signifies the Trinity) in an unhurried pace, allowing the
repetition to become a sort of lullaby of love and praise that enables
your mind to rest and your heart to become quiet and still. A period of
silence should follow the prayer, for a time of reflection and listening.
Listening is an important part of all prayer.
Saying the Rosary
Begin praying the Rosary by selecting the prayers
you wish to use for the cross and each bead. Practice them until it is
clear which prayer goes with which bead, and as far as possible commit the
prayers to memory.
Find a quiet spot and allow your body and mind to
become restful and still. After a time of silence, begin praying the
Rosary at an unhurried, intentional pace. Complete the circle of the beads
three times.
When you have completed the round of the Rosary, you
should end with a period of silence. This silence allows you to center
your being in an extended period of silence. It also invites reflection
and listening after you have invoked the Name and Presence of God.
From
www.saintgabriels.org
