TIme for a change...

[Albion]

Some people might consider me a heretic for saying this, but I've no problem with even Catholic rosary beads being used to recite whatever personal prayer(s) come to mind. It's the sincerity of the prayers--whether said while using Catholic, Anglican or even Hindu prayer beads--that matters, IMO.

Right. If the Catholic rosary were divorced from the theology that the Roman Catholic Church associates with it, these beads would be just a device for keeping track of one's prayers--which is where the rosary began and before all the mysteries, meditations, intentions, and promises were connected to it by the Church. So that is essentially what Anglican Prayer Beads have returned to.

I very much like this idea and can understand how/why the length of the Anglican rosary would be well-suited for this purpose. Although not a practicing Anglican, I have 7-8 sets of beautiful Anglican rosaries; I think I will begin using them for this very reason.

 

[Soma Seer]

If the Catholic rosary were divorced from the theology that the Roman Catholic Church associates with it, these beads would be just a device for keeping track of one's prayers--which is where the rosary began and before all the mysteries, meditations, intentions, and promises were connected to it by the Church. So that is essentially what Anglican Prayer Beads have returned to.

In that case, I definitely will begin praying with my favorite sets of Anglican prayer beads immediately.

Interestingly, I don't believe any visions of Mother Mary involving prayer beads include her telling the person receiving the vision how to pray on the beads--i.e., what prayers to say. And assuming that I'm not mistaken on that point, it says more than enough for me to no longer feel guilty about using (any) prayer beads for sincere, extemporaneous prayer. Of course, if I feel compelled to use common, ritualistic prayers, then that would be right, too.

Boy, I really appreciate this thread, as I want/need a deeper prayer life; yet I've held off for eons--despite owning 4 Catholic rosaries and, as I've mentioned, 7-8 Anglican ones--because I felt that prayers on them are supposed to be memorized ones; relying on them for that sole purpose would, for me, be hollow most of the time. So thank you, Everyone, for making me reconsider the true purpose for and benefit of using prayer beads for sincere, non-memorized prayer.

 

[circuitrider]

Soma, there is always someone out there that wants to call people heretics. Welcome to the club.

 

[Soma Seer]

Soma, there is always someone out there that wants to call people heretics. Welcome to the club.

I feel less alone at the moment--less like a party of one.

 

[JCFantasy23]

Boy, I really appreciate this thread, as I want/need a deeper prayer life;

Me too. I've been feeling an urge to find other ways to pray and connect with God lately, so I've been looking toward prayer aids and different meditative mindsets to try and focus. Good advice in this thread.

 

[Celticflower]

Nice to see this thread has been helpful to others. I wasn't sure about starting it, but now I'm glad I did.

The prayer devotional book arrived and I have been using it. Rather than set in stone prayers it is very flexible, giving guides of what to include rather than exactly what to say in a lot of cases. Makes it easy to customize for your own needs and thoughts. I did string a new set of beads using the 33 bead Anglican rather than the 34 bead Protestant that the book is written for - but it is easy to adapt the prayer pattern.
The prayer partner thing has kinda fallen by the wayside. My friend has been busy trying to get a new daycare business started and wound up with less time than she thought she would have. But it's ok - I've been on my own on this journey before and will be again.

 

[JCFantasy23]

The prayer partner thing has kinda fallen by the wayside. My friend has been busy trying to get a new daycare business started and wound up with less time than she thought she would have. But it's ok - I've been on my own on this journey before and will be again

That happens to me with most friends over everything too - especially exercise programs