How To Pray The Episcopal Rosary

Prayer beads such as rosaries have different versions as most major religions have promoted the use of these prayer guides as an aid in a prayer life. There we have the male beads (Hindiusm) Chotki (Greek Orthodox) Thespi (Islam) and the Rosary (Roman Catholic).

There are different versions of rosaries. Nearly as many as the different versions of Christianity around the world. One variation is the Episcopal Rosary – a slight variation of the rosary of the Roman Catholics and the orthodox Prayer Rope. It is also consisted of a Cross, but it has an invitatory bead and the groups of beads are called “weeks.” This type of rosary is also used to focus prayer and guide the individual to take account of the prayer ritual.

The Episcopal is part of the Anglican communion of church with its primary as the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Anglican Communion is an international organization of Anglican Churches including Episcopal. However, there is no single church with the full autonomy to govern these churches as each of them has full autonomy. This organization is with full communion with the Church of England. This communion refers to the full mutual agreement on the basic and essential doctrines of each church.

One is not necessary to be an Anglican to recite the Anglican rosary. One is needed to only have pure intention to be in communion with God in order to attain the real purpose of reciting the rosary, like in many other religions using prayer beads.

Unlike the catholic rosary which has a set of prayer for beads, Prayers in the Episcopal rosary are determined by the person who is going to pray. It is more personal and non-traditional.

1.) Before beginning reciting the rosary, select your own prayers that you will assign to each bead. Practice these prayers until you are confident and memorize them. Find a comfortable and calm place so that your mind will also be still. You can now begin to pray the rosary.

2.) Hold the cross between your fingers and recite your prayers. You can choose the Our Father or you own personal prayer.

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and forever. Amen.”

3.) Move to the invitatory bead. The common prayer during the invitatory bead is:

"Let the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer."

4.) Hold the next cruciform bead and recite your prayer. A suggested prayer is:
"O Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. O Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. O Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace."

5.) Recite a prayer for each cruciform bead. Move around the rosary. Repeat this routine moving around the rosary around three times. End the ritual with a silent reflection.