Anglican Rosary?

This month, the children in Children's Church, made prayer beads, also called Episcopal Rosaries. They have four sections (like the four weeks in a month) each with seven beads (like the seven days of the week), and with the addition of three more at the beginning near the cross or dove symbol, that makes 33 beads (like the years in the life of Christ).

Rosaries (the word means "rose garden") are a very ancient form of prayer, even though the Anglican or Episcopal Rosary dates to the renewal of contemplative prayer a few decades ago. From earliest times, Christians took to heart Jesus' work: "Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart" (Lk 18:1) We also have St. Pauls admonition: "Pray without ceasing, giving thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess 5:17). To have an attitude of prayer as they went about their daily activities, some would carry pebbles I their pocket and move them from one pocket to another as they prayed. Others developed ropes with knots in them. Christians in the Orthodox (Eastern churches) still use prayer ropes instead of rosaries. Some had 33 knots, others 50 to symbolize the fullness of life in grace (7x7=49+1) called "jubilee" in the Scriptures.

The Roman Catholic rosary, with which some of you are familiar, traces its origins to the Middle Ages when Christians were admonished to read the Psalms daily, as was being done in the monasteries and the Cathedral Churches. There are 150 Psalms, but those who cannot read could not join in this devotion. The Rosary that was developed had five sections with ten beads (50) and disciples were encouraged to pray it three times (150). The first prayers used were the Lord's Prayer which Jesus gave us. Gradually other prayers were introduced, including the Hail Mary.

The first half of the Hail Mary (Ave in Latin) was taught to all children in medieval England along with the Lord's Prayer (Pater in Latin) and the Glory be... (Gloria in Latin). The first part of the Hail Mary is derived from Luke's Gospel: "Hail, Mary, full of grace., the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus (see Luke 1::28 & 42). After the Protestant Reformation, the Roman Catholic Church added the second half of the Hail Mary in which the role of Mary in the salvation of souls was stressed: "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death."

Some Anglicans use that and the Catholic Rosary. Others shy away from defining the role of Mary as the "Mother of God" praying on our behalf and see her as a model Christian whose faithfulness in living out the word of God/Jesus we can emulate (c. Matt 12:46-50). Those taking this posture suggest this as the second half of the Hail Mary: "Son of Mary, Son of the Living God, have mercy upon us now and at the hour of our death." This keeps the emphasis of the prayer a petition to Jesus in whose name we are encouraged to pray (Jn 14:13). Simple little prayers can be used, and I suggest we teach these to the children first, and then the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary (choose the version) and the Glory be... Simple prayers: Jesus, heal me. Jesus, guide me. Jesus, bless N, Jesus, forgive me. Thank you, Jesus. And similar. What do you think? Good start for teaching our children to pray?                             Joseph+