For all Christians, this time of year is about hope and birth. Looking at the baby in the manger seems to make all things possible. As I look out the window at the cold and the darkness, my heart cries out for some prayers about the warmth and the light. I came up with the following prayers for prayer beads after digging through the New Testament, the Psalms and The Book of Common Prayer. It can be said on an Anglican rosary or a Catholic rosary (for the three Hail Mary beads on the short strand of the Catholic rosary, repeat any prayer you like best). You may also want to say these prayers in front of a nativity scene or crèche. If I still lived in New York City, I think I’d take myself to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and recite it silently before the Angel Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Creche. Or I’d go to St. Patrick’s Cathedral and sit before its great nativity scene. But as I am now on the West Coast, I plan to take it to Grace Cathedral this Saturday and pray it before the great altar. Perhaps I will also try it while walking the cathedral’s labyrinth. In my next post, I’ll let you know what I did.
On the Cross or Crucifix
Glory be to God on high,
And on earth peace, good will towards men. (Luke 2:14)
On the Invitatory or First Our Father bead
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)
On the Cruciforms or Our Father beads
My soul waits for the Lord,
More than the night-watch for the morning. (Psalm 130)
On the Weeks or Decades beads
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Bead One, Pray Too 