A Bead And An [Interfaith] Prayer

[cbayer]

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/rebariley/2014/08/a-bead-and-an-interfaith-prayer/

August 11, 2014 by Reba Riley



This sweet little book arrived in my mail the week I was working on final memoir edits. Its arrival wasn’t only significant because all authors could use prayer beads during final edits–though I could argue this point!—but because throughout my journey through thirty religions before I turned thirty, I saw prayer beads everywhere.

I don’t know how I survived nearly three decades of life thinking that only Catholics used prayer beads, but I was both surprised and pleased to discover the japa mala (108 beads–Hinduism, Buddhism), misbaḥah (99 or 33 beads–Islam), and sikh mala (108 beads–Sikhism). The Catholics had the rosary, of course, and the Eastern Orthodox Church used a knotted prayer rope. Some of my Baha’i friends used a strand of 95 prayer beads, and I even met a Wiccan Priestess who carried a homemade set in her purse!

I always found myself a little jealous as I watched the devout grasp each smooth bead in contemplation. The practice looked so peaceful, as if one could actively move faith with their fingers. Each bead seemed a place to rest a worry. It reminded me of a miniature version of walking a labyrinth, where you can leave what troubles you at the center when you walk out.

Near the end of my 30 religions project, I decided I wanted my own set of prayer beads. But after I searching “interfaith prayer beads” to no avail (though you can now find a set here), I decided I would have to make my own. I bought silver- pressed cross for the project…and promptly forgot about it. For two years and three months the cross lived at the bottom of my jewelry box, the idea of interfaith prayer beads all but abandoned.

more at link

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

1. I was educated in a Catholic high school

Run by an order called the Society of Mary. We had the rosary every single day, and it served more as aversion therapy than anything else. Fifty years later, and I still cannot pray the rosary without getting a severe case of the fidgets.

[cbayer]

2. I think for some, it serves as a method to encourage meditation or contemplation.

Clearly, that is not the case for you, lol.

[No Vested Interest]

3. Sad to say, I don't do well with the rosary either.

The mind wanders, I'm not really paying attention to the words I'm saying.

My thought is that the rosary is more of a Middle Eastern culture thing, where beads etc. are routinely used .

I do much better with individual prayers, or best with my ad hominem intercessions to whomever I wish to communicate with at that given time.

[hrmjustin]

5. Instead of the Hail Mary I say the Jesus prayer with my Rosary.

Last edited Sat Aug 16, 2014, 12:45 AM - Edit history (1)

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Prayer

[No Vested Interest]

6. Do you repeat the Jesus prayer ten times, as the Hail Mary is repeated otherwise? nt

[hrmjustin]

7. Yes and instead of the Hail Holy Queen I say the Hail Mary and ask her to put in a good word.

[No Vested Interest]

8. I believe that "good word" is sent, and received.

Her Son heeded her "good word" at Cana, even though His time had not yet come.

[Union Scribe]

4. That's cool that so many paths use beads or knots to pray.

After reading The Way of a Pilgrim in college I made a crude prayer rope to meditate using the Jesus Prayer from that text. I still find it a reliable method, with or without beads or knots, to slow my breathing and alleviate anxiety.