The meaning behind the use of Anglican prayer beads stems from the Christian Incarnational theology which states that God came in human form to save us and we, in turn, follow Jesus by helping others as He did.

A set of prayer beads is a sacred circle.  Touching each bead around the circle allows for a natural, meditative rhythm that coincides with the breath as each prayer is softly spoken.

The prayer bead circle is comprised of four groups of seven beads called weeks beads. Seven represents the number of days it took God to create the world. Seven is also the number of seasons in the Anglican Church year. According to the Judeo-Christian tradition, seven symbolizes spiritual perfection.

Each group of weeks beads is separated by one of four Cruciform beads. Cruciforms, usually larger than weeks beads, represent the four points of the cross. The number four also symbolizes the fourth day in which material creation was finished; as well as the four directions of the earth: North, South, East, and West. In addition, there are four seasons and four lunar divisions: first, half, full, and last.

Directly above the cross is the invitatory bead which invites us to worship God. It is sometimes called the “Come Lord Jesus” bead.

The cross serves as a reminder of Jesus’ request for his disciples to take up their crosses and follow him. It encourages us to follow the ways of Jesus and to live a loving life as Jesus loved us.

All together there are thirty-three beads representing the number of years Jesus lived. Praying three times symbolizes the Trinity with the final prayer for the cross equaling one hundred, the number of completion, closing the circle of prayers.