Taize and Teresa ... Praying with Prayer Beads

Since ancient times, people have been praying in some way with prayers beads ... they may not have been strung together, they may have just been used as a symbol for counting prayers.  Desert Mothers and Fathers are said to have carried pebbles in their pockets.  Roman Catholics pray with the Rosary and many, if not all, religions have their own style of prayers beads.  I been drawn to Anglican Prayer beads, I really like their rhythm.  It has become a prayer practice for me to make prayer beads for others and for myself.  It is creative, contemplative, and calming.  Here is the set of beads I am using this week as I am immersed in the writings of Teresa of Avila and am contemplating the Interior Castle within. 

If you want to know more about formal praying with beads, you can google Anglican Prayer beads and find all the information that you want.  I don't always use the formal words that are used to describe the set of prayer beads, I use words that work for me.  

My invitation is to read just until you are full. Buy a book on Praying with Prayer Beads if you must.  Here is a good book: A Bead and a Prayer.  They also have a simple website.  Here is their "basics" page:  http://abeadnaprayer.com/prayer-bead-basics/

And then ... just pray and allow your prayer to form you.  As your prayers form you, you will form your prayers.  Here is my prayer for now ...

Cross: Prayer of Teresa

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.

Bead of Invitation (to prayer) Psalm 46:10

Be still and know that I am God

Cruciform:  2 Corinthians 12:9

My Grace is sufficient for you.

Beads: a Taize chant (spoken or sung)

Holy Spirit, Come to us

Repeat Cruciform prayer and 7 beads 3 more times or continue around the beads as many times as you want and can ... before you emerge up from prayer and out into the world.  The refrain I am using "Holy Spirit, Come to us," is the chanting refrain that is sung underneath Veni Sanctu Spiritu, which means "Come Holy Spirit."

Prayer of Gathering of the Bead of Invitation (to the world) Psalm 46:10

Be still and know that I am God

Cross:  Prayer of Teresa

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.  Amen.

So ... this is my process.  May God bless you as your own process unfolds in your prayer practice. 

Your own way of praying with prayer beads will unfold over time.   Here I have shared the way I have taken praying with beads and made it my own practice, one that fits me and my lifestyle as a praying person.  

Sometimes ... I will take prayer beads with me and simply use the refrain (what I'm praying on the bead prayer) while holding them ... suddenly I realize that I am not praying the prayer, the prayer is praying me.  

Holy Spirit, Come to Us

Holy Spirit, Come to Us is a short Taize refrain that is chanted or sung underneath solos or longer refrains.   If you take this clip you will hear the way I hear when I am praying, except at a much slower pace in my prayers:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2ZFlmzWcws

You will hear much the same music in the more popular Come, Holy Spirit which in Latin is Veni, Sancte Spiritus.  Take this clip to hear it beautifully done, the icons are stunning as well:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmxXwAgkhWQ

So ... I hear the words in my prayers to the music and style and pace of Come, Holy Spirit :)

Interior Castle

Let nothing disturb you,
nothing frighten you,
all things are passing.
God never changes.
Patience always conquers.
Whoever has God lacks nothing,
for God alone suffices.

 -- Teresa of Avila

Teresa of Avila was a Spanish mystic and Carmelite nun who lived in the 16th century.  In her famous work about the inner journey, The Interior Castle, she says, "the soul is like a castle made exclusively of diamond or some other very clear crystal.  In this castle are a multitude of dwellings ..."

I think the soul as Teresa speaks of it sounds very beautiful.  And I wonder, "how we can comprehend this beauty within ourselves?"  One of the ways we can begin to fathom these deeper interior movements is to engage our right brain in a creative activity.   Creating a collage is a way of allowing our unconscious to speak to us.  Perhaps you can create a collage mosaic by just looking at what I've done.  Perhaps you need further instructions.  Take this link to "Collage MOSAIC Creation" on my website for more detailed instructions.

Remember ... Let nothing disturb you!

Let nothing disturb you ...

“Let nothing disturb you; 

Let nothing dismay you; 

All thing pass; 

God never changes. 

Patience attains all that it strives for. 

One who has God Finds nothing lacking: 

God alone suffices.”  

Nada te turbe. 

Nada te espante.  

Todo se pasa. 

Dios no se muda.  

La paciencia todo lo alcanza.  

Quien a Dios tiene nada le falta.  

Sólo Dios basta.

 

A quote (adapted) from Teresa of Avila (1515-1585)