PRAYING WITH BEADS An Expression of Devotional Spirituality

PRAYING WITH BEADS An Expression of Devotional Spirituality in various religious traditions

IN MANY RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS Muslim women with Prayer Beads Buddhist monk with mala beads Christian woman with Rosary Beads Hindu holy man with prayer bead necklace

Prayer beads are traditionally used to keep count of the repetitions of prayers, chants or devotions by adherents of religion. Since the beads can be fingered in an automatic manner, they allow one to keep track of how many prayers have been said with a minimal amount of conscious effort, which in turn allows greater attention to be paid to the prayers themselves.

There are three widely accepted uses for prayer beads: 1. Repetition of the same devotion a set (usually large) number of times. 2. Repetition of several different prayers in some pattern, possibly interspersed with or accompanied by meditations 3. Meditation on a series of spiritual themes.

IN HINDUISM Prayer or worship is considered to be an integral part of the Hindu way of living. The chanting of mantras is the most popular form of worship in Hinduism.

IN HINDUISM The earliest use of prayer beads can be traced to Hinduism, where they are called Japa Mala. Japa is the repeating of the name of a deity or a mantra. Mala (Sanskrit: म ल ; mālā) means 'garland' or 'wreath’. Japa mala are used for repetition of a mantras, for other forms of spiritual exercises, and as an aid to meditation. The most common mala have 108 beads.

IN BUDDHISM Mala Beads Mala beads comprise of a string of 108 beads, with a "sumeru", i. e. one bead functioning as a summit bead. They are a aid to meditation.

IN BUDDHISM Mala Beads yak bone prayer mala from Tibet • In Buddhism, mantras are often repeated hundreds or even thousands of times. • The basic function of the mala is to allow one to think about the meaning of the mantra as it is chanted without having to also concentrate on counting the repetitions. • Each time the mantra is repeated, the fingers move to the next bead. • Prayer beads are generally worn as bracelets, usually by followers of the Japanese and Tibetan schools of Buddhism. But priests often carry longer strings of beads as necklaces. Many paintings of important Buddhist priests or leaders show them seated on a platform wearing robes and handling rosaries.

IN ISLAM

IN ISLAM In Islam, prayer beads are referred to as Misbaha or Tasbih, and contain 99 beads, corresponding to the 99 Names of Allah. Sometimes only 33 beads are used, in which case one would cycle through them 3 times to equal 99. Use of the misbaha to count prayers and recitations is an evolution of Muhammad's practice of using the fingers of his right hand to keep track. Their use as a religious item has somewhat diminished over the years, and many use them nowadays strictly as worry beads and as status symbols. They are most commonly made of wooden beads, but also of olive seeds, ivory, amber, pearls or plastic.

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IN CATHOLIC CHRISTIANITY Praying with Beads and MARIAN SPIRITUALITY

IN CATHOLIC CHRISTIANITY Praying with beads is known as praying the ROSARY. It is part of the Marian Spirituality of Catholic Christians.

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les an d e. C tiv Vo Mary Chapel Prayer Kneeler http: //cathedralofststephen. org. au/popups/mary. htm Mary, Woman of Faith The image of Mary, Woman of Faith, shows her standing with hands extended in trust, open to do the will of God. She draws the person who comes to pray into that same response of faith in God's promises and trust in God's goodness. Through Mary's act of faith, God gave Christ to the world; through Mary's example of faith, we are encouraged to rely on the powerful love of Christ our mediator. We come to the shrine to light a candle, to leave a few flowers, to kneel in prayer so that our trust in God may join Mary's trust, so that our prayer may become Mary's prayer, so that our cry in time of need may also be Mary's intercession.

MARIAN SPIRITUALITY What do you think it is?

MARIAN SPIRITUALITY Spirituality is concerned with the Human Person in relationship with the Divine. Marian spirituality is centred around reflecting on the personhood of Mary, mother of Jesus, her response to and relationship with the Divine. These reflections nurture a person’s life of faith, making it stronger. Mary shows us people how to live life & recognise the mystery of God in their everyday life.

IN CATHOLIC CHRISTIANITY Praying with beads is known as praying the ROSARY. It is part of the Marian Spirituality of Catholic Christians. Rosary means a crown of roses, a spiritual bouquet given to Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

STUDENT TASK Read the handout titled – Mary the Mother of Jesus Complete the QUESTIONS on page 168 and those on page 171 of the handout.

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CHANGE OVER TIME Find out what Pope John Paul II added to the Rosary in October 2002. In October 2002, Pope John Paul II added the ‘MYSTERIES OF LIGHT ‘ to the Holy Rosary, calling Catholics to pray the rosary daily; for our families – and for peace in the world. These mysteries reflect on Jesus’ Baptism, the wedding at Cana, the proclamation of the Kingdom of God, the Transfiguration and the Institution of the Eucharist.

EXPERIENCING THE ROSARY Pray one decade of the Rosary The Second Joyful Mystery – Mary’s visit to her cousin, Elizabeth [Luke 1: 39 -56]

MARY VISITS ELIZABETH [ ] LUKE 1: 39 -56 N, EW LIVING TRANSLATION] Mary Visits Elizabeth 39 A 42 Elizabeth The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise 46 Mary “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. 47 How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! 48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. 49 For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. 50 He shows mercy from generation to all who fear him. 51 His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. 52 He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. 54 He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. 55 For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever. ” 56 Mary few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. 43 Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44 When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45 You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said. ” responded, stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home.

The Second Joyful Mystery Mary Visits Elizabeth

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF YOUR EXPERIENCE OF PRAYING A DEADE OF THE ROSARY Describe – explain what happened in the meditation experience. Analyse – ‘pick it apart’ Evaluate it – make judgments about it – is it a good way to ‘tap into’ your spirituality?

MARY PRAYER BEADS Reflect briefly on the stories of Mary remembered in the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. What do they tell us about Mary? Can you add any ideas to this chart? Faith and Trust Care for others Visits Elizabeth Says ‘Yes’ to God About Mary

STUDENT TASK Read pages 171 to 172 of the handout titled - Mary the Mother of Jesus Complete the QUESTIONS on page 172 of the handout. Research either Our Lady of Fatima or Our Lady’s appearance at Lourdes.

IF TIME PERMITS Click on the link below – a priest explains the Rosary for Upper Primary and Lower High School children: http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=z. D 50 N 4 DZ 96 c