The Rosary, Protestant Style

Something that can aid us in our prayer life is a focus. A focus is something that draws our attention and helps us to eliminate distractions and stay on task. Using a focus to aid in prayer has been around since pre-Christian times, most likely starting with the altars of the patriarchs, developing in the Mosaic period with prayer tassels, phylacteries, and the various elements of the Tabernacle and later Temple. Structured, rote prayer has been around as least as long as the blessings and the Shema found in Deuteronomy. And since before its break with the Western Church, the Greek Orthodox Church has promoted the use of icons (painted depictions of Biblical figures or events) as foci for prayer.

The most famous prayer focus today is the Roman Catholic rosary. Its name comes from the Latin term for “garland of roses.” It is a  string of  beads with a crucifix  or  cross on a short end, followed by five beads, which is then attached to a circle of 5 “decades” (five sets of ten beads each separated by a single bead with a knot or space to either side of it). Each element of the rosary is used as an aid for structured, rote prayer, consisting of recitations of the Lord’s Prayer, the Hail Mary Prayer, the Doxology (“Glory Be”) prayer, and the Apostles’ Creed.

A rosary with a cross rather than a crucifix.

Of course, as a Protestant, I do not see Mary as co-redemptrix with Christ, nor do I see anywhere in Scripture where we are commanded or even encouraged to pray to her. So that becomes problematic when it comes to the traditional rote of the rosary. I am also a little troubled by the crucifix, as I believe Jesus is no longer fixed on the cross, but with us, in us, and at the right hand of the Father, preparing us a place so that we can be with him. The latter is easily solved by finding a rosary with a cross instead of a crucifix. As for the Hail Mary prayer, it is easily replaced by one’s choice of prayer or prayers

But why bother with the rosary at all? Well, I think the chief benefit of how I have approached this prayer focus is that it takes me to a place of silence where I can simply rest in the love of God and listen for his voice. As I go through the prayers that I have organized around the circuit of the rosary, I do not rush through them, but I slowly process through them, reflecting on their meaning, about what they tell me about God, about myself, and about our relationship.

I begin at the cross. Here I recite the Apostle’s Creed (sometimes by singing Rich Mullins’ song Creed). A creed is a statement of faith, a set of core beliefs. Creeds were originally born out of a response to heretical sects, and eventually became tests of fellowship to determine if one was orthodox and thus could be admitted into the church. There is quite a bit of pushback on this, particularly in our movement (The Stone-Campbell, or American Restoration Movement), as creeds are not direct quotes from Scripture. However, while I would never use a creed as a test of fellowship, I do see them (at least the early creeds) as a synthesis of Scriptural truths, and thus find them useful as reminders of who God is, what he’s done for us, and his call upon our lives. The Apostle’s Creed is the earliest of all creeds. Though its name suggests that the Apostles themselves crafted it, it most likely was put together some 50 to 60 years after they were no longer with us (about 150 CE).

Apostle’s Creed

Creed, by Rich Mullins

I believe in God, the Father almighty,       creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,       who was conceived by the Holy Spirit       and born of the virgin Mary.       He suffered under Pontius Pilate,       was crucified, died, and was buried;       he descended to hell.       The third day he rose again from the dead.       He ascended to heaven       and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.       From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit,       the holy catholic* church,       the communion of saints,       the forgiveness of sins,       the resurrection of the body,       and the life everlasting. Amen.

I believe in God the Father, Almighty maker of heaven and maker of earth, And in Jesus Christ his only begotten son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate. He was crucified and dead and buried. . . . I believe that he who suffered was crucified, buried, and dead. He descended into hell and on the third day, rose again. He ascended into heaven where he sits at God's mighty right hand. I believe that he's returning to judge the quick and the dead of the sons of men. I believe in the Holy Spirit, one holy church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sin I believe in the resurrection, I believe in a life that never ends. And I believe what I believe, it’s what makes me what I am. I did not make it, no, it is making me. I did not make it, no, it is making me. I said I did not make it, no, it is making me. It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man.

*-*-Lower “c” catholic refers to the universal body of Christ, not any one denomination.

The next five beads are called the "Antiphon" beads. Next I grasp the first bead right after the cross and pray the Lord’s Prayer (also called the “Our Father”).

Our Father who is in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name,

Your kingdom come, Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us the day our daily bread,

Forgive us our trespasses

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory

Forever and ever. Amen.

The next three beads I pray the Jesus Prayer three times. This is a centering prayer, where I breathe in while praying the first line, and breathe out while praying the second line.

(Breathe in) Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

(Breathe out) Have mercy on me, a sinner.

In the space between the fourth and fifth bead, I pray the Doxology (or sing it).

Doxology Prayer (“Glory Be”)	Doxology Song
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.	Praise God from Whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

On the fifth bead, I pray the Lord’s Prayer again.

I have now reached the main circle of beads, called the Loop. Moving clockwise, I pray the following prayers: There are five sets of ten beads, called "decades," followed by a bead with a knot or space before and after it.

First Decade: What I call the “I Am Loved” Prayer ten times.

(Breathe in) I am Your beloved son/daughter, whom You love;

(Breathe out) With me You are well pleased.

On the knot or space after the tenth bead, I pray or sing the Doxology.

On the eleventh bead, I pray the Lord’s Prayer.

On the knot or space after that, I reflect on what it means to be God’s beloved child.

Second decade: I pray the Jesus Prayer ten times, followed by Doxology on the knot/space after them, and the Lord’s Prayer on the eleventh bead. On the knot/space after that, I reflect on any unconfessed sins I may be harboring.

Third Decade: I return to the “I Am Loved” prayer, again followed by the Doxology, the Lord’s Prayer, and reflecting on the odd truth that not only does God love me, but he delights in me.

Fourth Decade: I go back to the Jesus Prayer, with Doxology, and the Lord’s Prayer afterward, followed by a time where I repent and ask forgiveness for the sins I still wrestle with.

Fifth and final decade: I once more pray the “I Am Loved” prayer and conclude with a final Doxology and Lord’s Prayer. Then holding the part of the chain that connects the main circuit with the cross, and enter into a time of silence, resting in God’s love and seeking to hear what he has to tell me.

This is the purpose that I use the rosary for—to lead me into a greater understanding of my own brokenness and God’s love for me, and to take me to a place of quietness where I can simply rest in the embrace of my Abba. I don’t do it because I think it will grant me wishes or get me brownie points in heaven. Nor do I do it to impress or shock the people around me. There’s nothing magical about the rosary; it’s just a tool to help me draw closer to Jesus. If may help you to do the same.

This all may sound super weird, or perhaps too “Catholic.” I get it. I used to feel that way, too. But if you can get past the strangeness or “tabooness” of it, I encourage you to give it a try. And more than one try. Odds are your first few attempts will be awkward, mechanistic, wooden, and unfruitful. Mine were. But like any discipline, the more we invest in it, the more fruit it will produce in our lives.

If you do try it, I encourage you to be creative. You don’t have to follow my pattern. Find prayers that are meaningful to you and your relationship with God (e.g., maybe the Serenity Prayer), and weave them into your routine. Whatever helps you draw closer to Jesus, go for it!

Soli Deo Gloria, and grace and peace.