I like prayer beads – they look pretty and nicely crafted. Their dainty looks, however, conceal a powerful spiritual practice.
I had the chance to try out prayer beads after I attended a study break at St. John’s Episcopal Church in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC. I spoke about my recent baptism, which took place last May, and the rector presented me with a bunch of prayer beads to choose from. She offered me instructions on how to pray with them and asked if I was a former Catholic, which I’m not. It turns out that prayer beads can provoke negative feelings for former Catholics. Having selected two sets of prayer beads, I felt like I received an early Christmas gift during the middle of Advent.
Read Full Article »