Lutheran Rosary

Q: Is there a Lutheran rosary?

A: I wouldn’t call it a rosary, but there exists what we might call the Pearls of Life or the Wreath of Christ: the Lutheran prayer beads. They are to be a practical device to encourage prayer, a time of silence and reflection.

The wooden beads are round, flat and of different colors. They represent an exegesis of the Our Father. The wreath is rather circular, beginning with the golden bead and returning to it.

Golden bead – symbol of God – "Our Father in Heaven"

Small bead – symbol of Creature – "Hallowed be Your name"

White bead – symbol of Baptism – "Your kingdom come"

Sand-colored bead – symbol of Desert – "Your will be done ..."

Blue bead – symbol of Serenity – "Give us this day our daily bread."

Red bead – symbol of Love – "and forgive us our sins"

Red bead – symbol of Sacrifice – "as we forgive those ..."

Small beads (three) – symbol of the "I" – "asking for forgiveness"

Black bead – symbol of Night – "lead us not into temptation"

White bead – symbol of Resurrection – "but deliver us from evil"

Golden Bead – "For the Kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever."

The author of the Lutheran beads is Martin Lönnebo, Lutheran bishop in Sweden.

Image shown: Taken from the Marian Library's rosary collection