Praying with Beads

I love trying new prayer practices. Not all strike a chord with me and draw me closer to the heart of God...but many do, and my prayer life has been enriched in recent years by the discovery of fixed-hour prayer, prayer labyrinths, chant, and more. It's almost as if praying saints of past generations actually knew a thing or two.

I was, therefore, intrigued to discover the book, Praying with Beads: Daily Prayers for the Christian Year, by Nan Lewis Doerr and Virginia Stem Owens. It consists of a compelling and instructive introduction, followed by morning, noon, and evening prayers for use with a string of prayer beads. The prayers follow the Christian calendar throughout the liturgical year.

I purchased an inexpensive string of 34 beads and used the Advent prayers throughout that season, and was wonderfully helped by the practice (the "Additional Sources and Materials" section at the back of the book offers helpful guidance for pricing and purchasing prayer beads). I heartily agree with Phyllis Tickle's endorsement on the back of the book, when she says, "Protestant Christians, whether liturgical or not, will find here not only a missing part of their heritage, but also much counsel and instruction for their future practice of the faith."

(This book was provided for review by the publisher, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.)