How to Make a Lutheran Rosary

A Lutheran rosary can differ from a Catholic rosary.

Lutheran rosary prayer beads are used to enhance spiritual life by reminding you to thoroughly contemplate various aspects of your relationship with Christ in a manner that is in keeping with Lutheran theology. When making your own Lutheran rosary, choose beads, colors and patterns that are meaningful to you. While you may choose to follow the guidelines for creating a traditional rosary, it is also acceptable to adapt and personalize it. The point of a rosary, regardless of its complexity or composition, is to help you to structure your prayers in a meaningful way.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Beading thread or twine
• Beading needle
• 59 small, round beads
• 14 large, round beads
• 2 square beads
• 1 cross charm with a vertical beading hole

1. Measure out two to three arm's lengths of beading thread and cut it off from the rest of the spool.

2. Loop the beading thread through the needle and pull until you have divided it into two strands of equal length. Tie a knot at the end opposite the needle, leaving a tail of several inches.

3. Pull the thread through a large bead until it rests at the knot. After this, add four small beads. Repeat this pattern nine more times. Each of the large beads represents one of the Ten Commandments, while the four small ones remind you to consider what the commandment means, to thank God, to confess your failure in keeping the commandment and to ask for strength to uphold it.

4. Add a square bead to indicate that you should pause or say amen.

5. Add a large bead and four small ones. Repeat this pattern twice more. This section of the rosary represents the Apostle's Creed. The large beads represent Creator, Christ and Spirit. The four smaller beads remind you to contemplate their meaning, give thanks, confess and ask for strength regarding each one.

6. Pull the remaining thread through the first five or six beads that you added to the strand. You should now have a circle, like a necklace. Tie a knot at the end of the thread so that all of the beads rest together closely.

7. Measure out one arm's length of beading string. Pull it through a needle until you have divided it into two strands of equal length. Tie a knot at the end opposite the needle.

8. Add the cross charm to the thread so that its bottom rests against the knot.

9. Add one large bead and then seven smaller ones. The large one represents the beginning of the Lord's Prayer, while the small beads represent each of its petitions.

10. Add a square bead to indicate that you should pause or say amen.

11. Find the first knot that you tied in the rosary.

12. Loop the remaining thread in your loose bead chain around the initial knot in the rosary, forming another knot. Pull it tightly so that the square bead is slightly to the left side and below the first large bead in the necklace.

13. Pull any loose thread through the necklace beads to add extra strength.

References

• Central Lutheran Church: Forms of Prayer --- Prayer Beads
• The Beadin' Path: How to Bead Basics

Resources

• Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Berkeley: A Lutheran Rosary