Advent is the church season that spans the four weeks leading us to Christmas and is a season of expectant waiting for God’s coming.
Each of the four weeks of Advent has different readings and themes that are used. These can vary between denominations and traditions, but one common sequence of themes uses hope, peace, joy, and love for the four weeks of the season.
I have used this sequence of themes to create a set of prayers (using many verses from Scripture) for use during the Advent season.
The following prayers can be used in two different ways with an Anglican rosary. One option is to pray it using the four different Advent themes for the four different weeks of the rosary, so that you would use all four themes each time you pray it throughout the season.
The second option is to use the prayers for the theme of the Advent week you are in for each of the weeks of rosary beads during that week and to move on to a different theme the next week. This would mean that each week would be different as you move through the Advent season.
| Cross: | In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
| Invitatory bead: | For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) |
| Cruciform bead 1 (or Advent week 1): | You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. (Psalm 119:114) |
| Week beads 1-7: | Lord, help me to keep my hope solely in you who upholds and sustains me. |
| Cruciform bead 2 (or Advent week 2): | Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27) |
| Week beads 1-7: | Lord, let me know your peace in my heart and make me an instrument of that peace in the world around me. |
| Cruciform bead 3 (or Advent week 3): | You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence. (Acts 2:28) |
| Week beads 1-7: | Lord, fill my heart with your joy as I rest in your presence. |
| Cruciform bead 4 (or Advent week 4): | You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86:15) |
| Week beads 1-7: | Lord, help me feel your abounding love for me that I may likewise love others as you have loved me. |
| Invitatory bead: | For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) |
| Cross: | May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in him, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (adapted from Romans 15:13) Amen |
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