Do Presbyterians Use the Rosary?

When people think of rosary beads and their associated prayers, the Roman Catholic Church often comes to mind. Yet there are non-Catholic Christians, including some Protestants, who use prayer beads. Does the Presbyterian tradition encourage using rosaries?

Presbyterians don’t use rosaries. The historic teaching of the Presbyterian tradition strongly objects to praying to saints, including Mary. While the rosary includes reciting the Lord’s Prayer and a doxology, Presbyterians are convinced that there are other, more biblical ways to pray.

How does Presbyterian teaching respond to the alleged benefits of using rosaries? What is it about the rosary prayers that Presbyterians reject? What do they believe about Mary? What Protestants use rosaries? Keep reading to learn more.

Also, see Presbyterian vs. Roman Catholic: What’s the Difference? to learn more.

Why Presbyterians Don’t Use Rosaries

Prayer has always been a central feature of Presbyterian teaching. It is a core theological conviction of the tradition, and Presbyterian pastors have taught and encouraged their congregations in the discipline for centuries. (Also see Can a Catholic Attend a Presbyterian Church?)

The French Reformer John Calvin (1509-1564), upon which the theology of Presbyterianism is based, taught that “prayer is the chief exercise of faith.” Yet even more critical to Presbyterians is the Bible’s teaching on prayer, such as 1 Thessalonians 5:17, which reads, “Pray without ceasing” (ESV).

What are prayer beads? Prayer beads are small and circular and often made of wood, ceramic, or glass and laced together on a string. In addition to Roman Catholicism, they are found in various world religions like Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam.

The number of beads can vary, but 55 to 59 per string are traditional quantities. The beads are intended to serve as memory aids. As a person thumbs each bead, they are reminded of what prayers to say. (Also see Are Presbyterians Calvinists?)

What is the rosary? From the Latin word rosarium, the term “rosary” literally means “rose garden.” Some Catholics explain the term by saying that the prayer beads are like a “garden of prayers.” The rosary typically includes reciting the Lord’s Prayer, several Hail Mary prayers, and a doxology.

The phrase “the Lord’s Prayer” refers to the instructions Christ gave to his disciples on the matter of prayer, as recorded in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. In some traditions, its called the “Pater Noster,” which means “Our Father,” and refers to the first two words of the prayer, i.e. “Our Father who are in heaven…”

The Lord’s Prayer, as it appears in Luke 11:2-4 (NKJV) reads,

So He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done.
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.”

What Concerns Presbyterians About the Rosary?

• The theology of Mary: Presbyterians’ most important objection to the rosary is the theology related to Mary. Presbyterians highly view Mary’s role in Jesus’ life, her humility, obedience, devotion, and much more. However, they don’t venerate her as Roman Catholicism teaches. Presbyterians believe it’s wrong to pray to her, or any other saint, who is no longer living on Earth.

• Vain repetition: Interpretations of Jesus’ instruction to avoid “vain repetition” (KJV) or “babbling like pagans” (NIV), or “heap[ing] up empty phrases” (ESV) can vary slightly, but there is general agreement that the practice of the rosary violates this teaching. Presbyterians aren’t opposed to being persistent in prayer (e.g., 2 Cor. 12:8) but reject the idea that mindless, heartless repetition inclines God to a person or their petitions.

The term “Mariology” refers to the doctrine about Mary, especially in Roman Catholicism. An example is a doctrine called the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, which states that Mary didn’t die physically but ascended into heaven like Elijah. The term “Mariolatry” refers to the worship of Mary, which some Presbyterians accuse the Catholic church of doing.

Also, see Can Presbyterians Dance? to learn more.

Presbyterians Don’t pray to Saints

Like other Protestant Christians, Presbyterians respect Christ’s followers who no longer live on Earth. Their stories inspire living a life devoted to Christ, and their sermons, devotional writings, and Bible commentaries help people learn more about God and Scripture. But they don’t engage with them in prayer. (Also see How Often Do Presbyterians Take Communion?)

Presbyterians believe the term “saints” is synonymous with believers. They point out that in the New Testament, the term refers to the Church as a whole (e.g., 2 Cor. 8:4). In the Catholic tradition, “saint” is a special designation that Church leaders bestow on a person who has lived a uniquely holy and devout life. Catholics exercise devotion to saints and prayer to them for help.

Though Presbyterians respect Mary, they don’t pray to her. Though they honor her, they don’t believe she is a mediator between believers and God.

Presbyterians Don’t Say the Hail Mary

The “Hail Mary” prayer states,

Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

The first line comes from Luke 1:28. The KJV translation closely reflects the content of the prayer. The angel Gabriel is speaking to Mary in the passage: “And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”

The second line comes from Luke 1:42. The KJV translation closely reflects the content of the prayer. Elizabeth is speaking to Mary in the passage: “And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.”

The third line of the prayer isn’t in the Bible. Presbyterians argue that it’s unbiblical to call Mary the “Mother of God” and ask her to pray to God on behalf of the people. According to historic Presbyterian teaching, prayer should be modeled after the Bible’s instructions.

The Church — even its leaders — may not import or impose additional or alternative doctrine on believers. The third line of the Hail Mary crosses a theological line to Presbyterians and other Protestants. (Also see Presbyterian Church USA vs. Presbyterian Church in America: What’s the Difference?)

The term “Marian Devotion” describes the practice of revering Mary, especially in relation to Roman Catholic belief and practice. Catholicism teaches that Mary is the “Mother of God” and has a type of maternal oversight over the Church.

Also, see What Do Presbyterians Believe? to learn more.

Non-Catholics Who Use Prayer Beads

Roman Catholicism isn’t the only historic branch of the Christian faith that uses prayer beads. These beads aren’t necessarily “rosary” beads because the theology of the petitions is different. Others include:

• Eastern Orthodoxy: Often called a “prayer rope,” the memory aid traditionally has 33 knots to reflect Christ’s years of life on Earth. Some Eastern Orthodox call the prayer rope “the sword of Spirit” because prayer to God defeats the devil’s schemes.

• Lutheranism: A small number of Lutherans use rosary beads, but they don’t say the Hail Mary prayer. For example, the “Wreath of Christ” is the product of the Swedish Lutheran Church. It has 18 beads called “pearls” as well as a crucifix. (Also see Presbyterian vs. Lutheran: What’s the Difference?)

• Anglicanism: Some Anglicans use rosaries for practical purposes (i.e., as memory aids) but don’t pray to saints any longer living on the Earth or to Mary. An example of the kind of prayers Anglicans say is called the “Cruciforms,” which describes the shape of a Christian cross:

Holy God,
Holy Almighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy upon me (us).

Also see Presbyterian vs. Episcopalian: What’s the Difference?

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