Wreath of Christ
# Wreath of Christ

The Wreath of Christ (Swedish: Frälsarkransen; Danish and Norwegian: Kristuskransen), also known as the Lutheran rosary, are a set of prayer beads developed in 1995 by Swedish Evangelical Lutheran bishop emeritus Martin Lönnebo. The Wreath of Christ contains 18 beads, which are known as "pearls", with many including a crucifix. They are an often used devotion in the Lutheran Church after their popularization through the text Pearls of Life; the Wreath of Christ has been used in ecumenical Christian settings as well.

## Background

Bishop Lönnebo of the Lutheran Church of Sweden was stranded on an island in Greece for several days because of a storm. When he saw the Greek fishermen with their kombologia (which are in fact worry beads that have no religious or spiritual function), he was inspired to create the Wreath of Christ. He first developed, on paper, a set of Lutheran prayer beads where he gave all the pearls a specific meaning. After the return home to Sweden, he made the actual pearl ribbon, based on his sketches and started using it in his prayers. The devotion began to spread rapidly in Sweden and to other Lutheran countries.

## Pearls

The order starts at the golden "God" bead and goes counter-clockwise. In this order, the pearls symbolise the course of life, and also represent a catechism.

* The bead of God
* The bead of Silence
* The I bead
* The bead of Baptism
* The bead of Silence
* The Desert bead
* The bead of Silence
* The Carefree bead
* The bead of Silence
* Bead of God's love
* Bead of God's love
* Bead of Secrets
* Bead of Secrets
* Bead of Secrets
* The bead of Darkness
* The bead of Silence
* The bead of Resurrection
* The bead of Silence
* Crucifix

## Prayers

The following prayers are said on the Wreath of Christ:

   1. Golden Bead of God
   You are immense, You are near, You are the light and I am Yours.
   Silence At each oblong bead you may either rest in silence, or pray: I give away my loneliness. I receive that I am Yours.
   2. Pearly I-Bead You created me as Your own image. Let me see Your image in myself.
   3. White Bead of Baptism You have invited me. In Your hands I commend my life.
   Silence
   4. Sandy Desert Bead Keep me holy and I will be holy kept. Heal me and I will be healed. Draw me near Yourself, and my heart will have peace. Jesus Christ, give me mercy.
   Silence
   5. Blue Carefree Bead I give away my load of worries. I receive Your peace.
   Silence
   6. Red Bead of God’s Love You are mine and I am Yours. Your love is everlasting.
   7. Red Bead of Sacrifice Let me love my neighbour with Your love.
   8. Pearly Beads of Secrets On these three beads you may tell God the personal, important, or secret things you don’t want anyone else to know.
   9. Black Bead of Darkness Out of the depths have I cried unto You, oh Lord. Lord, hear my voice. Do not abandon me.
   Silence
   10. White Resurrection Bead Here is no time. Here is no distance. I have peace in my heart in front of You. Here I want to stay.
   Silence

After these eighteen prayers, the Lord's Prayer is recited (either on the Golden Bead of God or on the crucifix).

