ThePater Noster cord (also spelledPaternoster Cord and calledPaternoster beads) is a set of Christianprayer beads used to recite the 150Psalms, as well as theLord's Prayer.[1][2] As such, Paternoster cords traditionally consist of 150 beads that are prayed once or 50 beads that are prayed thrice. One end of the Paternoster cord has aChristian cross and the other end has a tassel.[2][3]
The Pater Noster cord was used inGaelic Ireland, often sung in the form ofCeltic chant. In themedieval era, persons who were illiterate simply recited the Lord's Prayer (known as thePater Noster in theEcclesiastical Latinliturgical language) 150 times instead of the 150 Psalms, hence giving these Christian prayer beads the name of the Paternoster cord.[4]
In 3rd centuryRoman Egypt, theCoptic RiteDesert Fathers inScetes carried pebbles in pouches to count theirpraying of the Psalms.[3] The Pater Noster Cord, however, originated in the 8th centuryCeltic Church inGaelic Ireland as a means to count the recitation of the one hundred and fiftyPsalms in theChristian Bible, which are incorporated into thefixed prayer times of Christianity.[5] Those who could not read or had difficulty memorizing the canonical hours prayed theLord's Prayer one hundred and fifty times.[5] Ropes of 150 knots prayed once or ropes of 50 knots (to be counted thrice) were made, giving the Pater Noster Cord its current form.[5] The use of the Paternoster Cords spread throughout Western Christendom.[6]
The oldest examples to be found were discovered by archaeologists during an excavation of the Celtic monastery onLindisfarne in 2022: made ofAtlantic salmonvertebrae, they are believed date from the 8th- or 9th-century.[7]
The Pater Noster cord has been carried by Christians who wear it off of theirgirdle or belt, or also hang it off of "the neck or wrist or arm".[8] Others have worn the Pater Noster cord by attaching it to abrooch worn on the breast, or simply carrying it in their hand.[8]
According to theCogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh, the elderlyBrian Boru,High King of Ireland, spent the day before his death at the hands ofVikingmercenaryBrodir during theBattle of Clontarf in 1014 away from combat, kneeling upon a cushion, and singing 50 Psalms, 50 paters, 50 aves, and then reciting the next 50 Psalms using a Pater Noster cord.[9]
The making of Paternoster Cords in theMiddle Ages was done byguilds who were distinguished based on the kind of materials they used to assemble them ("coral and shell, amber and jet, or bone and horn").[10]
In the present day,religious orders such as the Solitaries of DeKoven (a community of Anglican hermits) make Pater Noster cords to support themselves.[11]
Monks and clergy recited or chanted the Psalms as a major source of hourly worship. People living near the monasteries/abbeys realized the beauty of this devotion but unable to read or memorize the lengthy Psalms, the people were unable to adapt this form of prayer for their use. It was suggested that the people might substitute 150 Our Fathers in place of the Psalms.
