Ego sum ("I Am") Chaplet

The Scripture passages used herein are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

The formula for this chaplet focuses on the “I Am” statements attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of John.  There being seven of these statements and seven days in a week, assigning one to each day of the week seems like the obvious thing to do.  Rather than meditating on a new thing each decade, the idea is to meditate upon the one statement all the way thru the chaplet.

Oh, yes, the name.  It is Latin for, wait for it…”I Am”.

Opening prayers

Sign of the Cross (Signum Crucis)

In the Name of the Creator, and of the Redeemer, and of the Transformer.  Amen.

Still holding the cross, say:

Preces

V. Lord, open our lips.
R. And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

V. O God, make speed to save us.

R. O Lord, make haste to help us.

V. Glory be to the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit:

R.  As it was, is now, and always shall be, forever and ever.  Amen.  Alleluia. 

In Lent, in place of “Alleluia” say: Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.

On the large bead say:

Lord’s Prayer

Father, blessed be your name.  May your dominion come and your will be done.  Let your Holy Spirit come upon us and cleanse us.  Give us what is sufficient day-by-day.  Forgive us our debts, as we forgive those indebted to us.  And save us from succumbing to temptation.  Amen.

Or this:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us each day our daily bread.  Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Amen.

On the three small beads say, meditating on Faith, Hope, and Love:

Trisagion

Holy God,

Holy and Mighty,

Holy Immortal One,

Have mercy upon us.

On the chain say:

Minor Doxology (Gloria Patri)

Glory be to the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit: As it was, is now, and always shall be, forever and ever.  Amen.

For each decade of beads:

On each large bead, repeat aloud the I Am statement of the day, the same statement on each of the five large beads on that day.

Here are the seven statements from the Gospel of John and their assigned day to be meditated upon while reciting the prayers of this chaplet.  The statements and days were paired on a first-come, first-served basis, so to speak.

Sunday: I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35)

Monday: I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. (John 8:12)

Tuesday: I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. (John 10:9)

Wednesday: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)

Thursday: I am the resurrection and the life.  Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live. (John 11:25)

Friday: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

Saturday:  I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit. (John 15:5)

On each of the ten small beads, say:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior, have mercy upon me, a sinner.

On the chain at the end of the first four decades say:

Glory be to the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit: As it was, is now, and always shall be, forever and ever.  Amen.

On the chain at the end of the fifth decade, say:

            Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, and good will among all humanity.
            Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
            Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.
            For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Close out with the following prayer:

May we love the Lord our God who is the One, both compassionate and merciful, with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength.  May we love our neighbors as ourselves.  And may we love one another, Jesus, just as you loved us, for there is no greater calling than to love.  Amen.