Old Bead Arrangements for the Names of God

This is a history of how I came up with the list I use for the 99 Names of God, and a description of a 43-bead rosary I used from about 1998 to 2000. I also had a 17-bead bracelet that "zipped" the larger rosary in a very complicated way that's probably of interest to no one but me. I wanted to put it here for my own reference, and in case of the remote possibility that someone else might find it interesting.

Before I finalized the 99 Names of God, I had 40 categories with several names in each one. The 40 categories were sub-categories of nine larger categories, which were in turn sub-categories of three main categories (Transcendent, Subtle, and Merciful). Here are the 40 categories:

• 1. Transcendent, Glorious, Mysterious, One, Eternal, Good, Holy
• 2. Compelling, Exalted, Ruler
• 3. Maker, Author, Weaver
• *
• 4. Subtle, Humbler/Exalter, Life Giver/Death Giver, Manifest/Hidden, First/Last
• 5. Wise, Seer, Answerer, Nigh
• 6. Reckoner, Just, Witness, Gatherer
• *
• 7. Merciful, Compassionate, Kind, Loving
• 8. Healer, Bountiful, Enricher
• 9. Guardian, Dependable, Refuge, Savior, Counselor, Sustainer, Friend

I made a wooden necklace with beads for each category, dividers between the nine sub-categories, and larger dividers between the three main sub-catetories. The pattern was 7,3,3--5,4,4--4,3,7, with one large bead connecting the ends. However, to make the pattern symmetric, so that I could travel either way around it, I eventually moved one bead so that the pattern was 7,3,3--5,4,5--3,3,7

I also came up with a bracelet of 16 beads plus a large bead, that zipped this pattern. I would go around it three times, once for each of the three main categories in the above list. It used three kinds of beads that became spacers in each pass, as well as counter beads and one small bead at the end that was only used for the last pass. As with the necklace, there was a large bead to connect the ends. The pattern looked like this: ****32*13*21***&. The "1" beads divided the set into groups of 7, 3 and 3, the "2" beads divided the set into groups of 5,4 and 4, the "3" beads divided the third set into groups of 4,4 and 7. On the first two passes I would skip the small bead at the end. I was very pleased with the resulting symmetry. You can see the bracelet in the above photo.

On each of the 40 beads, I would say several Names, taken from the following list.

• 1. Transcendent, Infinite, Wonderful, Magnificent, Exalted
• 2. Light, Shining, Splendid, Glorious
• 3. One, Incomparable, Unique, Indivisible, Independent, Self-sufficient
• 4. Eternal, Immortal, Timeless, Everlasting, Enduring, Immutable
• 5. Invisible, Mysterious, Unseen
• 6. Holy, Blessed, Good, Pure, Perfect
• 7. Praiseworthy, Commendable, Upright, Righteous, Truthful, Honorable
• ---
• 8. Compelling, Irresistible, Almighty, Powerful, Omnipotent
• 9. Great, Most High, Tremendous, Majestic
• 10. Ruler, Queen, King, Monarch, Governor, Imperious, Noble
• ---
• 11. Originator, Maker, Source
• 12. Fashioner, Organizer, Designer, Architect, Author
• 13. Fulfiller, Weaver, Procreator
• ****************
• 14. Subtle, Creator, Preserver, Destroyer
• 15. Contractor, Expander, Humbler, Exalter, Honorer, Abases Expediter, Delayer, Distressor, Benefactor
• 16. Life Giver, Death Giver, Avenger, Acceptor of Repentance, Beautiful, Terrible
• 17. Manifest, Hidden, All-Encompassing, Within
• 18. Mother, Father, First, Last
• ---
• 19. Wise, Aware, Awake, Conscious, Alive, Omniscient, Discerning, Sagacious
• 20. Seer, Hearer, Knower, Listener, Watchful, Vigilant, Witness
• 21. Responsive, Answerer, Revealer
• 22. Omnipresent, Nigh
• ---
• 23. Reckoner, Counter, Numberer
• 24. Arbitrator, Judge, Just, Equitable
• 25. One Who Remembers, Requiter
• 26. Gatherer, Inheritor, Collector, Harvester, Reaper, Unifier
• ********************
• 27. Merciful, Forgiving, Forbearing, Pardoner, Relenting Oft-Returning, Effacer, Clement, Indulgent
• 28. Compassionate, Benevolent, Pitying
• 29. Gentle, Kind, Patient, Peaceful, Tranquil
• 30. Loving, Affectionate, Caring, Embracing, Cherishes
• ---
• 31. Resurrector, Healer, Nurturer, Nourishes
• 32. Bountiful, Generous, Opulent, Ample, Beneficent
• 33. Giver, Enricher, Bestower, Benefactor, Provider, Gracious
• ---
• 34. Guardian, Protector, Subduer, Defender, Preventer, Restrainer
• 35. Strong, Dependable, Steadfast, Firm, Unfailing, Trustworthy
• 36. Refuge, Haven, Stronghold, Sanctuary, Shield, Fortress
• 37. Deliverer, Savior, Salvation, Liberator, Redeemer
• 38. Keeper, Shepherd, Guide, Counselor, Way, Finder, Restorer
• 39. Sustainer, Upholder, Supporter, Maintainer
• 40. Patron, Matron, Helper, Friend

Eventually I made a more formal list with 99 Names in it. As in the previous list, I would select names from each category, but used a certain number of names from each category for a total of 99. I ended up making a 99 Names rosary with 40 colored sections, with the set number of beads in each one. It was in using that rosary that I eventually memorized the list that I use now, on a strand of 33 beads, and sometimes on the Catholic rosary beads.

See the description of the 99 Names and the Universal Rosary on the "Karen's Prayer Beads" page for more explanation of the 33-bead strands. I haven't used those old beads for a decade now, preferring the Universal Rosary, but I like the way they look, and I wanted to remember how they work.

Here is the list. I've put asterisks between the first 12, the next 9, and the last 12 in each column, because I use markers in my strand of 33 beads at those positions to help me keep track of where I am.