The Litany


THE LITANY

{Adapted, and mildly modified, from the Prayer Book of the Anglican Mission in America. Feel free to use it individually or corporately-MWP}

A litany is a particular form of prayer in which there is movement between the Minister and the congregation. The Minister calls upon the people to pray for this and that (biddings), calls upon the Lord (invocations), and makes requests (petitions), and in all three instances, there is a response from the people.
The original English Litany, upon which that in the Prayer Book is based, was published, with the music to be used in singing it, in 1544, some five years before the appearance of the first edition of The Book of Common Prayer. In the Anglican tradition, the use of the Litany has been particularly associated with Wednesdays and Fridays, following Morning Prayer; before Holy Communion on certain Sundays and Holy Days, and at ordinations of deacons, priests and bishops. It can be sung or said. It is also easily adapted for use at a midweek prayer meeting in church before the offering of ex tempore prayers, and, from time to time, as part of family prayer.

{N.B. It is often associated with Ash Wednesday. I have used this numerous times when praying outside of Abortion facilities, during times of national trouble, and in seasons of personal renewal-MWP}

God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth;
Have mercy on us, wretched sinners.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world;
Have mercy on us, wretched sinners.
God the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son;
Have mercy on us, wretched sinners.
Holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three Persons and one God;
Have mercy on us, wretched sinners.
Do not remember, Lord Christ, our sins or the sins of our forbearers, and do not take vengeance for our offenses. Spare us, good Lord; spare your people, whom you have redeemed with your most precious blood, and do not be angry with us for ever.
Spare us, good Lord.

From all evil and harm; from sin; from the wiles and assaults of the devil; from your wrath, and from eternal damnation,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all blindness of heart; from pride, vainglory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitableness,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all disordered and sinful affections; and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh and the devil,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From lightning and storm; from earthquake, fire and flood; from plague, disease and famine; from war and murder, and from dying unprepared,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all treason, sedition, secret conspiracy, and rebellion; from all false doctrine, heresy and schism; from hardness of heart and contempt for your word and commandments,
Good Lord, deliver us.
By the mystery of your holy Incarnation, by your holy birth and circumcision; by your baptism, fasting and temptation,
Good Lord, deliver us.
By your agony and bloody like sweat, by your cross and passion; by your precious death and burial; by your glorious resurrection and ascension; and by the coming of the Holy Spirit,
Good Lord, deliver us.
In times of trouble and in times of prosperity; in the hour of death and on the Day of Judgment,
Good Lord, deliver us.

We, who are sinners, pray you to hear us, Lord God. May it please you to govern and guide your holy, universal Church in the right way;
Hear us, good Lord.
May it please you so to rule the heart of your servant, the President of the United States, that above all things he may seek your honor and glory;
Hear us, good Lord.
May it please you to bless and keep in safety all rulers and judges, giving them grace to administer justice and to maintain truth;
Hear us, good Lord.
May it please you to enlighten the minds of all Bishops, Presbyters, Pastors, Ministers and Deacons, with true knowledge and understanding of your holy Word, so that in their preaching and living they may declare it and show its truth;
Hear us, good Lord.
May it please you to send laborers into your harvest;
Hear us, good Lord.
May it please you to bless and keep all your people;
Hear us, good Lord.
May it please you to give to all nations unity, peace and concord;
Hear us, good Lord.
May it please you to give us hearts to love and worship you, and diligently to keep your commandments;
Hear us, good Lord.
May it please you to give to all your people an increase of grace in order to listen meekly to your Word, to receive it with single-minded commitment, and to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in their lives; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control;
Hear us, good Lord.
May it please you to bring back into the way of truth those who have erred and are deceived;
Hear us, good Lord.
May it please you to strengthen those who are standing firm in the Faith, to comfort and encourage the fainthearted, to raise up those who fall; and finally to beat down Satan under our feet;
Hear us, good Lord.
May it please you to sustain, help and comfort, all who are in danger, need and trouble;
Hear us, good Lord.
May it please you to protect all who travel by land, water, or air, all women in labor, all sick persons and young children; and to show your pity on prisoners and captives;
Hear us, good Lord.
May it please you to protect and provide for the fatherless, widows and all who are desolate and oppressed;
Hear us, good Lord.
May it please you to have mercy upon all peoples;
Hear us, good Lord.
May it please you to forgive our enemies, persecutors and slanderers, and to turn their hearts;
Hear us, good Lord.
May it please you to give to us and preserve for our use the fruits of the earth in season, so that in due time we may enjoy them;
Hear us, good Lord.
May it please you to give to us true repentance; to forgive our sins, negligences and ignorances; to endue us with the grace of your Holy Spirit to conform our lives according to your holy Word;
Hear us, good Lord.

Son of God, we pray you to hear us
Son of God, we pray you to hear us.
Lamb of God, who take away the sin of the world;
Have mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, who take away the sin of the world;
Grant us your peace.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, hear us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

{Then the Minister, together with the People, shall say the Lord’s Prayer.}
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors;
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil. Amen.

{The Minister may, at his discretion, omit all that follows, to the Prayer, Gracious Father in your mercy, etc.}

Minister.
Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Nor reward us according to our wrongful thoughts and actions.

Let us pray.
Lord God, our merciful Father, who does not despise the sighing of a contrite heart nor the desires of those who are sorrowful; in your mercy teach and help us to pray to you whenever we are oppressed by adversity or trouble; and graciously hear us so that by your providence the
evils brought against us by the cunning and the mischief of the devil or of man may come to nothing; and grant that we, your servants, being hurt by no persecutions, may give thanks and praise to you in your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord, arise, help, and deliver us for the sake of Your Name.

Lord God, we have heard with our ears and our fathers have told us, the wonderful works you did in their day and in the days before them.
Lord, arise, help, and deliver us for the sake of your honor.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, defend us from our enemies.
Look graciously upon us in our afflictions.
Regard the sorrow of our hearts with pity.
In mercy, forgive the sins of your people.
Hear our prayers with your favor.
Son of David, have mercy upon us.

Lord, show us your mercy;
As we put our trust in you.

Let us pray.
Gracious Father, in your mercy, look upon us in our weaknesses; and for the glory of your name turn away from us all those evils, which we have deserved. Grant that in all our troubles our whole trust and confidence may be in you; and that we may always seek to serve you in holiness and purity of life to your honor and glory; through our only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Mike

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