I was asked by my friend Gabriel Lawson to prepare something “liturgical” for the young adults that meets on Sunday mornings at First Alliance Church in Lexington, Kentucky. Being a good Wesleyan, I went strait for my Book of Common Prayer and looked up the litany. I adapted some of the language (dropped the “Thou”s and “Thee”s), made it more gender inclusive, and changed a few words/phrases that didn’t culturally jive. I also included a “what” and “why” section below for those of you who aren’t familiar with litany or liturgical practices.
What is “litany”?
The word litany comes from the Latin: litania and the Greek: λιτανεία (litaneía), which in turn comes from: λιτή (litê), meaning “supplication”. My definition of litany is a type of corporate prayer that is in agreement with the supplications of saints throughout all the history of the catholic (universal or according to the whole) church.
Why the “litany”?
The litany is historical; it has endured over 1500 years of church history.
The litany is ecumenical; chanted (occasionally sung) by Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholics, and some Protestants.
The litany is corporate; including the collective supplications of the local (and universal) church to the Lord.
My Prayer for you, when you pray this “litany”:
May you “know the surpassing love of Christ which surpasses knowledge”.
May you know that you are praying in agreement with the saints down throughout the ages.
May you be “filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”
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The Great Litany (adapted from the Book of Common Prayer by rm Kocak)
O God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth,
Have mercy upon us.
O God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
O God the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of the faithful,
Have mercy upon us.
O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, one God,
Have mercy upon us.
Remember not, Lord Christ, our offenses, nor the offenses
of our forefathers; neither reward us according to our sins.
Spare us, good Lord, spare your people, whom you have
redeemed with your most precious blood, and by your mercy
preserve us forever.
Spare us, good Lord.
From all evil and wickedness; from sin; from the crafts
and assaults of the devil; and from everlasting damnation,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all blindness of heart; from pride, vain glory, and
hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice; and from all want
of earthly treasures,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all unwarranted and sinful affections; and from all the
deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all false doctrine, heresy, and church division; from hardness
of heart, and contempt of your Word and commandment,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From lightning and tempest; from earthquake, fire, and
flood; from plague, pestilence, and famine,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all oppression, conspiracy, and rebellion; from
violence, battle, and murder; and from dying suddenly
and unprepared,
Good Lord, deliver us.
By the mystery of your holy Incarnation; by your holy Nativity
and submission to the Law; by means of your Baptism, Fasting, and
Temptation,
Good Lord, deliver us.
By your Agony and Bloody 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 all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in
the hour of death, and in the day of judgment,
Good Lord, deliver us.
We sinners beg for you to hear us, O Lord God; that
it may please you to rule and govern your holy Church
Universal in the right way,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to illumine all Church laity and clergy with true knowledge and understanding of your Word;
and that both by their preaching and living, they may
set it forth, and show it accordingly,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to bless and keep all your people,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to send forth laborers into your
harvest, and to draw all humanity into your kingdom,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to give to all people increase of grace
to hear and receive your Word, and to bring forth the fruits of
the Spirit,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to bring into the way of truth all such
as have erred, and are deceived,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to give us a heart to love and fear
you, and diligently to live after your commandments,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to rule the hearts of your servants:
the President of the United States of America, Congress, the Supreme Court,
Wall Street as well as Main Street, and all others in authority,
that they may do justice, and love mercy,
and walk in the ways of truth,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to see wars cease throughout the entire world;
to give unity, peace, and harmony to all nations;
and to bestow freedom upon all peoples,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to show your pity upon all prisoners
and captives, the homeless and the hungry, and all who are
desolate and oppressed,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to give and preserve to our use the
bountiful fruits of the earth, so that in due time all may enjoy them,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to inspire us, in our several callings,
to do the work which you have given us to do with singleness of
heart as your servants, and for the common good,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to preserve all who are in danger due to their vocation or their travels,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to preserve, and provide for: all
women in childbirth, the unborn, young children, and orphans,
the widowed, and all whose homes are broken or torn by strife,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to visit the lonely; to strengthen all
who suffer in mind, body, and spirit; and to comfort with your
presence those who are failing and in poor health,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to support, help, and comfort all who
are in danger, in need, or experiencing tribulation,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to have mercy upon all humanity,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to give us true repentance; to forgive
us all our sins, our carelessness, and our ignorance; and to sustain
us with the grace of your Holy Spirit to amend our lives
according to your holy Word,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to forgive our enemies, persecutors,
and slanderers, and to turn their hearts to you,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to strengthen our resolve; to
comfort and help the weak-hearted; to raise up those who
fall; and finally to beat down Satan under our feet,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to grant to all the faithful departed
eternal life and peace,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to grant to this fellowship of believers at
First Alliance Church along with all the saints throughout the world, to attain to your heavenly kingdom,
We boldly ask you to hear us, good Lord.
Son of God, we boldly ask you to hear us.
Son of God, we boldly ask you to hear us.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world,
Grant us your peace.
O Christ, hear us.
O Christ, hear us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Now would you please join me in praying as the Lord Jesus Christ taught us to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
