The Litany

¶ The Litany is traditionally said on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, on the Ember Days and Rogation Days, and is to be said on any other days appointed by the Ordinary.

¶ The Litany may be said or sung, kneeling, standing, or in procession. Versicles (℣) and other words in non-bold black text are said by the Officiant. Responses (℟) in bold black text are said by the People. The Antiphon (Ant), also in bold black text, is said by the Officiant and the People together.

¶ COMMONWEALTH EDITION (CE): When the Litany is recited, this is done after Morning Prayer [which is to say after the Third Collect or, if there be any, after the Anthem or Sermon], or apart from the Office. The Litany is appropriately said on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and other days according to tradition. It is said on the Rogation Days, either at Morning Prayer or before Mass. It may be appointed to be said by the Ordinary at other times. The Litany may be sung in procession, or else led by the Officiant from his place, or even by the Officiant and cantors from a desk appointed for this purpose in the midst of the quire.

¶ NORTH AMERICAN EDITION (NAE): At the Daily Office, the Litany [with or without the Supplication (cf. Rubrical Directory, no. 25)] may be said after the Apostles’ Creed at Morning or Evening Prayer. In this case, the Litany replaces the Prayers, the General Thanksgiving, and the Conclusion. The Litany may also be said separately; especially in Advent, Lent, on Rogation Days, and at times of need or trouble.

℣. 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, three Persons and one God,

℟. Have mercy upon us.

℣. Saint Mary, Mother of God our Lord Jesus Christ,

℟. Pray for us.

℣. All holy Angels and Archangels, and all holy Orders of blessed Spirits,

℟. Pray for us.

℣. All holy Patriarchs and Prophets; Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors and Virgins; and the blessed Company of Heaven,

℟. Pray for us.

℣. Remember not, Lord, our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers; (neither take thou vengeance of our sins.) Spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious Blood, (and be not angry with us for ever.)

℟. Spare us, good Lord.

¶ CE: “neither take thou vengeance of our sins” is always omitted.

℣. From all evil and mischief; from sin; from the crafts and assaults of the devil; from thy wrath; and from everlasting damnation,

℟. Good Lord, deliver us.

℣. From all blindness of heart; from pride, vainglory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice; and from all uncharitableness,

℟. Good Lord, deliver us.

℣. From all inordinate 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 schism; from hardness of heart, and contempt of thy 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 sedition, privy conspiracy, and rebellion; from violence, battle, and murder; and from dying suddenly and unprepared,

℟. Good Lord, deliver us.

℣. By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation; by thy holy Nativity and Circumcision; by thy Baptism, Fasting, and Temptation,

℟. Good Lord, deliver us.

℣. By thine Agony and Bloody Sweat; by thy Cross and Passion; by thy precious Death and Burial; by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension; and by the Coming of the Holy Ghost,

℟. 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 do beseech thee to hear us, O Lord God; and that it may please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church Universal in the right way,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

℣. That it may please thee to bless N. our Pope, and N. our Bishop (Ordinary),

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

℣. That it may please thee to illumine all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, and all ministers of thy Church, with true knowledge and understanding of thy Word; and that both by their preaching and living, they may set it forth, and show it accordingly,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

¶ For Ember Days and before an Ordination:

℣. That it may please thee to bless thy servants at this time to be admitted to the Order of Deacons (or of Priests), and to pour thy grace upon them; that they may duly exercise their office to the edifying of thy Church, and to the glory of thy holy Name,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

¶ CE: “or” is a rubric in red and therefore it is not to be said.

℣. That it may please thee to bless and keep all thy people,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

℣. That it may please thee to send forth labourers into thy harvest,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

℣. That it may please thee to give to all people increase of grace to hear meekly thy Word, and to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

℣. That it may please thee to bring into the way of truth all such as have erred, and are deceived,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

℣. That it may please thee to give us an heart to love and fear thee, and diligently to live after thy commandments,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

℣. That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand; and to comfort and help the weak-hearted; and to raise up those who fall; and finally to beat down Satan under our feet,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

¶ In the United States:

℣. That it may please thee so to rule the hearts of thy servants, N., the President (of the United States), and all others in authority, that they may above all things seek thy honour and glory,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

¶ For British Subjects and in Commonwealth Countries:

℣. That it may please thee so to rule the hearts of thy servant N., our King (Queen), and all set in authority under him (her), that they may above all things seek thy honour and glory,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

℣. That it may please thee to guide all Judges and Magistrates, giving them grace to execute justice, and to maintain truth,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

℣. That it may please thee to bless and keep our country’s forces by sea, and land, and air, and to shield them in all dangers and adversities,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

℣. That it may please thee to give to all nations unity, peace, and concord,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

℣. That it may please thee to show thy pity upon all prisoners and captives, all who are in want, and all who are desolate and oppressed,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

℣. That it may please thee to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth, so that in due time we may enjoy them,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

℣. That it may please thee to preserve, and provide for, all women in childbirth, all infirm persons, and young children; and to defend all widows and orphans,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

℣. That it may please thee to preserve all who are in peril by reason of their labor or their travel,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

℣. That it may please thee to succour, help, and comfort, all who are in danger, necessity, and tribulation,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

℣. That it may please thee to have mercy upon all men,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

℣. That it may please thee to give us true repentance; to forgive us all our sins, negligences, and ignorances; and to endue us with the grace of thy Holy Spirit to amend our lives according to thy Holy Word,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

℣. That it may please thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts:

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

℣. That it may please thee to grant that, by the intercession of (N. and of ) all thy Saints, we may finally attain to thy heavenly kingdom,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

¶ CE: “of (N. and of ) all thy Saints” is replaced with “of N. (and of N.) and all thy Saints.”

℣. That it may please thee to grant to all the faithful departed eternal rest and perpetual light,

℟. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

℣. Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us.

℟. Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us.

℣. O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,

℟. Have mercy upon us.

℣. O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,

℟. Have mercy upon us.

℣. O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,

℟. Grant us thy peace.

℣. O Christ, hear us.

℟. O Christ, hear us.

℣. Lord, have mercy upon us.

℟. Christ, have mercy upon us.

℣. Lord, have mercy upon us.

¶ The Officiant and People then say or sing the Lord’s Prayer:

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.

The Supplication

¶ NAE: At Morning or Evening Prayer, the Collect of the Day is said by the Officiant, followed by the Supplication [if it is to be said (cf. Rubrical Directory, no. 25), otherwise proceed to the two Prayers listed under “NAE: The Litany then concludes” and the Grace].

¶ CE: Then the Priest shall say the Collect of the Day. Following the Collect, the Priest may proceed to the Supplication.

Ant. O Lord, arise, help us, and deliver us for thy Name’s sake.

℣. O God, we have heard with our ears, and our fathers have declared unto us, the noble works that thou didst in their days, and in the old time before them.

℟. O Lord, arise, help us, and deliver us for thine honour.

℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. O Lord, arise, help us, and deliver us for thy Name’s sake.

℣. From our enemies defend us, O Christ;

℟. Graciously look upon our afflictions.

℣. Pitifully behold the sorrows of our hearts;

℟. Mercifully forgive the sins of thy people.

℣. Favorably with mercy hear our prayers;

℟. O Son of David, have mercy upon us.

℣. Both now and ever vouchsafe to hear us, O Christ;

℟. Graciously hear us, O Christ; graciously hear us, O Lord Christ.

In Advent:

℣. O Lord, let thy mercy be shown upon us;

℟. As we do put out trust in thee.

We humbly beseech thee, O Father, mercifully to look upon our infirmities: and, for the glory of thy Name, turn from us all those evils that we most justly have deserved; and grant that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy, and evermore serve thee in holiness and pureness of living, to thy honor and glory; through our Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ our Lord. ℟. Amen.

In Lent:

℣. O Lord, deal not with us according to our sins;

℟. Neither reward us according to our iniquities.

O God, merciful Father, who despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart, nor the desire of such as be sorrowful: mercifully assist our prayers that we make before thee in all our troubles and adversities, whensoever they oppress us; and graciously hear us, that those evils, which the crafts and subtlety of the devil or man worketh against us, be brought to not; and by the providence of thy goodness they may be dispersed; that we thy servants, being hurt by no persecutions, may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. ℟. Amen.

¶ CE: At other times during the year:

¶ NAE: The Litany then concludes:

Almighty God, who has given us grace at this time with one accord to make our supplications unto thee; and dost promise, that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their requests; fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. ℟. Amen.

Or this:

Almighty God, who hast promised to hear the petitions of those who ask in thy Son’s Name: we beseech thee mercifully to incline thine ear to us who have now made our prayers and supplications unto thee; and grant that those things which we have asked faithfully according to thy will, may be obtained effectually, to the relief of our necessity, and to the setting forth of thy glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. ℟. Amen.

The Grace

✠ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. ℟. Amen.