Litany
Overview
Litanies are simple, ancient forms of prayer that use repeated statements in response to petitions, praise, intercessions, praise or blessings. They are used in public liturgical services and in private prayer. A litany can be a prayer for help, praise, forgiveness, thanksgiving or blessing.
Litanies consist of a lead statement followed by a repeated response, such as “pray for us” or “we praise you, we bless you, we thank you” or “Lord hear us”; or “Lord Have Mercy”. The word litany comes from the Greek word litaneia which means petition or supplication.
Leader: Statement or Petition
All: Repeated Response
Litany from the Easter Vigil
Lord, have mercy... Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy... Christ have mercy
Lord, have mercy... Lord, have mercy
Holy Mother of God… pray for us
Saint Michael… pray for us
Holy angels of God … pray for us
Saint John the Baptist… pray for us
Saint Joseph… pray for us
Saint Peter and Saint Paul… pray for us
Saint Andrew… pray for us
Saint John… pray for us
Saint Mary Magdalene… pray for us
Saint Stephen… pray for us
Saint Ignatius… pray for us
Saint Laurence… pray for us
Saint Perpetua and Saint Felicity… pray for us,
Saint Agnes… pray for us,
Saint Gregory… pray for us
Saint Augustine… pray for us
Saint Athanasius… pray for us
Saint Basil… pray for us
Saint Martin… pray for us
Saint Benedict… pray for us
Saint Francis and Saint Dominic… pray for us,
Saint Francis Xavier… pray for us
Saint John Vianney… pray for us
Saint Teresa… pray for us
All holy men and women… pray for us
Lord, be merciful… Lord, save your people
From all evil… Lord, save your people
From every sin… Lord, save your people
From everlasting death… Lord, save your people
By your coming as man… Lord, save your people
By your death and rising to new life… Lord, save your people
By your gift of the Holy Spirit… Lord, save your people
Be merciful to us sinners… Lord, save your people
Give new life to these chosen ones by the grace of baptism… Lord, hear our prayer
Jesus, Son of the living God… Lord, hear our prayer
Christ hear us… Christ hear us
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.… … Lord Jesus, hear our prayer
Adapting a Litany
A litany, like the one above can be adapted for prayer with your own community; for example for staff prayer or a school community prayer. The list of saints can be added to or shortened and the names of patron saints of the community should be added.
For prayers with a school community, the litany should be shortened and the language adapted according to the age of the children (Directory for Masses with Children)
Children can write their own litanies of petitions, praise, intercessions, praise or blessings.