ADVENT TIP OF THE DAY 15: Litanies including BCP Great Litany

MJ. Smith

I am adding these posts to the previous tip list L/V 10 Tip of the Day 

QUESTION: How are litanies used during Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany?

ANSWER: from Perplexity when in a confused state:

Litanies are commonly used in Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany services as a form of responsive prayer and reflection. Here's how they are typically incorporated:

Advent Litanies

During Advent, litanies often focus on themes of hope, peace, joy, and love, corresponding to the four Advent candles:

Candle Lighting Litanies Each week of Advent, a new candle is lit accompanied by a responsive reading. For example:

Reader: "In a world where so many despair, God lights a candle of hope in our hearts."

People: "We wait together for a Savior, who will be Immanuel, Christ the Lord."

Prayers of Preparation: Advent litanies often include petitions for spiritual readiness, such as:

Leader: "O Wisdom, proceeding from the Most High..."

People: "Come and teach us the way of understanding."

Christmas Litanies

Christmas litanies celebrate the birth of Christ and its significance:

Nativity Reflections: These litanies often recount the Christmas story and its meaning:

Leader: "God of unimaginable love, on the first Christmas You became one of us."

People: "We celebrate Your love for every person in every place and time."

Prayers of Praise: Christmas litanies frequently include expressions of joy and thanksgiving:

Leader: "O sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth."

People: "Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of God's salvation tonight and from day to day."

Epiphany Litanies

Epiphany litanies often focus on themes of revelation, light, and the manifestation of Christ to the world:

Star Words: Some churches distribute "star words" as part of an Epiphany litany, inviting reflection on a guiding word for the year.

Baptism of Christ: Epiphany litanies may commemorate Jesus' baptism:

Leader: "Eternal Father, at the baptism of Jesus you revealed him to be your Son..."

People: "Grant that we, who are born again by water and the Spirit, may be faithful as your adopted children."

These litanies serve to engage the congregation in active participation, reinforce the themes of the season, and provide a structured way to reflect on the profound mysteries of the Christian faith during these important liturgical periods.1

ANSWER: from Perplexity when reminded responsive readings are not litanies:

I apologize for the confusion. You are correct to point out this discrepancy. Litanies and responsive readings, while both participatory forms of worship, are indeed distinct. Let me clarify the use of litanies specifically in Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany services:

Advent Litanies

During Advent, litanies often focus on themes of anticipation and preparation:

1. Litany of Longing: This type of litany expresses the yearning for Christ's coming:

Leader: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"

People: "And ransom captive Israel"

Leader: "That mourns in lonely exile here"

People: "Until the Son of God appear"

2. Penitential Litanies: These are used to prepare hearts for Christ's coming:

Leader: "For our neglect of prayer and worship,"

People: "Lord, have mercy."

Leader: "For our failure to love our neighbors,"

People: "Christ, have mercy."

Christmas Litanies

Christmas litanies celebrate the Incarnation and its implications:

1. Litany of the Nativity: This type recounts the Christmas story:

Leader: "In Bethlehem, in lowly manger,"

People: "Christ is born for us."

Leader: "Announced by angels to shepherds in the field,"

People: "Christ is born for us."

2. Litany of Thanksgiving: Expressing gratitude for the gift of Christ:

Leader: "For the Word made flesh,"

People: "We thank you, O God."

Leader: "For the Light that shines in the darkness,"

People: "We thank you, O God."

Epiphany Litanies

Epiphany litanies often focus on themes of revelation and mission:

1. Litany of Light: Emphasizing Christ as the light of the world:

Leader: "To the nations shrouded in darkness,"

People: "Christ, be our light."

Leader: "To those seeking truth and wisdom,"

People: "Christ, be our light."

2. Litany of Mission: Reflecting on the Church's call to share the gospel:

Leader: "That we may be witnesses to your love,"

People: "Send us forth, O Lord."

Leader: "That we may bring your light to all nations,"

People: "Send us forth, O Lord."

These litanies are typically led by a priest, deacon, or lay leader, with the congregation providing the repeated response. They serve to focus the community's prayers, reinforce theological themes, and encourage active participation in worship during these liturgical seasons.

1 and and and and and and and and and and and https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/15-forgotten-hits-that-are-secretly-the-best/ss-AA1uISpR http://blessedtimothy.blogspot.com/2020/12/a-litany-for-advent.html https://sanctifiedart.org/blog/how-does-a-weary-world-rejoice-liturgy-for-epiphany-sunday https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/11/christmas-prayer-litany-we-celebrate.html https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/11/advent-candle-litany-peace.html https://www.pamphletstoinspire.com/litanies https://www.reformedworship.org/article/september-1987/epiphany-liturgy https://cookingwithelsa.org/2015/12/01/litany-for-the-birth-on-christmas/ https://amyrogershays.com/2023/01/06/an-epiphany-liturgy-for-children-and-families/ https://standrewlutheran.com/advent-litanies-for-candle-lighting/ https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09286a.htm https://leadinginworship.com/2015/11/litany-for-advent-candle-lighting/ https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1983/12/a-christmas-litany

MJ. Smith

QUESTION: What is the Great Litany of the Anglican tradition?

SOFTWARE: A smart all search yields decent results.

ANSWER: Alexander, J. Neil. Celebrating Liturgical Time: Days, Weeks, and Seasons. New York: Church Publishing, 2014.m

The importance of The Great Litany in the prayer book tradition is notable. It was among the earliest liturgical forms translated into English (among Anglicans) and German (among Lutherans). In early prayer books it was the principal form of intercession for the needs of the world, the prayer for the whole state of Christ’s Church being more internally focused on the needs of the church.

The Great Litany is used in most parishes during Lent, nearly always on the first Sunday and often repeated on the fifth Sunday. Some parishes will also use The Great Litany in Advent. Although the prayer book allows this, and all liturgical texts, to be read, it is preferable that this and all litanies be sung whenever possible.23 Because of the penitential tone of The Great Litany, it may also be used on Rogation days and other days of special devotion. It is appropriately used as the intercessions at Morning or Evening Prayer, particularly in penitential seasons.

When The Great Litany is sung, it may simply take the form of the entrance procession. A problem often encountered is that in small churches the procession is over by the middle of the second page. Alternatively, one might note that the litany is in three sections,24 plus the Agnus Dei and the Kyrie. One possibility is a constantly moving procession, perhaps with significant pauses at each of the section breaks. A second possibility is to think of the litany as a stational liturgy and stop and start the procession for each section. For example, the deacon (the normal minister of a litany)25 may sing from the beginning down through Spare us, good Lord (148) before the procession begins. The procession might then move in silence to a point roughly one-third of the way to the chancel. The procession then stops and the deacon chants the petitions that conclude, Good Lord, deliver us (148–149). The procession then moves in silence to its next stopping place, roughly two-thirds of the way to the chancel. The deacon then leads the petitions that conclude, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord (150–152). After the couplet, Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us, the deacon, choir, and other liturgical ministers move all the way to their positions in the chancel. When everyone is in place, the deacon and people sing the Agnus Dei (152), and O Christ, hear us. If The Great Litany is the entrance for a Eucharist, at the time of the Kyrie, the presider resumes the leadership of the rite. Following the Kyrie, the liturgy of the Eucharist continues with the Salutation and Collect of the Day.[1]

From Blunt, John Henry, ed. The Annotated Book of Common Prayer. Revised and Enlarged Edition. New York: E. P. Dutton & Co., 1889.

The Greek word Litaneia, meaning Prayer or Supplication, appears to have been used in the fourth century for devotions public or private; but it soon came to have a narrower and more technical sense as applied to solemn acts of processional prayer. Whether St. Basil uses it in this sense, when in his 107th epistle he reminds the clergy of Neocæsarea that “the Litanies which they now practise” were unknown in the time of their great apostle Gregory, and therefore might form a precedent for other salutary innovations, is a matter of opinion, on which Bingham and Palmer (the latter more expressly than the former) take the affirmative side, the Benedictine Editor and Keble [note to Hooker’s Eccl. Pol. v. 41, 2] taking the negative. But when we are told [Mansi, Concil. iv. 1428] that the aged abbat Dalmatius had for many years never left his monastery, though repeatedly requested by Theodosius II. when Constantinople was visited by earthquakes “to go forth and perform a Litany,” there can be no doubt as to the meaning of the statement.

The history, however, of Litanies, in the proper sense of the term, is rather Western than Eastern. We find, indeed, in the Eastern Liturgy and Offices some four or five specimens of a kindred form of prayer, called Ectene, Synapte, etc., in which the Deacon bids prayer for several objects, sometimes beginning with “In peace let us beseech the Lord,” and the people respond with “Kyrie eleison,” or with “Vouchsafe, O Lord.” The reader of Bishop Andrewes’ Devotions will be familiar with this type of prayers. [See Oxford edition, pp. 5, 92.] And we have it represented in the Western Church by two sets of “Preces” in the Ambrosian Missal, one used on the first, third, and fifth Sundays in Lent, the other on the second and fourth. One of these begins, “Beseeching the gifts of Divine peace and pardon … we pray Thee,” etc., proceeding to specify various topics of intercession with the response, “Lord, have mercy.” The other is shorter, but in its imploring earnestness (“Deliver us, Thou Who deliveredst the children of Israel … with a strong arm and a high hand … O Lord, arise, help us, and deliver us for Thy Name’s sake”) is even more interesting as a link between the Ectene and the Litanies of the West, an essential characteristic of which is their deprecatory and more or less penitential tone. Somewhat similar are the Mozarabic “Preces” for Lenten Sundays, with their burdens of “Have mercy,” “We have sinned,” etc. It may also be observed that “Preces,” like the “Pacificæ” of the Ambrosian rite, were anciently sung at Mass in Rome (at first only on days when the Gloria in Excelsis and Alleluia were omitted) until the ninth century. They formed an Eastern feature in the service, and may be compared with the Preces of the Abbey of Fulda, which, like a Greek Ectene, intercede for various persons and classes, supplicate for a Christian and peaceful end, and have for their responses, “We pray Thee, O Lord, hear and have mercy,” “Grant it, O Lord, grant it:” also with a series of Invocations, followed by “Tu illum adjuva,” occurring in an old form for an Emperor’s coronation in Muratori, Lit. Rom. ii. 463.[2]

From Bray, Samuel L., and Drew Nathaniel Keane, eds. The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church. International Edition. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2021. An excerpt of the great litany:

The Litany

¶ Here followeth the Litany, or General Supplication, to be sung or said after Morning Prayer upon Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and at other times when it shall be commanded by the ordinary.

O God the Father of heaven, have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Father of heaven, have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three persons and one God, have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three persons and one God, have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

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.

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 all uncharitableness,

Good Lord, deliver us.

From fornication, and all other deadly sin; and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil,

Good Lord, deliver us.

From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence, and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death,

Good Lord, deliver us.

From all sedition, privy conspiracy, and rebellion; from all false doctrine, heresy, and schism; from hardness of heart, and contempt of thy word and commandment,

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 wealth, in the hour of death, and in the day of judgement,

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 rule the heart of thy servant,—, and all others in authority, that under them we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to be their defender and keeper,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to endue the legislature, and the ministers of state, with grace, wisdom, and understanding,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to bless and keep the 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 illuminate all bishops, priests, and deacons, 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.

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 give to all nations unity, peace, and concord,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to give us a heart to love and dread thee, and diligently to live after thy commandments,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to give to all thy 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 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.[3]

23 Music for The Great Litany may be found at S-67.

24 Because the litany is a processional form of liturgy, the discernible sections of the litany are vestiges of the stations, or stopping places, along the processional route, where the deacon would stop so that the people could “catch up” before moving to the next station.

25 In the absence of a deacon, the presider, another assisting minister, or a cantor from the choir may lead the litany until the Kyrie, at which time the presider resumes the leadership of the rite.

[1] J. Neil Alexander, Celebrating Liturgical Time: Days, Weeks, and Seasons (New York: Church Publishing, 2014), 87–89.

[2] John Henry Blunt, ed., The Annotated Book of Common Prayer, Revised and Enlarged Edition (New York: E. P. Dutton & Co., 1889), 221.

[3] Samuel L. Bray and Drew Nathaniel Keane, eds., The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, International Edition (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2021), 31–34.