Thursday, October 15, 2020

The Litany of Saints

This litany of saints, based on the traditional litany, comes from Saint Augustine's Prayer Book, a book of prayer and practice intended as a companion and supplement to the Book of Common Prayer. A revised version of the traditional book was recently published by Forward Movement, a publishing ministry of the Episcopal Church. This litany, whether prayed publicly or privately, places the mystery of faith within the "great cloud of witnesses" into whose fellowship we are welcomed, and with whom we proclaim the Resurrection. If desired, the response might be adapted to "pray with us," indicating the mutual prayer uniting Christ's whole church.




The Litany of Saints, adapted with Anglican worthies

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

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 Trinity, one God,
    have mercy upon us.

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Michael the Archangel, pray for us.
All holy angels and archangels, pray for us.
All holy orders of blessed spirits, pray for us.

Holy Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, pray for us.
Holy Miriam, Moses, and Aaron, pray for us.
Holy Ruth and Naomi, pray for us.
Holy David, Samuel, and Elijah, pray for us.
Holy Zachariah and Elizabeth, pray for us.
Holy Joachim and Anne, pray for us.
Holy John the Baptist, pray for us.
Holy Joseph, pray for us.
All holy patriarchs and prophets, pray for us.

Holy Peter and Paul, pray for us.
Holy Andrew, James, and John, pray for us.
Holy Matthew, Mark, and Luke, pray for us.
Holy Mary Magdalene, pray for us.
All apostles, disciples, and evangelists, pray for us.

Holy Stephen, pray for us.
Holy Ignatius of Antioch, pray for us.
Holy Polycarp, pray for us.
Holy Alban, pray for us.
Holy Perpetua and Felicity, pray for us.
Holy Thomas Cranmer and William Laud, pray for us.
Holy Constance and Companions, pray for us.
Holy Jonathan Daniels and Martin Luther King, Jr., pray for us.
All ye holy martyrs of our God, pray for us.

Holy Gregory and Chrysostom, pray for us.
Holy Augustine, pray for us.
Holy Basil, pray for us.
Holy Martin, pray for us.
Holy Columba, Aidan, and Patrick, pray for us.
All ye holy bishops, confessors, and doctors, pray for us.

Holy Anthony, pray for us.
Holy Benedict, pray for us.
Holy Aelred and Hilda, pray for us.
Holy Augustine and Theodore, pray for us.
Holy Anselm and Thomas a' Becket, pray for us.
Holy Francis, Clare, and Dominic, pray for us.
Holy Julian of Norwich, pray for us.
Holy Richard Hooker and Lancelot Andrewes, pray for us.
Holy Nicholas Ferrar and George Herbert, pray for us.
Holy John Keble and Edward Pusey, pray for us.
Holy Fredrick Maurice and Charles Gore, pray for us.
Holy James Huntington and Richard Benson, pray for us.

Other saints may be added as well

All holy priests and deacons, pray for us.
All holy monks and hermits, pray for us.
All holy men and women, saints of God, pray for us.

From all evil and from all sin,
    Good Lord, deliver us.
From the crafts and assaults of the devil,
    Good Lord, deliver us.
From everlasting damnation,
    Good Lord, deliver us.
By your holy incarnation,
    Good Lord, deliver us.
By your holy nativity,
    Good Lord, deliver us.
By your baptism, fasting, and temptation,
    Good Lord, deliver us.
By your cross and passion,
    Good Lord, deliver us.
By your death and burial,
    Good Lord, deliver us.
By your glorious resurrection and wondrous ascension,
    Good Lord, deliver us.
By the outpouring of your Holy Spirit, 
    Good Lord, deliver us.
By your coming again in glory,
    Good Lord, deliver us.

That there may be peace among all nations and an end to poverty, famine, and disaster,
    we pray to you, O Lord.
That all peoples may come to know you in the fulness of your grace,
    we pray to you, O Lord.
That the Church throughout the world may be renewed and strengthened 
    for your service,
    we pray to you, O Lord.
For all those commended to our prayers, and those in any need or trouble, 
    that they may be relieved and protected,
    we pray to you, O Lord.

The litany may conclude here, with this or some other collect

O God, the King of saints, we praise and glorify your holy Name for all your servants who have finished their course in your faith and fear: for the blessed Virgin Mary; for the holy patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs; and for all your other righteous servants, known to us and unknown; and we pray that, encouraged by their examples, aided by their prayers, and strengthened by their fellowship, we also may be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
                    - The Book of Common Prayer, p. 504


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