‘The original Greek meaning of “litany” was “prayer” or “supplication,” but in modern usage “litany” has come to mean a prayer during which the responses are fixed, short biddings or petitions such as “Hear our prayer” or “Lord, have mercy” or “Kyrie eleison.” A number of our Rite Two Prayers of the People forms are in litany form.
Early Christians often used these responsorial forms of prayers and psalms in procession as well as in church worship. The specific litany form of prayer was in use in the church in Rome as early as the 5th century. Pope Pelagius I (d. 561) inaugurated the litany of intercession, known as a deprecatio (“prayer”) at the beginning of Mass.
Pope Gregory I, known as “Gregory the Great” (d. 604), assigned the use of the litany to certain special days and retained the “Kyrie eleison” responses.
The Litany was the first original-English liturgical rite published in 1544. The rubric printed at the top gave the instruction “to be read to the people in every church afore processions.”
The 1544 Litany was constructed by Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556), who used as his primary sources the Sarum Litanies for Rogation, Processions and Death; the Litany written by Martin Luther; and the Litany from the liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom.
The 1549 First Book of Common Prayer contained the Litany printed as an appendix to the Eucharist. It was to be said or sung kneeling on Wednesdays and Fridays before the liturgy of the word.
The Litany has been contained in each successive Book of Common Prayer, 1662, 1789, throughout the 19th century revisions, 1928, and all the way to 1979, where it was named The Great Litany to differentiate it from a number of other litanies in the book.
This great supplication prays for literally everyone and everything, from Adam and Eve to the president and Congress…. The significance of The Great Litany is deep: It is our oldest original English language rite, it is all-encompassing and focuses our prayers for ourselves and for the world, and it is the strongest way to begin “keeping a Holy Lent.” (Dr David Ozuts)’
The Great Litany is a very beautiful piece to begin this season. Blessings of the Holy Lent to you!
Father Eric