litany – Page 6 – A Collection of Prayers

A Prayer in Need: Lord, Have Mercy

Lord, have mercy.

In all our needs…
In all all our hurts…
In all our anxiety…

Lord, have mercy.

With all our questions…
With all we know…
With all we don’t know…

Lord, have mercy.

For healing…
For peace…
For a stronger trust in your Word and promise…

Lord, have mercy.

To calm our doubts…
To soothe our fears…
To bear our griefs and carry our sorrows…

Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort, forgive, strengthen and heal us by your grace.

Amen.

Quote: “When ‘Lord, have mercy’ is all you can say, it’s what you must say.”

Give Us Your Strength and Protection

800px-lucas_cranach_d-c384-_-_martin_luther2c_1528_28veste_coburg29_28cropped29

Lord God, heavenly Father,
you know that we are set
in the midst of so many and great dangers,
that by reason of the frailty of our nature
we cannot always stand upright:
Grant us such strength and protection,
to support us in all danger,
and carry us through all temptations;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Martin Luther, the German Litany, Third Collect, [Die Gebete Luthers, #5]

Look upon Our Needs

800px-lucas_cranach_d-c384-_-_martin_luther2c_1528_28veste_coburg29_28cropped29 Lord God almighty,
you do not disregard
the cries of the poor,
and you do not despise
the longing of troubled hearts.
Look upon our prayers
which we bring to you
in our needs
and hear us graciously,
so that everything
that the devil
and the sinful world set against us
comes to nothing,
and that they may be converted
by your good counsel,
so that we may be undisturbed
by any affliction,
thank you in your congregation,
and praise you at all times;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Martin Luther, the German Litany, First Collect, [Die Gebete Luthers, #3]

Grant Us Grace to Serve You

800px-lucas_cranach_d-c384-_-_martin_luther2c_1528_28veste_coburg29_28cropped29 Lord God, heavenly Father,
you do not desire the death of a sinner,
but rather that he should turn from his evil way and live:
We pray,
graciously turn from us those punishments
which we have deserved by our sins,
and grant us grace from now on
to serve you in holiness
and pureness of living;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source: Martin Luther, the German Litany, Second Collect, [Die Gebete Luthers, #4]

At Sea or in Danger

rembrandt_christ_in_the_storm_on_the_lake_of_galilee O Lord, you stilled the raging of the sea.
Hear us, save us, and do not let us perish.
O blessed Savior, you saved your disciples
when they were about to perish in a storm.
Hear us and save us.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.

Lord, hear us.
Christ, hear us.

God the Father, God the + Son, God the Holy Spirit,
have mercy on us,
save us now and evermore.
Amen.

Source: Modified from Book of Common Prayer, (British, 1922?) Short Prayers in Respect of a Storm.

Original in traditional English:

THOU, O Lord, that stillest the raging of the sea: hear, hear us, and save us, that we perish not.

O blessed Saviour, that didst save thy disciples ready to perish in a storm: hear us, and save us, we beseech thee.

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

O Lord, hear us.
O Christ, hear us.

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, have mercy upon us, save us now and evermore. Amen.

Litany for the Church

Lord, be merciful to us.
Heal our souls, for we have sinned against you.

Show us your unfailing love, Lord,
and grant us your salvation. (Psalm 85:7)

Turn again, O Lord,
and be gracious to your servants.

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you. (Psalm 33:22)

Let us pray for the Holy Church of God:
May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. (Psalm 51:18)

May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels. (Psalm 122:7)

May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;
may your faithful people sing for joy. (Psalm 132:9)

Let us pray for our pastors and teachers:
Never take the word of truth from their mouths. (Psalm 119:43)

That they will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of your name, O Lord our God. Amen. (Micah 5:4)

Source: Attributed to Abendgebet of the German Lutheran Church in Book of Prayers for Church and Home, ed. by Paine and Thompson, Philadelphia: Christian Education Press, 1962, p. 57.

Modified with scriptures taken or adapted from the New International Version, 2011.

A Litany

Do not remember, Lord, our offences or the offences of our forefathers,
and do not take vengeance for our sins:
Spare us, good Lord.

Spare your servants, whom you have redeemed with your most precious blood,
and do not be angry with us forever:
Spare us, O Lord.

From the guilt and burden of our sins,
from the stings and terrors of conscience,
from the illusions and assaults of the enemy,
and from the bitter pains of eternal death:
Deliver us, O Lord.

From all impatience under your discipline,
from dejection of spirit and lack of trust in your mercies,
from the fear of death,
and from the terrors of judgment:
Deliver us, O Lord.

By your many and great mercies,
by the all sufficient merits of your blessed Son, Jesus Christ,
by his agony and bloody sweat,
by his bitter cross and passion,
by his glorious resurrection and ascension,
by his continual intercession for us at your right hand,
and by the graces and comforts of the Holy Spirit:
Deliver us, O Lord.

In all the changes and trials of this mortal life,
in all time of our tribulation, and in all time of our wealth,
in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment:
Deliver us, O Lord.

We poor sinners pray, hear us, O Lord:
Son of God, we pray, hear us.

That it may please you to look on us with the eye of your mercy,
to give us a hearty faith and confidence in you,
and in all our dangers and adversities
to stretch forth the right hand of your majesty,
to help and defend us,
and to keep us in perpetual peace and safety:
We pray, hear us, O Lord.

That it may please you to remember us with your favor,
and to give us grace to follow the good examples of your servants
who have departed this life in your faith and fear,
that with them we may become partakers of your heavenly kingdom:
We pray, hear us, O Lord.

That it may please you to give us an entire resignation to your holy will,
to wean our affection from things below,
to fill us with ardent desires after heaven,
and finally, to make us partakers of all your blessings and promises in Christ Jesus:
We pray, hear us, O Lord.

That it may please you to fill our souls with the peace and love of God,
that when you call us to walk through the valley and shadow of death,
we may fear no evil but fall gently asleep in Jesus
and wake up in the glory of your presence:
We pray, hear us, O Lord.

Son of God, we pray, hear us
We pray, hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:
Have mercy on us.

O Christ, hear us.
Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us, and grant us your peace.

Almighty God, you accept the penitence and confession of the contrite that they may share in your mercy and live. Be merciful and gracious to us, forgive us all our sins, establish us in your grace, grant us the comforts of the Holy Spirit, and bring us to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Source: Modified from A Morning Litany, Order of Worship for the Reformed Church in the United States, 1866, p. 296-298.

Available also in pdf and in docx formats.

A Litany for the Dying (1)

O God, the Father in heaven:
Have mercy on us.
O God, the Son, Redeemer of the world:
Have mercy on us.
O God, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter:
Have mercy on us.

Do not remember, Lord, our offences or the offences of our forefathers:
Spare us good Lord.

Spare your servant before you, whom you have redeemed with your precious blood:
Spare us good Lord.

From all evil and harm,
from the power of sin and the snares of the devil,
from your wrath,
and from everlasting damnation:
Good Lord, deliver him.

By the mystery of your holy incarnation,
by your agony and bloody sweat,
by your cross and passion,
by your precious death and burial,
by your glorious resurrection and ascension,
and by the coming of the Holy Spirit,
in the hour of death and in the day of judgment:
Good Lord, deliver him.

We sinners pray, hear us:
Son of God, we pray, hear us

That it may please you to uphold him with your free Spirit,
to grant him true repentance,
to forgive him all his sins,
to strengthen and confirm him in your grace,
and to beat down Satan under his feet:
We pray, hear us, O Lord.

O Son of God, Redeemer of the world:
Hear us.

O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:
Have mercy on him.

O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:
Have mercy on him.

O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:
Grant him your peace.

O Lord God, our heavenly Father, you have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that they turn from their ways and live. Regard this sick person with an eye of compassion. Do not let him be overwhelmed by any pains of body or any anguish of soul, but grant to him in this world your pardon and peace, and in the world to come life everlasting; through the abounding merits and the glorious mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Modified from A Litany for the Dying, Order of Worship for the Reformed Church in the United States, 1866, p. 296-298.

Available also in pdf and in docx formats.

A Litany (Name of Jesus)

Lord, have mercy on us:
Have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us:
Have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us and grant us your peace:
Hear us and grant us your peace.

Jesus, the Son of the living God,
the eternal Word,
the brightness of the Father’s glory
and express image of his person:
Have mercy on us.

Jesus, the Son of Man,
conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
meek and humble of heart,
obedient unto death,
the example of all virtues,
the way, the truth, and the life:
Have mercy on us.

Jesus, the author of life,
the captain of salvation,
the eternal high priest,
the prince of peace:
Have mercy on us.

Jesus, the joy of angels,
the hope of the patriarchs,
the inspirer of the prophets,
the teacher of the apostles,
the strength of martyrs,
the King of saints:
Have mercy on us.

From all sin and evil,
from death and hell:
Deliver us, O Lord Jesus.

By your holy nativity and circumcision,
by your holy words and deeds,
by your agony and bloody sweat,
by your bitter cross and passion,
by your death and burial,
by your glorious resurrection and ascension,
by your sitting at the right hand of the Father Almighty,
and by your return to judge the quick and the dead:
Deliver us, O Lord Jesus.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:
Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:
Hear our prayers.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:
Grant us your peace.

Almighty God, you accept the penitence and confession of the contrite that they may share in your mercy and live. Be merciful and gracious to us, absolve us from all sin, establish us in your grace, grant us the comforts of the Holy Spirit, and bring us to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Modified from An Evening Litany, Order of Worship for the Reformed Church in the United States, 1866, p. 298-300.

This litany appears to be a shortened version of the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, which appeared in Italy in the early 1400s. That litany, along with the Latin original, can be found here: https://www.fisheaters.com/litanyholyname.html

This is the litany that is in the graphic of the open prayer book on this page and on our Facebook page.

Available also in pdf and in docx formats.

A Litany

O God the Father in heaven:
Have mercy on us.

O God the Son, Redeemer of the world:
Have mercy on us.

O God the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son:
Have mercy on us.

O holy blessed and glorious Trinity, three persons and one God:
Have mercy on us.

Remember not, Lord, our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers,
do not take vengeance on us for our sins.
Spare us, good Lord.

Spare your people whom you redeemed with your most precious blood,
and do not be angry with us forever:
Spare us, good Lord.

From all evil and harm,
from the power of sin and the snares of the devil,
from your wrath and from everlasting damnation:
Good Lord, deliver us.

From all blindness of heart,
from pride, vain-glory and hypocrisy,
from envy, hatred, and malice, and all lovelessness:
Good Lord, deliver us.

From all impure lusts and desires,
and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil:
Good Lord, deliver us.

From lightning, tempest, and earthquake,
from plague, pestilence, and famine,
from all disasters by land and by water,
from battle and murder, and from sudden death:
Good Lord, deliver us.

From tumult and riot,
from sedition and rebellion,
from heresy and schism,
from hardness of heart and contempt of your Word and authority:
Good Lord, deliver us.

By the mystery of your holy incarnation,
by your holy nativity and circumcision,
by your baptism, fasting, and temptation:
Good Lord, deliver us.

By your agony and bloody sweat,
by your cross and passion,
by your precious death and burial,
by your glorious resurrection and ascension,
and by the coming of the Holy Spirit:
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 judgment:
Good Lord, deliver us

We sinners pray, hear us, O Lord:
Son of God we pray, hear us.

That it may please you to keep us in all time of temptation and heaviness,
to comfort and help all the weak-hearted,
to lift up those who fall, and finally to beat down Satan under our feet:
We pray, hear us, O Lord.

That it may please you to nurture, help, and comfort
all who are in danger, need, and trouble:
We pray, hear us, O Lord.

That it may please you to preserve all travelers and strangers,
all women in the perils of child birth,
all sick persons and young children,
and to show your pity on all prisoners and captives:
We pray, hear us, O Lord.

That it may please you to defend and provide
for the fatherless children and widows,
and all who are desolate and oppressed:
We pray, hear us, O Lord.

That it may please you to have mercy on all people:
We pray, hear us, O Lord.

O Son of God, Redeemer of the world:
Have mercy on us.

O Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world:
Have mercy on us.

O Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world:
Grant us your peace.

O God, merciful Father, you do not despise the sighing of a contrite heart or the desire of those who are sorrowful. Mercifully help us in all our troubles and adversities whenever they oppress us. Graciously hear us, that those evils which the craft and subtlety of the devil or humanity work against us, may be brought to nothing by your will and purpose, that we your servants, may be hurt by no persecutions, and may evermore give thanks to you in your holy Church, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

O God, all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works come from you. Give your servants that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments. Defend us from the fear of our enemies, that we may pass our time in rest and quietness, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Source: Modified from The Litany, Order of Worship for the Reformed Church in the United States, 1866, p. 21-24.

This Litany is very similar to the German litanies by Martin Luther and in the Saxon Agenda of 1540, which were shortened versions of the Litany of the Saints. The Litany of the Saints, along with the original Latin, can be viewed here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Litany_of_the_Saints

Available also in pdf and in docx formats.