Midday Prayers in Lent: A Seasonal Devotion

The Great Litany

Arranged for Use in Lent

       It has long been the custom of the Church for individuals to offer the Litany at Noon on Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent, as part of one’s midday prayers. The Litany may be said or sung standing or kneeling. Additional prayers may follow. This prayer is perhaps Anglicanism's most classic statement of intercessional devotion, calling us to offer prayer not only for ourselves and the Church, but for the whole world. It makes visible the centrality of our priestly ministry, placing us before Christ and his Cross, sharing in his reconciling work as members of his Body. 

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 Ghost, Sanctifier of the faithful,

    Have mercy upon us.

O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, one God,

    Have mercy upon us.

Saint Mary, Mother of God our Savior Jesus Christ,
    Pray for us.

All holy Angels and Archangels, and all holy orders of Blessed Spirits,
    Pray for us.

All holy Patriarchs and Prophets; Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, and Virgins; and all the blessed company of heaven, 
    Pray for us.

Remember not, Lord Christ, our offenses, nor the offenses of our forefathers; neither reward us according to our sins. Spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and by thy mercy preserve us for ever.

    Spare us, good Lord.

From all evil and wickedness; from sin; from the crafts and assaults of the devil; and from everlasting damnation,
    Good Lord, deliver us.

   

From all blindness of heart; from pride, vainglory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice; and from all want of charity,

    Good Lord, deliver us.

From all inordinate and sinful affections; and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil,

    Good Lord, deliver us.

From all false doctrine, heresy, and schism; from hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word and commandment,

    Good Lord, deliver us.

From lightning and tempest; from earthquake, fire, and flood; from plague, pestilence, and famine,

    Good Lord, deliver us.

From all oppression, conspiracy, and rebellion; from violence, battle, and murder; and from dying suddenly and unprepared,

    Good Lord, deliver us.

By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation; by thy holy Nativity and submission to the Law; 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 prosperity; in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment,

    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 illumine 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 send forth laborers into thy harvest, and to draw all mankind into thy kingdom,

    We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to give to all people increase of grace to hear and receive thy Word, 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 give us a heart to love and fear thee, and diligently to live after thy commandments,

    We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee so to rule the hearts of thy servants, the President of the United States (or of this nation), and all others in authority, that they may do justice, and love mercy, and walk in the ways of truth,

    We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to make wars to cease in all the world;  to give to all nations unity, peace, and concord; and to bestow freedom upon all peoples,

    We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to show thy pity upon all prisoners and captives, the homeless and the hungry, and all who are desolate and oppressed,

    We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to give and preserve to our use the bountiful fruits of the earth, so that in due time all may enjoy them,

    We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That It may please thee to inspire us, in our several callings, to do the work which thou givest us to do with singleness of heart as thy servants, and for the common good,

    We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to preserve all who are in danger by reason of their labor or their travel,

    We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to preserve, and provide for, all women in childbirth, young children and orphans, the widowed, and all whose homes are broken or torn by strife,

    We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to visit the lonely; to strengthen all who suffer in mind, body, and spirit; and to comfort with thy presence those who are failing and infirm,

    We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to support, help, and comfort all who are in danger, necessity, and tribulation,

    We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to have mercy upon all mankind,

    We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to give us true repentance; to forgive us all our sins, negligences, and ignorances; and to endue us with the grace of thy Holy Spirit to amend our lives according to thy holy Word,

    We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts,

    We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand; to comfort and help the weak-hearted; to raise up those who fall; and finally to beat down Satan under our feet,

    We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to grant to all the faithful departed eternal life and peace,

    We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to grant that, in the fellowship of St. Mary [St. _______,] and all the saints, we may attain to thy heavenly kingdom,

    We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

 Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us.

    Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,

    Have mercy upon us.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,

    Have mercy upon us.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,

    Grant us thy peace.

   

O Christ, hear us.

    O Christ, hear us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.               Kyrie eleison.

    Christ, have mercy upon us.        or      Christe eleison.

Lord, have mercy upon us.               Kyrie eleison.

Our Father, who art in heaven,

  hallowed be thy Name,

  thy kingdom come,

  thy will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.

  And forgive us our trespasses,

     as we forgive those who trespass against us.

  And lead us not into temptation,

     but deliver us from evil. Amen.

 V. O Lord, let thy mercy be showed upon us;

 R. As we do put our trust in thee.

    
Let us pray.

Almighty God, who hast promised to hear the petitions of those who ask in thy Son's Name: We beseech thee mercifully to incline thine ear to us who have now made our prayers and supplications unto thee; and grant that those things which we have asked faithfully according to thy will, may be obtained effectually, to the relief of our necessity, and to the setting forth of thy glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Other prayers may be added. Some appropriate prayers follow:

A Collect for Lent

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

For use during Fridays from Noon until 3 PM

Blessed Savior, at this hour thou didst hang upon the cross, stretching out thy loving arms: Grant that all the peoples of the earth may look unto thee and be saved; for thy tender mercies’ sake.  Amen.

A Collect for Mission

Lord Jesus Christ, who didst stretch out thine arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of thy saving embrace: So clothe us in thy Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know thee to the knowledge and love of thee; for the honor of thy Name.  Amen.

The General Thanksgiving

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving‑kindness to us and to all men. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful; and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without end.  Amen.

The prayers after the Litany then end with The Grace

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.