The Litany

During Lent, saying a Litany has often been an important devotional practice. Christian litanies or responsive prayers go back to the early days of Christian worship. The earliest litanies in the Greek churches were probably simple amplifications of the Kyrie eleison in the Divine Liturgy. In Italy during the fifth and sixth centuries, more elaborate separate responsive prayers developed. Several such litanies continued to develop during the Middle Ages. As they became more elaborate over time, an increasing number of intercessions were directed to the saints.

In 1529, Martin Luther revised a popular litany by removing the invocations of the saints and emphasizing the work of Christ. This Litany became popular in Germany and Scandinavia. It was adapted in England by Thomas Cranmer in 1544 and was later included in the first Book of Common Prayer in 1549. In the sixteenth century, the Litany was often said after Matins on Wednesdays and Fridays as well as on Sundays after Matins and before the Lord's Supper. It was also used as a separate devotion, especially during Lent or on Rogation Days for spring planting.

Most contemporary Christians spend less time in church than our sixteenth-century forebears. So, we are less likely to see the whole Sunday array of services or find the Litany recited every Wednesday or Friday. However, the Litany is a very meaningful form of prayer, and its tone is particularly suitable for our devotions on Fridays or other days during Lent.