The Great Litany

“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.” (BCP 150)

This Sunday, the 10:30 a.m. Mass will begin with the Great Litany sung in procession.

The Great Litany has a unique place in Anglican liturgy and devotion. It is the first officially authorized English-language liturgical text, compiled by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer in 1544, during a time of national crisis. Rooted in ancient Christian forms of prayer and supplication, it blends petitions for mercy, intercession, and deliverance with rich scriptural allusion. The Litany gives voice to universal spiritual needs, as well as the immediate concerns of our lives, underscoring the Anglican focus on weaving together prayer and daily life.

In our worship, the Great Litany reminds us of our dependence on God’s mercy and grace. Its cadence of penitence and intercession, with thanksgiving, reflects the the wideness in God's mercy and divine provision. Historically used in moments of emergency, in Advent and Lent, and on other solemn observances of the Church Year, it remains a stunning expression of our shared faith. Praying it today joins us with generations who have gone before us, who sought God’s guidance and protection in uncertain times, and who entrusted all things, great and small, to God’s care.

The Great Litany can be found in the Book of Common Prayer on page 148.