For the First Sundays of Advent and Lent, we will read The Great Litany in place of the Prayers of the People. The Great Litany is a historic and comprehensive prayer of intercession and supplication, rooted in the Anglican tradition. It is a structured, responsive liturgy that includes petitions led by an officiant (often a priest or deacon) with fixed responses from the congregation, such as “Good Lord, deliver us” or “We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.” With its thorough focus on repentance, leaving no stone unturned, many people will pray through the Litany each day during Lent as part of their spiritual disciplines.
Its origins trace back to 1544, when Archbishop Thomas Cranmer composed it as the first English-language rite for public worship, drawing from earlier sources like the Sarum Rite, the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and Martin Luther’s Latin litany. This makes it one of the oldest continuously used liturgies in the Anglican tradition, predating even the first Book of Common Prayer of 1549. Learn more below.
The Great Litany is divided into several sections: an invocation of the Trinity, deprecations (prayers for deliverance from evils like sin, natural disasters, and spiritual harm), obsecrations (pleas invoking Christ’s life, death, and resurrection), intercessions (prayers for the church, the world, and all people), and a concluding series of prayers including the Agnus Dei, Kyrie, Lord’s Prayer, and a collect. It can be said or sung, either kneeling, standing, or in procession, and is typically used before the Eucharist, after the collects of Morning or Evening Prayer, or as a standalone service. The ACNA Book of Common Prayer (2019) preserves this traditional form, reflecting its commitment to Anglican heritage while allowing flexibility in its use.
Significance on the First Sundays of Lent and Advent
The Great Litany holds particular significance on the first Sundays of Lent and Advent due to its penitential tone and its role in preparing the faithful for these seasons of spiritual reflection and anticipation. Both Advent and Lent are times of solemn preparation in the church year; Advent for the coming of Christ (both his nativity and his return) and Lent for his passion and resurrection. The Litany’s emphasis on repentance, deliverance from sin, and dependence on God’s mercy aligns perfectly with the themes of these seasons.
- Lent: Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a 40-day period of penance, fasting, and self-examination leading to Easter. The Great Litany’s petitions—such as “From all evil and wickedness; from sin; from the crafts and assaults of the devil; and from everlasting damnation, Good Lord, deliver us,” resonate with Lent’s focus on human frailty, the struggle against sin, and the need for redemption. Its use on the First Sunday in Lent (often called Lent 1) sets a tone of humility and supplication for the entire season, grounding the faithful in a communal cry for God’s grace as they embark on this journey of spiritual renewal.
- Advent: Starting four Sundays before Christmas, Advent is a season of waiting and preparation for Christ’s coming, both his incarnation and his second advent in glory. The Great Litany’s broad scope, which includes prayers for deliverance from calamity and for the church universal, complements Advent’s dual focus on historical reflection and eschatological hope. Its plea for God to “arise, help us, and deliver us” (often amplified in the optional Supplication) echoes the longing for Christ’s arrival, making it a fitting prelude to the season on the First Sunday of Advent (Advent 1).
In many Anglican parishes, the Great Litany is chanted in procession on these Sundays, enhancing its solemnity and engaging the congregation physically and vocally. This practice, rooted in medieval traditions of penitential processions, underscores the corporate nature of the prayer and its call to communal repentance and reliance on God. While historically it was used more frequently (e.g., after Morning Prayer on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in the 1552 BCP), its modern association with Lent and Advent, especially their opening Sundays, highlights its role as a powerful liturgical marker, stirring the faithful to devotion at the outset of these sacred seasons.
Below is the text of the Great Litany as found in the Book of Common Prayer 2019 of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). This version reflects the ACNA’s aim to remain faithful to historic Anglican liturgy, drawing heavily on Thomas Cranmer’s original 1544 English Litany and subsequent revisions in the Book of Common Prayer tradition, while adapting it slightly for contemporary use.
The Great Litany
To be said or sung, kneeling, standing, or in procession.
Officiant and People:
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 Spirit, Advocate and Guide,
Have mercy upon us.
O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three Persons and one God,
Have mercy upon us.
Remember not, Lord Jesus, our offenses, nor the offenses of our forebears; neither reward us according to our sins. Spare us, good Lord, spare your people, whom you have redeemed with your most precious blood, and by your mercy preserve us forever.
Spare us, good Lord.
From all evil and wickedness; from sin; from the works and assaults of the devil; from your wrath and everlasting damnation,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all blindness of heart; from pride, vainglory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice; and from all lack of charity,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all disordered 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 your Word and commandments,
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 your holy Incarnation; by your holy Nativity and submission to the Law; 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,
Good Lord, deliver us.
By your glorious Resurrection and Ascension; by the sending of the Holy Spirit; by your heavenly intercession; and by your coming again in power and great glory,
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 beseech you to hear us, O Lord God: That it may please you to rule and govern your holy Church universal in the right way,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to illumine all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, with true knowledge and understanding of your Word; and that, both by their preaching and living, they may show it accordingly,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to bless and keep all your people,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to send forth laborers into your harvest, and to draw all mankind into your kingdom,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to give to all people increase of grace to hear and receive your Word, and to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to bring into the way of truth all who have erred and are deceived,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to give us a heart to love and fear you, and diligently to keep your commandments,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to strengthen in the right way all Christian rulers and civil authorities; to bless and guide them in all their doings; and to grant them wisdom to seek justice and peace,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to look upon the poor and the oppressed, the widow and the orphan; to relieve all who are in misery; and to minister your grace to the sick, the suffering, and the dying,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to preserve all who travel by land, by water, or by air; to uphold those who labor; and to bless the fruits of the earth for our use,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth, so that in due time we may enjoy them,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to grant to all the faithful departed eternal life and peace,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to grant us true repentance; to forgive us all our sins, negligences, and ignorances; and to endue us with the grace of your Holy Spirit to amend our lives according to your holy Word,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
Grant us your peace.
O Christ, hear us.
O Christ, hear us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
All: 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. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
O Lord, let your mercy be shown upon us;
As we have hoped in you.
Officiant: Let us pray.
Almighty God, you have promised to hear the petitions of those who ask in your Son’s Name: We humbly beseech you mercifully to incline your ear to us who have now made our prayers and supplications to you; and grant that those things which we have asked faithfully according to your will may be obtained effectually, to the relief of our necessities and to the setting forth of your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Last Updated: 03/08/2025 by Charlie Vensel
What Is The Great Litany?
Its origins trace back to 1544, when Archbishop Thomas Cranmer composed it as the first English-language rite for public worship, drawing from earlier sources like the Sarum Rite, the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and Martin Luther’s Latin litany. This makes it one of the oldest continuously used liturgies in the Anglican tradition, predating even the first Book of Common Prayer of 1549. Learn more below.
The Great Litany is divided into several sections: an invocation of the Trinity, deprecations (prayers for deliverance from evils like sin, natural disasters, and spiritual harm), obsecrations (pleas invoking Christ’s life, death, and resurrection), intercessions (prayers for the church, the world, and all people), and a concluding series of prayers including the Agnus Dei, Kyrie, Lord’s Prayer, and a collect. It can be said or sung, either kneeling, standing, or in procession, and is typically used before the Eucharist, after the collects of Morning or Evening Prayer, or as a standalone service. The ACNA Book of Common Prayer (2019) preserves this traditional form, reflecting its commitment to Anglican heritage while allowing flexibility in its use.
Significance on the First Sundays of Lent and Advent
The Great Litany holds particular significance on the first Sundays of Lent and Advent due to its penitential tone and its role in preparing the faithful for these seasons of spiritual reflection and anticipation. Both Advent and Lent are times of solemn preparation in the church year; Advent for the coming of Christ (both his nativity and his return) and Lent for his passion and resurrection. The Litany’s emphasis on repentance, deliverance from sin, and dependence on God’s mercy aligns perfectly with the themes of these seasons.
In many Anglican parishes, the Great Litany is chanted in procession on these Sundays, enhancing its solemnity and engaging the congregation physically and vocally. This practice, rooted in medieval traditions of penitential processions, underscores the corporate nature of the prayer and its call to communal repentance and reliance on God. While historically it was used more frequently (e.g., after Morning Prayer on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in the 1552 BCP), its modern association with Lent and Advent, especially their opening Sundays, highlights its role as a powerful liturgical marker, stirring the faithful to devotion at the outset of these sacred seasons.
Below is the text of the Great Litany as found in the Book of Common Prayer 2019 of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). This version reflects the ACNA’s aim to remain faithful to historic Anglican liturgy, drawing heavily on Thomas Cranmer’s original 1544 English Litany and subsequent revisions in the Book of Common Prayer tradition, while adapting it slightly for contemporary use.
The Great Litany
To be said or sung, kneeling, standing, or in procession.
Officiant and People:
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 Spirit, Advocate and Guide,
Have mercy upon us.
O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three Persons and one God,
Have mercy upon us.
Remember not, Lord Jesus, our offenses, nor the offenses of our forebears; neither reward us according to our sins. Spare us, good Lord, spare your people, whom you have redeemed with your most precious blood, and by your mercy preserve us forever.
Spare us, good Lord.
From all evil and wickedness; from sin; from the works and assaults of the devil; from your wrath and everlasting damnation,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all blindness of heart; from pride, vainglory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice; and from all lack of charity,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From all disordered 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 your Word and commandments,
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 your holy Incarnation; by your holy Nativity and submission to the Law; 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,
Good Lord, deliver us.
By your glorious Resurrection and Ascension; by the sending of the Holy Spirit; by your heavenly intercession; and by your coming again in power and great glory,
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 beseech you to hear us, O Lord God: That it may please you to rule and govern your holy Church universal in the right way,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to illumine all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, with true knowledge and understanding of your Word; and that, both by their preaching and living, they may show it accordingly,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to bless and keep all your people,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to send forth laborers into your harvest, and to draw all mankind into your kingdom,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to give to all people increase of grace to hear and receive your Word, and to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to bring into the way of truth all who have erred and are deceived,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to give us a heart to love and fear you, and diligently to keep your commandments,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to strengthen in the right way all Christian rulers and civil authorities; to bless and guide them in all their doings; and to grant them wisdom to seek justice and peace,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to look upon the poor and the oppressed, the widow and the orphan; to relieve all who are in misery; and to minister your grace to the sick, the suffering, and the dying,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to preserve all who travel by land, by water, or by air; to uphold those who labor; and to bless the fruits of the earth for our use,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth, so that in due time we may enjoy them,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to grant to all the faithful departed eternal life and peace,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you to grant us true repentance; to forgive us all our sins, negligences, and ignorances; and to endue us with the grace of your Holy Spirit to amend our lives according to your holy Word,
We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
Have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
Grant us your peace.
O Christ, hear us.
O Christ, hear us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
All: 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. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
O Lord, let your mercy be shown upon us;
As we have hoped in you.
Officiant: Let us pray.
Almighty God, you have promised to hear the petitions of those who ask in your Son’s Name: We humbly beseech you mercifully to incline your ear to us who have now made our prayers and supplications to you; and grant that those things which we have asked faithfully according to your will may be obtained effectually, to the relief of our necessities and to the setting forth of your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Category: Anglicanism, Liturgical Seasons Tags: Advent, Anglicanism 101, Examination of Conscience, Lent, Prayer, Repentance, Spiritual Disciplines, The Great Litany
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