On
the first Sunday of Lent, March 1 this year, we usually will pray The
Great Litany during the opening procession at both services. However, because the One City Marathon is on
March 1, we will pray The Great Litany on March 8.
The Great Litany is an ancient form of
intercessory prayer, first used in the 5th century. Because of its penitential nature, it is
especially appropriate in Lent. The
Litany begins by calling upon the Triune God to have mercy on us; continues
with petitions for protection from evil and disaster; invokes Christ’s saving
work; and includes many general intercessions, including the plea for God to
forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers. You can find the Great Litany on pages 148 to
153 of The Book of Common Prayer. I encourage you to spend some time with it
prior to Sunday.
The Great
Litany is not a prayer for the faint of heart, but it is a fabulous prayer for
those who truly want to turn their hearts again to God. May that be our aim in this holy season.
Anne
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