Hilsey's Primer (The Manual of Prayers): the Litany (published 1539 by John Hilsey, Bishop of Rochester, by order of Thomas Cromwell)

The Signification of the Word Litany

The Litany.

The signification of this word Litany.

Mamercus, bishop of Vienne, what time that a terrible earthquake fell in his province, Leo the first then being bishop of Rome, caused the people to assemble to go together in a long array, praying and calling upon God, which thing now we call procession, because we use in the same to proceed or go forth.

Hereof it came that when any grievous plague was either sent by God among the people, or any sudden chance of gladness chanced, procession hath always been used, sometimes to pacify God's wrath, and sometimes to thank him of his benefits. For this cause did Agapetus, bishop of Rome, first institute that procession should be done every Sunday throughout the year; and after him Gregory, in the time of a common pestilence, caused more solemn order and singing to be used therein, and ordained this service called Litany, which is a Greek word, and as much in English to say, as supplication or prayer, whereof it hath taken his name, because that in our general processions and rogation days, prayer and supplication is made unto God for the people, and for all estates, according to the counsel of St. Paul, 1 Timothy 2, and divers other examples of Scriptures.

The Invocations and Saints

LORD, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.

God's Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Virgin, and mother of God, pray for us.

St. Michael, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, pray for us.

St. Raphael, pray for us.

All holy angels and archangels, pray for us.

All order of holy spirits, pray for us.

St. John Baptist, pray for us.

All holy patriarchs and prophets, pray for us.

St. Peter, pray for us.

St. Paul, pray for us.

St. Andrew, pray for us.

St. John, pray for us.

St. James, pray for us.

St. Thomas, pray for us.

St. Philip, pray for us.

St. James, pray for us.

St. Matthew, pray for us.

St. Bartholomew, pray for us.

St. Simon, pray for us.

St. Thaddeus, pray for us.

St. Matthias, pray for us.

St. Barnabas, pray for us.

St. Mark, pray for us.

St. Luke, pray for us.

All holy Apostles and Evangelists, pray for us.

All holy disciples and innocents, pray for us.

St. Stephen, pray for us.

St. Clement, pray for us.

St. Timothy, pray for us.

St. Dionysius, pray for us.

All holy martyrs, pray for us.

All holy confessors, pray for us.

St. Ann, pray for us.

St. Elizabeth, pray for us.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

St. Martha, pray for us.

All holy virgins, pray for us.

All holy saints, pray for us.

The Deprecations and Obsecrations

Be merciful, spare us, Lord.

From all evil, Lord, deliver us.

From the awaits of the devil, Lord, deliver us.

From endless damnation, Lord, deliver us.

From imminent peril of our sin, Lord, deliver us.

From the assaults of devils, Lord, deliver us.

From the spirit of fornication, Lord, deliver us.

From the desire of vainglory, Lord, deliver us.

From all uncleanness of body and soul, Lord, deliver us.

From wrath and hate, and all evil will, Lord, deliver us.

From unclean thoughts. Lord, deliver us.

From blindness of heart, Lord, deliver us.

From lightning and tempest, Lord, deliver us.

From sudden and unprovided death, Lord, deliver us.

By the mystery of thy holy incarnation, Lord, deliver us.

By thy nativity, Lord, deliver us.

By thy circumcision, Lord, deliver us.

By thy baptism, Lord, deliver us.

By thy fasting, Lord, deliver us.

By thy cross and passion, Lord, deliver us.

By thy precious death, Lord, deliver us.

By thy glorious resurrection, Lord, deliver us.

By thy marvellous ascension, Lord, deliver us.

By the grace of thy Holy Ghost, Lord, deliver us.

In the hour of death, Lord, succour us.

In the day of judgment, Lord, deliver us.

The Suffrages

We sinners pray thee to hear us.

That thou give us peace; We pray thee to hear us.

That thy mercy and thy pity may ever preserve us; We pray thee to hear us.

That thou vouchsafe to govern and keep thy Church; We pray thee to hear us.

That thou give peace, concord, and victory to our king and princes; We pray thee to hear us.

That thou keep all our bishops and prelates in holy religion; We pray thee to hear us.

That thou keep all the congregation of saints in thy holy service; We pray thee to hear us.

That thou preserve all Christian people which thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood; We pray thee to hear us.

That thou give all our benefactors everlasting benefits; We pray thee hear us.

That thou wilt deliver the souls of us and our parents from eternal damnation; We pray thee to hear us.

That thou vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth; We pray thee to hear us.

That thou vouchsafe to cast upon us thy merciful eyes; We pray thee to hear us.

That thou do cause the obsequy of our service to be acceptable; We pray thee to hear us.

That thou do pluck up our minds unto heavenly desires; We pray thee to hear us.

That thou vouchsafe to behold and relieve the misery of the poor and the captive; We pray thee to hear us.

That thou give everlasting rest to all that believe in thee, both quick and dead; We pray thee to hear us.

That thou vouchsafe to hear us; We pray thee to hear us.

Son of God and Lamb of God

Son of God; We pray thee to hear us.

Son of God; We pray thee to hear us.

Son of God; We pray thee to hear us.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world; Hear us, Lord.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world; Spare us, Lord.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world; Have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Versicles and Collects

Our Father. And lead. But deliver us, &c.

The versicle. We have offended with our Father.

The answer. We have done wrong and committed iniquity.

The versicle. Lord, do not with us according to our sins.

The answer. Neither reward thou us after our ungodliness.

The versicle. Lord, shew us thy mercy.

The answer. And give us thy saving health.

The versicle. And let thy mercy come upon us, Lord.

The answer. Thy saving health according to thy promise.

The versicle. Lord, save the king and the realm.

The answer. And hear us in the day wherein we call unto thee.

The versicle. Let thy priests do on justice.

The answer. And let thy saints rejoice.

The versicle. For our brothers and sisters.

The answer. Save, O God, thy servants, both men and women that trust in thee.

The versicle. Let us pray for all Christian people.

The answer. Lord, save thy people and bless thine heritage, and rule them and exalt them evermore.

The versicle. Lord, send peace through thy virtue.

The answer. And great abundance in every country.

The souls of all faithful departed by the mercy of God, let them rest in peace.

The versicle. Lord, hear my prayer.

The answer. And give hearing to my clamour.

For remission of sins. GOD, to whom it is appropried to be merciful ever and to spare, take our prayer, and let thy pitiful mercy assoil them that are bound with the chain of sinners. By Christ our Lord. So be it.

For mercy. LORD, we beseech thee to shew unto us thine unspeakable mercy, that thou both purge us from all our sins, and mercifully deliver us from the pain that we deserve for the same. By Christ our Lord. So be it.

For the king. LORD God of hosts, king most mighty and strong, by whom kings do reign, in whose hands are the hearts of all kings, grant unto thy well-beloved servant, H. our king, continual health of body and soul, that his heart always inclining to wholesome and godly counsels, and the enemies of the common wealth being vanquished, we may long enjoy under him perpetual peace and brotherly concord. By Christ our Lord. So be it.

ALMIGHTY eternal God, which alone doest great wonders, grant unto thy servants the bishops, and to all congregations committed unto them, the spirit of grace; and that in the truth they may please thee, pour out on them the perpetual dew of thy benediction. By Christ our Lord. So be it.

For the people and all estates. FOR thy pity, Lord, we beseech thee to loose the bands of all our sins, and through the prayer of the blessed glorious Virgin Mary, with all thy saints, keep us thy servants, and our king and all Christian people, in all holiness, and all that by kindred of blood, familiarity, confession, or prayer be allied unto us, cleanse them, Lord, of all vices, light them with virtues; peace and health give unto us; avoid from us all our enemies, as well visible as invisible; give thy charity to our friends and to our enemies; and expel all pestilence and famine; and to all Christian people quick and dead grant life and endless rest. By Christ our Lord. So be it.

For charity. O GOD, which dost pour the gifts of charity into the hearts of the faithful, through grace of the Holy Ghost, grant unto thy servants, both men and women, for whom we pray unto thy mercy, health of body and soul, that they may love thee with all their power, and perform with all love the things that be pleasing to thee. By Christ our Lord. So be it.

For peace. O GOD, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed, give unto us the same peace which the world cannot give; that our hearts being obedient to thy commandments, and the fear of our enemies taken away, our time may be peaceable through thy protection. By Christ our Lord.

For the souls departed. GOD, that art Creator and Redeemer of all faithful people, grant unto the souls of all true believers, being dead, remission of all their sins, that through devout prayers they may attain thy gracious pardon which they have always desired. By Christ our Lord. So be it.