Why should you pray the Litany of Supplication more often? Litany of Supplication is a powerful prayer when you are in dire need of God’s assistance. Pope Francis prayed the Litany of Supplication during a special Urbi et Orbi on March 27, 2020. Millions of Catholics across the globe joined the pontiff amid the ragging Covid-19 pandemic.
I joined Indian Catholics praying the ‘litany of supplication’ during a national one-hour prayer service organized by India’s Latin-rite bishops on August 7, 2021. In a virtual prayer service, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) expressed solidarity with those most affected by the pandemic, prayed for the departed souls, offered consolation to the grieving families, and pleaded for good health for the whole world.
What is the Litany of Supplication?
The word ‘litany’ carries a sense of awe and adoration. You can think of ‘litany’ as a prayer with a series of lines spoken by a leader and the congregation. Supplication is a humble request for help from God. Litany of Supplication consists of thirty-five petitions seeking God’s intervention during a critical time in your life. You can find the entire text of the Litany of Supplication as you scroll to the end of the write-up.
What is the purpose of the Litany of Supplication?
The litany of supplication is almost like a penitential service used in times of trouble or to express sorrow for sins. Invocation consists of short petitions to God with a standard response from the congregation. Litanies, in general, are used during prayer services and processions.
What is the difference between supplication and prayer?
Supplication is a humble petition or appeal to God. While prayer is a sincere thanksgiving or request made to God. In prayer, there may be no request but only praise offered to God. You can even hear this word litany in daily conversation. “Enough of your litany,” or something like it. Yes, the litany is a long repetitive list of grievances. But the original meaning of litany is purely religious.
What does the Bible say about supplication?
St. Paul invites us to let our requests be made known to God. You will find the powerful statement in Philippians 4:5-7, “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
The word supplication appears 60 times in the Bible. It is not a simple request but a profound plea, humbly seeking favor from God. St. James calls supplication a fervent prayer of a righteous man.
What is the difference between the prayer of supplication and intercession?
Intercession is a petition on behalf of someone else – one’s neighbor. In contrast, supplication is a plea for personal help. Supplication is like humbly begging for something from God, pleading in prayer. The easy way to notice supplication is when you get on your knees and pray to God for something. That’s the root word for supplication “to be flat.” Supplication means to be on folded knees.
Why do you need to pray the Litany of Supplication?
In Pope Francis’ words, “God turns everything to our good.” The litany of supplication is a prayer of possibilities. We need God to offer us hope when sin oppresses us, hatred closes our hearts, sorrow visits us, and indifference causes anguish.
We need God’s spirit in the hour of trial and confusion, temptation and fragility, battle against evil, search for goodness and joy, and to remain in God’s friendship.
We desire God to protect us while we cross the desert, terrified by fear, sick and dying, and oppressed by loneliness. We want God to protect those who care for us, healthcare workers, politicians, and decision-makers
We need God to save us from every evil, hunger, and egoism. We need healing from illness, devastating madness, and ruthless violence. We need God to save us from being deceived, false information, and manipulation of consciences.
We need God to deliver us from the seduction, pride and presumptions, deception and anxiety, unbelief and desperation, and from the hardness of heart and incapacity to love.
Full text of Litany of Supplication
Pray it as your life depends on it. It does. That’s my prayer: May you experience the fruit of your petitions. Amen.
We adore you, O Lord
True God and true man, truly present in this holy Sacrament.
We adore you, O Lord
Our Savior, God with us, faithful and rich in mercy
We adore you, O Lord
King and Lord of creation and of history
We adore you, O Lord
Conqueror of sin and death
We adore you, O Lord
Friend of humankind, the Risen One, the Living One who sits at the right hand of the Father.
We adore you, O Lord
We believe in you, O Lord
Only-begotten Son of the Father, descended from heaven for our salvation
We believe in you, O Lord
Heavenly physician, who bows down over our misery
We believe in you, O Lord
Lamb who was slain, who offer yourself to rescue us from evil
We believe in you, O Lord
Good Shepherd, who give your life for the flock which you love
We believe in you, O Lord
Living bread and medicine for immortality, who give us eternal life
We believe in you, O Lord
Deliver us, O Lord
From the power of Satan and the seductions of the world
Deliver us, O Lord
From the pride and presumption of being able to do anything without you
Deliver us, O Lord
From the deceptions of fear and anxiety
Deliver us, O Lord
From unbelief and desperation
Deliver us, O Lord
From hardness of heart and the incapacity to love
Deliver us, O Lord
Save us, O Lord
From every evil that afflicts humanity
Save us, O Lord
From hunger, from famine and from egoism
Save us, O Lord
From illnesses, epidemics and the fear of our brothers and sisters
Save us, O Lord
From devastating madness, from ruthless interests and from violence
Save us, O Lord
From being deceived, from false information and the manipulation of consciences
Save us, O Lord
Comfort us, O Lord
Protect your Church which crosses the desert
Comfort us, O Lord
Protect humanity terrified by fear and anguish
Comfort us, O Lord
Protect the sick and the dying, oppressed by loneliness
Comfort us, O Lord
Protect doctors and healthcare providers exhausted by the difficulties they are facing
Comfort us, O Lord
Protect politicians and decision-makers who bear the weight of having to make decisions
Comfort us, O Lord
Grant us your Spirit, O Lord
In the hour of trial and from confusion
Grant us your Spirit, O Lord
In temptation and in our fragility
Grant us your Spirit, O Lord
In the battle against evil and sin
Grant us your Spirit, O Lord
In the search for what is truly good and true joy
Grant us your Spirit, O Lord
in the decision to remain in you and in your friendship
Grant us your Spirit, O Lord
Open us to hope, O Lord
Should sin oppress us
Open us to hope, O Lord
Should hatred close our hearts
Open us to hope, O Lord
Should sorrow visit us
Open us to hope, O Lord
Should indifference cause us anguish
Open us to hope, O Lord
Should death overwhelm us
Open us to hope, O Lord
Did you pray the litany of supplication with your family or in your parish? Let me know in the comments below. And If you have a question or questions about faith and Christianity, feel free to write to info@ferozfernandes.com
About the Author
Feroz Fernandes, a Catholic Missionary, identifies himself as an Uncommon Priest. Father Feroz loves adventure in the apostolate. Check out his debut book The Uncommon Priest: Incredible Stories You Never Read on amazon. And also, the YouTube Channel: Feroz Fernandes promotes a better understanding of scripture.
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