What is the difference between the prayer of supplication and intercession? Archives

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