Optional
Litanies for use in place of the Prayer for the Church Militant
Prayer
is offered with intercession for:
The Universal Church, its members, and its mission
The Nation and all in authority
The welfare of the world
The concerns of the local community
Those who suffer and those in any trouble
The departed (with commemoration of a saint when
appropriate)
Any
of the forms which follow may be used.
Adaptations
or insertions suitable to the occasion may be made.
Any
of the forms may be conformed to the language of the Rite being used.
The
Celebrant may introduce the Prayers with a sentence of invitation
related
to the occasion, or the season, or the Proper of the Day.
Form I
Deacon
or other leader says
With all our heart and with all our mind, let us
pray to the Lord, saying, “Lord, have mercy.”
For the peace from above, for the loving‑kindness
of God, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For the peace of the world, for the welfare of the
holy Church of God, and for the unity of all peoples, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For our Bishop, and for all the clergy and people,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For our President, for the leaders of the nations,
and for all in authority, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For this city (town, village,__________), for every
city and community, and for those who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For seasonable weather, and for an abundance of the
fruits of the earth, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For the good earth which God has given us, and for
the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For those who travel on land, on water, or in the
air [or through outer space], let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans,
and for the sick and the suffering, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For_______________, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed
and the destitute, for prisoners and captives, and for all who remember and
care for them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For all who have died in the hope of the
resurrection, and for all the departed, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For deliverance from all danger, violence, oppression,
and degradation, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
For the absolution and remission of our sins and
offenses, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
That we may end our lives in faith and hope,
without suffering and without reproach, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord,
have mercy.
Defend us, deliver us, and in thy compassion
protect us, O Lord, by thy grace.
Lord,
have mercy.
In the communion of [___________ and of all the]
saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life, to Christ
our God.
To
thee, O Lord our God.
Silence
The
Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.
Form II
In
the course of the silence after each bidding, the People offer their own
prayers, either silently or aloud.
I ask your prayers for God’s people throughout the
world; for our Bishop(s)__________; for this gathering; and for all ministers
and people. Pray for the Church.
Silence
I ask your prayers for peace; for goodwill among
nations; and for the well‑being of all people. Pray for justice and peace.
Silence
I ask your prayers for the poor, the sick, the
hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison. Pray for those in any need or
trouble.
Silence
I ask your prayers for all who seek God, or a
deeper knowledge of him. Pray that they may find and be found by him.
Silence
I ask your prayers for the departed
[especially______________], Pray for those who have died.
Silence
Members
of the congregation may ask the prayers or the thanksgivings of those present
I ask your prayers for_____________.
I ask your thanksgiving for________________.
Silence
Praise God for those in every generation in whom
Christ has been honored [especially ___________ whom we remember today]. Pray
that we may have grace to glorify Christ in our own day.
Silence
The
Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.
Form III
The
Leader and People pray responsively
Father, we pray for thy holy Catholic Church;
That
we all may be one.
Grant that every member of the Church may truly and
humbly serve thee;
That
thy Name may be glorified by all people.
We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons;
That
they may be faithful ministers of thy Word and Sacraments.
We pray for all who govern and hold authority in
the nations of the world;
That
there may be justice and peace on the earth.
Give us grace to do thy will in all that we
undertake;
That
our works may find favor in thy sight.
Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief
or trouble;
That
they may be delivered from their distress.
Give to the departed eternal rest;
Let
light perpetual shine upon them.
We praise thee for thy saints who have entered into
joy;
May
we also come to share in thy heavenly kingdom.
Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.
Silence
The
People may add their own petitions.
The
Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.
Form IV
Deacon
or other leader
Let us pray for the Church and for the world.
Grant, Almighty God,that all who confess thy Name
may be united in thy truth, live together in thy love, and reveal thy glory in
the world.
Silence
Lord, in thy mercy
Hear
our prayer.
Guide the people of this land, and of all the
nations, in the ways of justice and peace; that we may honor one another and
serve the common good.
Silence
Lord, in thy mercy
Hear
our prayer.
Give us all a reverence for the earth as thine own
creation, that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others and to
thy honor and glory.
Silence
Lord, in thy mercy
Hear
our prayer.
Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours,
and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he loves
us.
Silence
Lord, in thy mercy
Hear
our prayer.
Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body,
mind, or spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them
the joy of thy salvation.
Silence
Lord, in thy mercy
Hear
our prayer.
We commend to your mercy all who have died, that
thy will for them may be fulfilled; and we pray that we may share with all your
saints in thine eternal kingdom.
Silence
Lord, in thy mercy
Hear
our prayer.
The
Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.
Form V
Deacon
or other leader
In peace, let us pray to the Lord, saying, “Lord,
have mercy”
(or
“Kyrie eleison”).
For the holy Church of God
and love, and be found without fault at the day of
your
coming, we pray to you, O Lord.
Here
and after every petition the People respond
Kyrie
eleison. or Lord, have mercy.
For N.
our Presiding Bishop, for N. (N.) our own Bishop(s), for all bishops
and other ministers, and for all the holy people of God, we pray to thee, O
Lord.
For all who fear God and believe in thee, Lord
Christ, that our divisions may cease, and that all may be one as you and the Father
are one, we pray to you, O Lord.
For the mission of the Church, that in faithful
witness it may preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth, we pray to thee, O Lord.
For those who do not yet believe, and for those who
have lost their faith, that they may receive the light of the Gospel, we pray
to thee, O Lord.
For the peace of the world, that a spirit of respect
and forbearance may grow among nations and peoples, we pray to thee, O Lord.
For those in positions of public trust
[especially___________], that they may serve justice, and promote the dignity
and freedom of every person, we pray to thee, O Lord.
For all who live and work in this community
[especially _____________], we pray to thee, O Lord.
For a blessing upon all human labor, and for the
right use of the riches of creation, that the world may be freed from poverty,
famine, and disaster, we pray to thee, O Lord.
For the poor, the persecuted, the sick, and all who
suffer; for refugees, prisoners, and all who are in danger; that they may be
relieved and protected, we pray to thee, O Lord.
For this congregation
[for those who are present, and for those who are absent], that we may be
delivered from hardness of heart, and show forth your glory in all that we do,
we pray to thee, O Lord.
For our enemies and
those who wish us harm; and for all whom we have injured or offended, we pray
to thee, O Lord.
For ourselves; for the
forgiveness of our sins, and for the grace of the Holy Spirit to amend our
lives, we pray to thee, O Lord.
For all who have commended themselves to our
prayers; for our families, friends, and neighbors; that being freed from anxiety,
they may live in joy, peace, and health, we pray to thee, O Lord.
For ________________, we pray to you, O Lord.
For all who have died in the communion of your
Church, and those whose faith is known to thee alone, that, with all the saints,
they may have rest in that place where there is no pain or grief, but life
eternal, we pray to thee, O Lord.
Rejoicing in the fellowship of [the ever‑blessed
Virgin Mary, (blessed N.) and] all
thy saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life to
Christ our God.
To
you, O Lord our God.
Silence
The
Celebrant adds a concluding Collect, or the following Doxology
For thine is the majesty, O Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit; thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, now and for
ever. Amen.
Form VI
The
Leader and People pray responsively
In peace, we pray to thee, Lord God.
Silence
For all people in their daily life and work;
For
our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who
are
alone.
For this community, the nation, and the world;
For
all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.
For the just and proper use of thy creation;
For
the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.
For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of
trouble;
For
those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.
For the peace and unity of the Church of God
For
all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.
For [N.
our Presiding Bishop, and N. (N.) our Bishop(s); and for] all bishops
and other ministers;
For
all who serve God in his Church.
For the special needs and concerns of this
congregation.
Silence
The
People may add their own petitions
Hear us, Lord;
For
thy mercy is great.
We thank thee, Lord, for all the blessings of this
life.
Silence
The
People may add their own thanksgivings
We will exalt thee, O God our King;
And
praise thy Name for ever and ever.
We pray for all who have died, that they may have a
place in thine eternal kingdom.
Silence
The
People may add their own petitions
Lord, let thy loving‑kindness be upon them;
Who
put their trust in thee.
We pray to you also for the forgiveness of our
sins.
Silence
may be kept.
Leader
and People
Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; in thy
compassion forgive us our sins,
known and unknown, things done and left undone; and
so uphold us by thy Spirit that we may live and serve thee in newness of life, to
the honor and glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The
Celebrant concludes with an absolution or a suitable Collect.
The Collect at the Prayers
For
the concluding Collect, the Celebrant selects
(a) a Collect appropriate to the Season or occasion
being celebrated;
(b) a Collect expressive of some special need
in the life of the local congregation;
(c) a Collect for the mission of the Church;
(d) a general Collect such as the following:
Lord, hear the prayers of thy people; and what we
have asked faithfully, grant that we may obtain effectually, to the glory of
thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we
ask in the Name of thy Son: Accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray, not as
we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know
and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Almighty and eternal God, ruler of all things in
heaven and earth: Mercifully accept the prayers of thy people, and strengthen
us to do thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God, to whom our needs are known before we
ask: Help us to ask only what accords with thy will; and those good things
which we dare not, or in our blindness cannot ask, grant us for the sake of thy
Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of thy
people; in the multitude of thy mercies, look with compassion upon us and all
who turn to you for help; for thou arte gracious, O lover of souls, and to thee
we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, thou said to thine apostles,
“Peace I give to you; my own peace I leave with you:” Regard not our sins, but
the faith of thy Church, and give to us the peace and unity of that heavenly
City, where with the Father and the
Holy Spirit you live and reign, now and for
ever. Amen.
Hasten, O Father, the coming of thy kingdom; and
grant that we thy servants, who now live by faith, may with joy behold thy Son
at his coming in glorious majesty; even Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and
Advocate. Amen.
Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit you have made us
one with your saints in heaven and on earth: Grant that in our earthly
pilgrimage we may always be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer,
and know ourselves to be surrounded by their witness to your power and mercy.
We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, in whom all our intercessions are
acceptable through the Spirit, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
