[[Liturgical Studies]] / Litany > [!note] New - 2026-03-26 ![[assets/covers/litany.jpg]] The Litany is [[Anglican Liturgy|a structured form of communal prayer in Anglican liturgy]] that seeks protection from evil and deliverance through the saving work of Christ. It preserves one of the ancient patterns of Christian petition, wherein the community brings its vulnerability before God and claims the redemptive work of the Incarnate Word as its sole ground of hope. ## Place in [[Morning Prayer]] The Litany appears as the [[Morning and Evening Prayer|concluding movement of Morning Prayer on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays]], replacing the final four prayers of the standard Morning Prayer sequence from the Prayer for All Those in Civil Authority through the Grace.[^bray-common-prayer-p55] ## Deprecations and Obsecrations The Litany unfolds in two movements. First come a series of short petitions traditionally called ‘deprecations’ (from the Latin deprecari, to ward off evil), which establish the community’s acknowledgement of its vulnerability to wickedness.[^bray-common-prayer-p56] The prayer then moves through the key events of Christ’s ministry as the foundation for the community’s plea for deliverance.[^bray-common-prayer-p56b] These central petitions are traditionally known as ‘obsecrations’ (from the Latin obsecrare, “to beg for the sake of something sacred”), reminding worshippers that Christ alone is the ground of hope.[^bray-common-prayer-p56c] ## Prayers for Deliverance The Litany concludes with a series of short prayers requesting freedom from evils of both body and soul, functioning as an expansion of the phrase ‘deliver us from evil’ in the Lord’s Prayer.[^bray-common-prayer-p56d] This final movement transforms the community’s vulnerability into active petition for complete liberation through Christ’s saving work. ## Selected passages > ‘The Litany is the way Morning Prayer concludes on **Sundays,** **Wednesdays,** **and** **Fridays.**’ > > *How to Use the Book of Common Prayer: A Guide to the Anglican Liturgy*, p. 55 ([[data/bray-common-prayer/source-images/p55.jpg|🖼️]]) > ‘Then follow the **key** **events** **of** **Christ’s** **ministry,** which we plead as the basis for our deliverance.’ > > *How to Use the Book of Common Prayer: A Guide to the Anglican Liturgy*, p. 56 ([[data/bray-common-prayer/source-images/p56.jpg|🖼️]]) ## Appearances - *How to Use the Book of Common Prayer: A Guide to the Anglican Liturgy*, Samuel L. Bray and Drew Nathaniel Keane - LITANY, pp. 55–56 ## Related [[Liturgical Prayer]] . [[Morning Prayer]] . [[The Lord's Prayer]] . [[Intercession]] [^bray-common-prayer-p55]: [[How to Use the Book of Common Prayer: A Guide to the Anglican Liturgy]], p. 55 ([[data/bray-common-prayer/source-images/p55.jpg|🖼️]]) . ‘The Litany is the way Morning Prayer concludes on **Sundays,** **Wednesdays,** **and** **Fridays.**’ [^bray-common-prayer-p56]: Ibid., p. 56 ([[data/bray-common-prayer/source-images/p56.jpg|🖼️]]) . ‘Next is a series of **short** **prayers** **for** **deliverance** **from** **evils** of body and soul, an **expansion** **of** **”deliver** **us** **from** **evil”** **in** **the** **Lord’s** **Praver.**’ [^bray-common-prayer-p56b]: Ibid. ([[data/bray-common-prayer/source-images/p56.jpg|🖼️]]) . ‘These short prayers are **traditionally** **called** **the** **”deprecations”** (from the Latin deprecari, a prayer to ward off evil).’ [^bray-common-prayer-p56c]: Ibid. ([[data/bray-common-prayer/source-images/p56.jpg|🖼️]]) . ‘Then follow the **key** **events** **of** **Christ’s** **ministry,** which we plead as the basis for our deliverance.’ [^bray-common-prayer-p56d]: Ibid. ([[data/bray-common-prayer/source-images/p56.jpg|🖼️]]) . ‘These prayers, **tradi-** **tionally** **called** **the** **”obsecrations”** (from the Latin obsecrare, meaning “to beg for the sake of something sacred”), remind us that **Christ** **alone** **is** **the** **ground** **of** **our** **hope.**’