Prayer Litany
Litany is a ceremonial or liturgical form of prayer consisting of a series of invocations or supplications with responses that are the same for a number in succession (Dictonary.com). The Prayer Litanies below share some of the same forms, however Prayer Litany I is a short version and Prayer Litany II is a longer version that allows more time to sit with the prayer of letting go in the Welcoming Prayer.
These Prayers have been adapted from the Contemplative Outreach Method of Welcoming and Centering Prayers. Ultimately, the Prayer Litany is a time of Resting in the Presence of the Lord and experiencing God’s transforming love.
Click each heading to expand.
Prayer Litany I ▼
Begin with a few deep cleansing breaths and quiet yourself, then slowly recite…
The Lord says…
Be still…
Be still and know…
Be still and Know that I am…
Be still and Know that I am God…
Engage in Silence and rest in God’s Presence… His Divine Indwelling
Become one with God in Divine Union…
Allow God’s Transforming Love to wash over you like “streams of living water” welling up in you, satisfying your longing and thirst for Him... activating your love relationship with the Lord.
Listen for His “still small voice...”
Abide in God’s Presence as long as you are able, then recite the Lord’s Prayer…
Amen!
Prayer Litany II ▼
Lighting the Candle
For God alone my soul in silence waits* truly my hope is in him.
Psalm 62:6
A Reading
Jesus taught us saying: “"Love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as your self." ” Matthew 22:37-39
Welcoming Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, Come
Ignite within me the living
flame of Your love.
Welcoming Prayer
- Feel and sink into what you are experiencing this moment in your body
(pause) - Welcome what you are experiencing this moment in your body as an opportunity to consent to the Divine Indwelling.
(pause) - Let go by saying:
“I let go of my desire for security, affection, control
and embrace this moment as it is.”
Centering Prayer Method
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Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God’s presence and action within.
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Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God’s presence and action within.
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When engaged with your thoughts,* return ever-so-gently to the sacred word.
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At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes.
*thoughts include body sensations, feelings, images, and reflections
Recommended 20 Minutes per sit, twice a day
Prayer Litany III ▼
Lighting the Candle
We light this candle in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One God now and forever. Amen
Welcoming Prayer
Let’s begin the Welcoming Prayer by...
Gently closing our eyes... Sitting up, shoulders back against our chair and when ready, begin to take a few cleansing breaths…
Breathe in and exhale gently for a few moments...
Now let’s give attention to our bodies.... what are you sensing...
Welcome what your body is experiencing in this moment by saying...
Welcome.... Welcome.... Welcome...
With the souls of our feet... begin to sense your connectedness to the ground below.... the earth, God’s creation... the dirt, the soil, the dust... the dust from which God fashioned us and molded us into His image and created our being....
This is Holy Ground.... A Sacred Space....
Breathe in the breath of life; God’s love....
Let’s welcome the Holy Spirit... the breath of life....
Come, Holy Spirit, Come.... Ignite within us the living flame of your Love...
Welcome.... Welcome.... Welcome...
Let us now prepare to Surrender ourselves to the Lord.... letting go of all our needs and desires that dwell in our unconsciousness....
The compulsions of our subconscious.... the frailties of our human condition...
The clutter of life that obstructs us from becoming our true-selves in Christ...
Recite silently or with a whisper this prayer of letting go...
I let go of my desire for Power and Control... (Reflection)
Pause… Then say.... I release them to you Lord Christ
I let go of my desire for Safety and Security... (Reflection)
Pause… Then say.... I release them to you Lord Christ
I let go of my desire for Affection and Approval... (Reflection)
Pause… Then say.... I release them to you Lord Christ
I let go of my desire to Change Situations... People... Emotions... (Reflection)
Pause… Then say.... I release them to you Lord Christ
(Allow a few moments of Silence to sit with the prayer)
Then pray:
Oh God, Come to my assistance.... Oh Lord, make haste to help me.
Thank you Lord Christ for taking these burdens upon yourself at the cross...
Thank you for Your Love and Mercy and Grace...
Centering Prayer
Let us continue in God’s presence giving him our attention in Centering Prayer...
A time of Communing with God with our hearts and minds and souls....
Sensing God’s Love washing over us and dwelling within us.... Like streams of Living Water filling us to overflowing....
God’s Presence.... His Divine Indwelling...
Whenever thoughts begin to bubble up let them go and when a thought begins to distract you… gently recall your Sacred Word.... your Love Word for the Lord
Gently enter into Centering Prayer... using your Sacred Word….
As the Lord says.... Be still and know that I am God....
(Use Contemplative Outreach App for timer and ending sound)
Now let us say together the Lord’s Prayer....