A litany is a form of prayer in which a leader says a series of short prayers and the people respond together with the same words each time, such as “Lord, have mercy.” This shared pattern helps the congregation pray with one voice and focus on God’s mercy, care, and work in the world. Litanies have been used by Christians since the early Church and are found throughout historic Christian worship, especially prevalent in the Anglican Tradition, as a way for God’s people to pray together with humility, repentance, and hope.
A litany may be used in a church service, a small group, or personal prayer. One person reads the petitions aloud, and the words in bold are spoken together by everyone. These repeated responses help us pray attentively and join our hearts and voices as we ask God to act in our lives and in the world. Below is a free PDF litany designed specifically for praying for Muslims during the month of Ramadan.