Letters from the week of 25 - 31 March 2019
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Litanies of Interest
The earliest litanies of the church were virtual incantations. Not only were they long but they were purposely haunting and mesmerizing. They amounted almost to an enchantment with a hypnotic repetitiveness—handed back-and-forth between officiant and people. But Cranmer, of course, changed that and his litany (like everything he wrote) became instead an exercise in high literary elegance and expansive style. So I asked myself, "What would happen if Cranmer's Litany were split up and returned to the classical form of brief petition end repetitive response?" And here's how it goes—recapturing the ancient mode:
From all envy and covetousness;
Spare us, good Lord.
From all hatred and despite
Spare us, good Lord.
From all evil intent and malice,
Spare us, good Lord.
From all lack of charity,
Spare us, good Lord.
From all inordinate and sinful affections,
Spare us, good Lord.
From all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil,
Spare us, good Lord.
From all false doctrine and heresy,
Spare us, good Lord.
From all error and schism,
Spare us, good Lord.
If that sounds interesting, I'be be glad to send a copy in plainchant notation to anyone who writes me.
Fr. John-Julian, OJN
The Order of Julian of Norwich
Hartland, Wisconsin, USA
johnjulianojn@sbcglobal.net
25 March 2019
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