The Deaconess Litany
This litany is from the deaconess mother house in Neuendettelsau, Germany. The mother house was a training institute founded in 1854 by Rev. Wilhelm Löhe, who founded Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The litany is taken from a book called Litaneien Buchlein, which was published in Leipzig, Germany, in 1881 by Löhe's successor, Rev. Friedrich Meyer. The translation and discovery of this litany was by Rev. Bruce Lucas. Otherwise this litany is in the public domain.
| Lord: | have mercy! |
| Christ: | have mercy! |
| Lord: | have mercy! |
| Christ: | hear us! |
| Lord God, Father in heaven: | have pity on us! |
| Lord God, Son and Savior of the world: | have pity on us! |
| Lord God, Holy Spirit: | have pity on us! |
| Be gracious to us: | spare us, dear Lord God! |
| Be gracious to us: | help us, dear Lord God! |
| From all sins: | protect us, dear Lord God! |
| From all error: | protect us, dear Lord God! |
| From scorning any vocation in your holy church; From scorning the gifts of your holy church; From scorning the holy calling of men and women who serve you: |
protect us, dear Lord God! |
| From any arrogance toward vocations in your holy church; From any arrogance toward your gifts; From arrogance toward the men and women who serve you; From arrogance toward the service of mercy; From our own idleness in holy service: |
protect us, dear Lord God! |
| From selfishness toward the matters of your kingdom: | protect us, dear Lord God! |
| From self-seeking deceit: | protect us, dear Lord God! |
| Through your holy birth: | help us, dear Lord God! |
| Through the rendering of your help to those around you: | help us, dear Lord God! |
| Through your humble washing of the disciples' feet: | help us, dear Lord God! |
| Through the bloody sweat and agony of your suffering: | help us, dear Lord God! |
| Through your cross and death: | help us, dear Lord God! |
| Through your blessed resurrection and ascension: | help us, dear Lord God! |
| We needy sinners plead: | for you to hear us, dear Lord God! |
| Rule and guide your holy Christian church; Give to her the abundance of gifts, offices, and workers; Keep all your servants in your healing word and a holy life: |
hear us, dear Lord God! |
| Bless and inspire our pastors and parish nurses; Invigorate and direct servants of the word to this place; Give a pure spirit to your servant women; Bestow upon your handmaidens spiritual humility; Give holy obedience to all those who serve here; Bestow a burning love upon those women who serve you; Lend your handmaidens steady strength of body and soul: |
hear us, dear Lord God! |
| Graciously adorn your servant <insert name here> with
all these gifts: |
hear us, dear Lord God! |
| Give these excellent gifts to all our sisters who help your church: | hear us, dear Lord God! |
| Empower your handmaidens, that they are able to give solace to the distressed and weak: |
hear us, dear Lord God! |
| Let those who do not believe the word become believing through the quiet conduct of our deaconess: |
hear us, dear Lord God! |
| Place your gracious word and confession upon her lips: | hear us, dear Lord God! |
| Stand with her in danger and in emergencies; equip her with wisdom, courage, and strength: |
hear us, dear Lord God! |
| Assist your servant women with their service to children and those who are ill: |
hear us, dear Lord God! |
| Graciously help your servant women with thoses who are dying: | hear us, dear Lord God! |
| Bless your handmaidens with the service of godly supporters: | hear us, dear Lord God! |
| Give your servant women love for widows and orphans: | hear us, dear Lord God! |
| Give them love and pity unlike the rest of mankind: | hear us, dear Lord God! |
| Illuminate and strengthen your handmaidens in all kinds of service and occupations: |
hear us, dear Lord God! |
| And graciously hear us: | hear us, dear Lord God! |
| Whenever they pray, listen to the women who serve you in official positions in your church: |
hear us, dear Lord God! |
| When we become weary in our prayers, hear our sighs instead: | hear us, dear Lord God! |
| Hear our ardent prayers for this woman, our sister <insert name here>: | hear us, dear Lord God! |
| O Jesus Christ, God's Son: | hear us, dear Lord God! |
| O Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world: | have pity on us! |
| O Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world: | have pity on us! |
| O Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world: | grant us perpetual peace! |
| Christ: | hear us! |
| Lord: | have mercy! |
| Christ: | have mercy! |
| Lord: | have mercy! Amen. |
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