LITANY (from the Greek litaneia, sup plication, prayer), a form of prayer or song, first used especially on occasions of public ca lamity and introduced according to Zonaras and Nicephorus by Proclus, about the year 446, at Constantinople, in the reign of Theodosius; according to Paulus under Justinian, at Antioch, in consequence of the following circumstance: An earthquake, says the legend, having driven the people into the fields, a boy was suddenly taken up into the air in their presence, but was again let down unhurt, on the people crying out aKyrie (0 Lord, have mercy). The boy related that he had heard the song of the angels, °Holy God! Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal! have mercy upon us!" and this gave rise to the Litany. This kind of common prayer was perhaps not unusual among the Jews, and Psalm cxxxvi seems to have been adapted to this purpose.
The litanies in general use in the Roman Catholic Church are the "Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus?) the "Litany of the Saints" and the "Litany of Loreto.° The "Lit any of the Most Holy Name of Jesus" is com posed of a series of addresses to Jesus Christ, in which the different names by which He is called are used. Like all the litanies it begins with "Kyrie eleisonx' (Lord have mercy) and ends with an entreaty to the "Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world.° This
litany is said aloud in the churches by the mem bers of the "Holy Name Societies° on general communion days. The "Litany of the Saints° is composed of supplications to God for favors, the rendition of thanks and a number of peti tions to saints asking their intercession. This litany is a part of the special church service for Saint Mark's day, the rogation days, the ru brics for the consecration of churches and cemeteries, for ordinations and for other church services. The "Litany of Loreto° re ceives its name from being sung on Saturdays and feasts of the Virgin Mary, in the Santa Casa of Loreto. It consists of a number of petitions to the Virgin Mary using her differ ent titles as found in the Scriptures and in sacred writings and asking her intercession.
Litanies are found in the old hymnbooks of the Lutherans, but are no longer used by Prot estant Germans. hi the Anglican prayer-book the litany is retained, and though it adheres in many respects to the ancient forms, it differs from those of the Roman Catholic Church and contains no invocation of the Virgin or the saints. Since 1661 it is no longer a distinct service, but, when used, forms part of the morning prayer, after the third collect for Grace.