a solemn form of supplication to God, in which the priest utters some things fit to be prayed for, and the people join in their intercession, saying we beseech thee to hear us, good Lord, &c. The word comes from the Greek ἀνακρίνω “supplication;” of ἀνακρίνω, ‘I beseech.’

At first the use of litanies was not fixed to any stat- ed time, but were only employed as exigencies re- quired. They were observed, in imitation of the Ni- nevites, with ardent supplications and fastings, to avert the threatening judgments of fire, earthquakes, inun- dations, or hostile invasions. About the year 400, li- tanies began to be used in processions, the people walking barefoot, and repeating them with great de- votion; and it is pretended, that by this means several countries were delivered from great calamities. The days on which these were used were called rogation days: these were appointed by the canons of different councils, till it was decreed by the council of Toledo, that they should be used every month throughout the year; and thus by degrees they came to be used week- ly on Wednesdays and Fridays, the ancient stationary days for fasting. To these days the rubric of our church has added Sundays, as being the greatest days for assembling at divine service. Before the last review of the common prayer, the litany was a distinct service by itself, and used some time after the morning prayer was over; at present it is made one office with the morning service, being ordered to be read after the third collect for grace, instead of the intercessional prayers in the daily service.