A Litany of Importunity

Delacroix painted at least six versions of the biblical story of Christ sleeping during a storm while on the Sea of Galilee. (source)

In the eighteenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke (1-8) we find the parable of the unjust judge and the importunate widow. It is regrettable that the word “importunate” is rarely used nowadays. In Ronald Knox’s Enthusiasm he says that words rise up when they are needed and fall away when they cease to be needed. I am afraid the truth is rather different: words rise when literacy and education rise, and fall when those fall. But I digress.

The following Litany of Importunity was originally proposed to me by a friend and reader of NLM, who sent me raw materials and asked me to complete it. This I gladly did, and now share with you the result. Regardless of whether or not the rumors about future actions against the liturgical tradition of the Church prove true, there can be no question that the Church is oppressed by false churchmen, wolves in sheep’s clothing, tares masquerading as wheat, and that we should plead with the Lord for deliverance, using the bold words He Himself has given us in Holy Writ.

Litany of Importunity

Kyrie, eléison. Kyrie, eléison.
Christe, eléison. Christe, eléison.
Kyrie, eléison. Kyrie, eléison.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

Why sleepest Thou? Arise, O Lord!
Cast us not off to the end. Arise, O Lord!
Help us and redeem us for Thy name’s sake. Arise (&c.)
Let not man be strengthened.
Let the Gentiles be judged in Thy sight.
Let Thy hand be exalted: forget not the poor.
Be attentive to our judgment, to our cause.
For Thy people’s sake, return Thou on high.
Why turnest Thou Thy face away,
   and forgettest our want and our trouble?
Our souls are humbled down to the dust,
   our bellies cleave to the earth.
Let Thy enemies be scattered:
Let them that hate Thee flee from before Thy face.
Preserve us and keep us from this generation forever.
Save us, Lord, we perish.
Stir up Thy might, and come to save us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world: Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us.

V. Arise, O Lord, help us:
R. And deliver us for Thy Name’s sake.

Let us pray. Graciously hear the prayers of Thy Church, we beseech Thee, O Lord: that her enemies and all heresies be brought to nought, and that she may serve Thee in perfect security and freedom. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Litaniae Importunitatis

Kýrie, eléison. Kýrie, eléison.
Christe, eléison. Christe, eléison.
Kýrie, eléison. Kýrie, eléison.
Christe, audi nos. Christe, exaudi nos.

Quid obdormis? Exsurge, Dómine!
Ne repellas in fínem. Exsurge, Dómine!
Ádjuva nos et rédime nos propter nomen tuum. Exsurge (&c.)
Non confortétur homo.
Iudicentur Gentes in conspectu tuo.
Exaltétur mánus tua: ne obliviscáris páuperum.
Intende ad judicium nóstrum, ad causam nostram.
Propter populum tuum, in altum regrédere.
Quare faciem tuam avertis:
   et oblivísceris inopiae nostrae et tribulationis nostrae?
Anima nostra humiliata est in púlvere:
   conglutinátus est in terra venter noster.
Dispergantur inimici tui:
Qui te oderunt, fugiant a facie tua.
Serva nos et custodi nos a generatione hac in aeternum.
Salva nos, perímus.
Excita potentiam tuam, et veni, ut salvos facias nos.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: Parce nobis, Domine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: Exaudi nos, Domine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: Miserere nobis, Domine.

V. Exsurge, Christe, adiuva nos:
R. Et líbera nos propter nomen tuum.

Oremus. Ecclésiae tuae, quǽsumus, Dómine, preces placátus admítte: ut, destrúctis adversitátibus et erróribus univérsis, secúra tibi sérviat libertáte. Per Christum Dóminium nostrum. Amen.