Section i. Our cry to Christ.
The distinguishing feature of the Litany is that it uses a worship-form which is not used elsewhere in the Prayer Book. The Minister dictates briefly the subject of the Prayer, which is then made by the voices of the People. These are called Suffrages (from suffragium, Latin for a vote in favour, or approbation). That part of the Litany which is made in this way is very full and detailed. Students should also notice the variety of its phrases, and the beauty of its rhythm.
The use of such a form is ancient, and the Revisers in 1549 had the substance ready to their hand. Comparing the older Litany with that which we use, we note that the Revisers have frequently combined several suffrages to make one suffrage, as in the following instance:
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By thine Agony and bloody By thy Passion and Cross:
Sweat; by thy Cross and deliver us, O Lord.
Passion; by thy precious Death By thy precious Death:
and Burial; by thy glorious deliver us, O Lord.
Resurrection and Ascension; By thy glorious Resurrection:
and by the coming of the Holy deliver us, O Lord.
Ghost: By thy marvellous Ascension:
deliver us, O Lord.
Good Lord, deliver us. By the grace of the Holy
Spirit the Comforter: deliver
us, O Lord.
Here five suffrages are grouped into one. In like manner four are grouped in the suffrage, From all evil and mischief &c.
The number of petitions was further reduced by the omission of all the prayers to the Saints, entreating them to pray for us. These were very numerous—28 fixed; and 40 more, which varied according to the week-day.
The petitions which were then introduced present two features which should be carefully studied—Duplication and Wreathing[5]. Duplication has been already explained (see p. 33), and is here of the Progressive sort. We give numerous instances below. Wreathing is when two phrases have two members each, and are united by taking the two first members together, and the two second members together.
A simple instance of this is found in the union of the phrases,
by their preaching they may set forth, and by their living they may shew accordingly