A Litany for the Dying, the Departed, and the Grieving

This litany is based on Psalm 40:1, and Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Resident Scholars Anne and Jeffery Rowthorn wrote it in response to their concern for a dear friend who died alone in a Connecticut hospital, and for his wife and children who, due to hospital regulations and “stay at home orders,” were unable to visit and make their farewells. It broke their hearts. It breaks all our hearts.

For the Broken Hearted and the Crushed in Spirit

Creator God of the Universe, God of a thousand names and faces; in your mercy we implore you to hear the cries of the broken hearted and the crushed in Spirit. As we struggle to understand, you teach us that for everything there is a season, and a time for everything under heaven: a time to break down, a time to weep, a time to die, a time to keep silence, and always, a time to love. During this sad season of the coronavirus pandemic, we pray to you, confident that you will hear us in our distress.

For all who are sick at home, in hospitals, field hospitals, nursing homes and waiting for treatment in emergency rooms. God is near to the broken hearted—

and saves the crushed in Spirit.

For all who are dying in hospitals alone, denied visits from family members. God is near to the broken hearted—

and saves the crushed in Spirit.

For those who have died, now free from every trace of illness; may they be held in the      embrace of God who wipes away every pain and sorrow and leads the departed all       the way home.  God is near to the broken hearted—

and saves the crushed in Spirit.

For the husbands, wives and partners who are deprived of one final visit, one final look and feel, one final embrace, one final opportunity to say one last time, “I love you.” God is near to the broken hearted—

and saves the crushed in Spirit. 

For the children of the dying, robbed of the opportunity to say, “Thank you, Mom.” “Thank you, Dad.” “You will be forever in our hearts. ” God is near to the broken hearted—

and saves the crushed in Spirit.

For all who grieve their departed loved ones, especially those divided by distance and the isolation imposed by “stay in place” orders.  God is near to the broken hearted—

and saves the crushed in Spirit.

For family members who suffer due to their inability to plan funerals and bury their dead, God is near to the broken hearted—

and saves the crushed in Spirit.

Holy God of the Universe: we cry out to you for help, and we pray that you will rescue us from all our troubles and bring about an end to the coronavirus pandemic. Be with us as we long for a time of healing, a time to build up, a time to laugh, a time to dance, a time to embrace, and a time for peace.  We pray out of the depths of our hearts to you, God of the broken hearted and the crushed in Spirit, God of hope, whom we call Jesus, Allah, YHWE, Divine Mystery, Wakan Tanka, Great Spirit.

Amen.

This litany may be used with the following copyright notice: “A Litany for the Dying, the Departed, and the Grieving,” Anne and Jeffery Rowthorn, 2020.

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