HOSANNA: A LITANY OF PRAISE AND PETITION FOR THE NEW YEAR
The passage from the old year to a new is a time for reflection. One thinks about the losses, griefs, and disappointments suffered as well as the achievements, blessings, and successes enjoyed! Life is something of a mixed bag and through it all, the Lord is there to walk the journey with us. In the liturgy, the word “Hosanna,” is something we associate with praise and adoration: Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! The etymology of the word, however, means “Lord, save us!” The use of “Hosanna” in Psalm 118 v. 25 and 26 shows us this connection between the plea and the praise:
Lord, save us!
Lord, grant us success!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.
The Lord had blessed the Israelites in the past and so they knew to call upon the Lord to deliver them from their present and future trials. As we stand at this threshold between the old year and the new, I offer a litany of thanksgiving and petition with a response of that cries out in praise and for salvation: Hosanna in the highest! You can add or subtract invocations that reflect the blessings you have received and your hopes for the year to come.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Thanksgiving
Response: Hosanna, in the highest.
For your steadfast love, O Lord. R.
For the companionship of family and friends. R.
For democracy and freedom of speech. R.
For scientific and medical breakthroughs. R.
For the consolation and inspiration of the arts. R.
For respect and acceptance of diversity. R.
For hospitality offered and received. R.
Petition
From the snares that keep us from you, O Lord. R.
From indifference to others’ pain and poverty. R.
From greed and ingratitude. R.
From selfishness and hardness of heart. R.
From intolerance and discrimination. R.
From despair and hopelessness. R.
From fear. R.
Blessing
May the nations be glad and exult. Because you rule the peoples in equity.
God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. Abba, Father!
The shepherds made known the message. All who heard it were amazed.
And Mary kept all these things. Reflecting on them in her heart.
May the Lord bless us and keep us!
May the Lord let his face shine upon us and be gracious to us!
May the Lord look upon us kindly and give us peace!
Amen.
Let us bless the Lord. And give him thanks.
Simone Brosig is an educator, author and liturgy consultant with a PhD in Medieval Studies and a MA in Pastoral Liturgy from the University of Notre Dame. She writes and teaches about living the liturgy. Simone is a near-native Calgarian, who enjoys spending her free time “forest bathing” in the Rockies and learning languages. Simone’s new book, Holy Labours: A Spiritual Calendar of Everyday Work, can be found here.
