Litany for a College Semester

A few days ago, I was searching the internet to see if anyone had written a litany for the start of a college semester. To my disappointment, most of the back to school litanies I found were either geared toward children or were simply poorly written. I took it upon myself to compose a litany. This prayer is intended to be comprehensive, covering almost every aspect of the return to school and can be prayed individually or in a group. It was also written with my own experience and my university in mind. Should you care to pray or use it, feel free to omit or adapt anything that does not apply to you. I was heavily influenced by the Episcopal Great Litany and the Litany of Humility, both amazing prayers in their own right. I hope this litany is helpful. May God bless you this semester and always! 

We pray for the semester.

O God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth,
Hear us.
O God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Hear us.
O God the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of the faithful,
Hear us.
O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, one God,
Hear us.
As we pray for the coming semester at [name of university],
Hear us.

From the desire to receive all A’s,

Deliver us, O Jesus.

From unhealthy perfectionism,

Deliver us, O Jesus.

From undue self-criticism,

Deliver us, O Jesus.

From pride in our accomplishments.
Deliver us, O Jesus.
From the temptation to cheat,

Deliver us, O Jesus.

From the temptation to procrastinate,

Deliver us, O Jesus.
From the temptation to isolate,

Deliver us, O Jesus.

From the temptation to indifference,

Deliver us, O Jesus.

From the temptation to cynicism,

Deliver us, O Jesus.

From all that would distract or detract from our learning and growth,
Deliver us, O Jesus.

From the fear of being unloved,

Deliver us, O Jesus.

From the fear of being single,

Deliver us, O Jesus.

From the fear of letting others down,

Deliver us, O Jesus.

From the fear of being forgotten,

Deliver us, O Jesus.
From the fear of exams, papers, and presentations,
Deliver us, O Jesus.
From all that would elicit inordinate anxiety,
Deliver us, O Jesus

For our professors and instructors we pray.
We ask you to hear us, good Lord.
For the library staff, the tutors, and all those who provide academic assistance we pray.
We ask you to hear us, good Lord.
For the college president and his/her cabinet we pray.
We ask you to hear us, good Lord.
For our campus pastor we pray.
We ask you to hear us, good Lord.
For the staff counselors and psychologists we pray.
We ask you to hear us, good Lord.
For the cafeteria staff, the grounds staff, and the IT staff we pray.
We ask you to hear us, good Lord.
For the dorm parents and the RA’s we pray,
We ask you to hear us, good Lord.
For the registrar's office and enrollment counselors we pray.
We ask you to hear us, good Lord.
For the trustees and donors we pray.

We ask you to hear us, good Lord.

For our student body president and his/her cabinet we pray.

We ask you to hear us, good Lord.
For all student workers we pray.
We ask you to hear us, good Lord.
For all student athletes we pray.
We ask you to hear us, good Lord.
For all those away on internship we pray.
We ask you to hear us, good Lord.
For all those who enable us to learn and grow at this college we pray.
We ask you to hear us, good Lord.

For new students and instructors,
Lord, have mercy.
For students and instructors who will be retiring, graduating, or leaving,
Lord, have mercy.
For students and instructors who will face loneliness this semester,
Lord, have mercy.
For the students and instructors who will face illness this semester,
Lord, have mercy.
For students and instructors who will struggle with anxiety, depression, or another mental disorder this semester,
Lord, have mercy.
For students and instructors who will face the death of a loved one this semester,
Lord, have mercy.
For students and instructors who will face financial struggles this semester,
Lord, have mercy.
For students and instructors who will endure injury this semester,
Lord, have mercy.
For students and instructors who will face turmoil of any kind this semester,
Lord, have mercy.

For this semester,
We give thanks.
For this university,
We give thanks.
For computers and books,
We give thanks.
For our professors and staff,
We give thanks.
For our classmates,
We give thanks.
For the gift of learning and the blessing of growth,
We give You thanks, honor, and praise.

We pray for keen minds, eager hearts, and hardworking hands. Most of all, we pray that this semester will be to Your honor and glory. We rest these requests and any which we have overlooked in Your hands. Teach us this semester that we may learn and grow in You. We pray all these things in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost,
Amen