I recently discovered a litany prayer from the Eucharistic liturgy of the Ethiopian Orthodox church. I have adapted the prayer (significantly), making it less insular, more expansive, praying for all and not just those who belong to their church. I give the prayer's ecological ideas enhanced attention. Ethiopian Christianity is ancient. Islam having cut it off from the rest of Christianity, it is lived in a primitive and pristine form. Congregants, exuberant in their Christ-life, sing and dance rhythmically to hand bells and drums.
Before the Litany however, you might like to see the short video above titled Ethiopian Chapel in the Sky - an introduction to the chapel carved into rock — a 650 foot cliff-hanger climb made by many native pilgrims including the elderly and women with infants strapped to their backs. I'm thinking for a moment of Catholics I've met who complain about having to walk six stairs to enter their church.
Litany Prayer
O God, far from anger, super abundant in kindly deeds, accept our daily prayer, our supplications, thanks and repentance, in humility and service before your heavenly ark and before your holy, heavenly and spotless altar. Make us eager to hear the Gospel Word and keep and bless us that we may be fruitful in love, thirty, sixty and a hundred fold through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Remember Lord, all who are sick; visit them in your mercy and heal them in your compassion.
Remember Lord, our parents, our sisters and brothers and friends who travel this day; bring them back to their homes in safety and peace.
Remember Lord, the coming down of rain and the oceans, seas, rivers and streams, and bless them, keeping them clean and alive.
Remember Lord, the forests and plants, the seeds and the food given to us from the ground every year, bless them and make them abundant.
Remember Lord, the safety of your own holy people and in all the places where Christians live, especially where they suffer for love of you.
Remember Lord, our own safety and all the animals — the earth itself.
Remember Lord, all who have fallen asleep, whether they be believing or unbelieving.
Remember Lord, all the families of every kind around the world; safeguard the children, the elderly and the frail. Bring to love those who do evil things.
Remember Lord, those who face difficulties or who have taken a dangerous path.
Remember Lord, those who have been forced to leave their homes, where the earth has become uninhabitable by flood, fire, drought or wars.
Remember Lord, the afflicted and distressed, the hopeless, and those addicted or afraid.
Remember Lord, the bishops, priests, deacons, monks and nuns; may they be among the clean of heart.
Remember Lord, and banish from the hearts of those who have been baptized, every form of idolatry — power, money, ignorance, defense of violence, and that idolatry which is an affiliation not with you but with party loyalty.
Remember us Lord, that we may live in the power of your word, in which we have been instructed and in the appointed time make us ready for the new birth and for the forgiveness of our sins and prepare us to be an ark of the Holy Spirit.
Glory to you, Lord our God almighty, who has made me to hear the word of Christ's Holy Gospel and greet it and rejoice in it, that you would write the word of the Gospel in my heart, strengthen me to love that word especially the mandate to love and forgive my enemy. Send your mercy and compassion upon us and upon all your people, through your only begotten Son, for glory and power are yours eternally. Amen.
