About the Litany
The Litany of Reconciliation, was written by Canon Joseph Poole in 1958, and continues to be prayed in the Cathedral every weekday at noon, and throughout the world by partners in the Community of the Cross of Nails.
The phrase Father Forgive was inscribed on the wall of the ruined Cathedral by Provost Dick Howard after the Blitz, where it can still be seen today.
The words echo the prayer of Jesus as He hung dying on the cross: ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing’. This simple prayer, Father forgive, acknowledges our need to receive forgiveness from God for ourselves, as well as ask it for others.
You can read the Litany prayer below, or join us at midday every weekday as we recite the words the words 'Father Forgive' are used as the response and all are welcome to join in, regardless of faith or non-faith, as we pray to ‘build a kinder, Christ-child-like world’.
Litany of Reconciliation
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class,
Father forgive.
The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own,
Father, forgive.
The greed which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the earth,
Father, forgive.
Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others,
Father, forgive.
Our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee,
Father, forgive.
The lust which dishonours the bodies of men, women and children,
Father, forgive.
The pride which leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God,
Father, forgive.
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
