Litany in the Mass Ordo

 The Litany "Divinae Pacis" is most commonly associated with the Ambrosian Rite during Lent, as sung after the Ingressa [Introit]. This, of course, reflects similar instructions in the edition of the Gregorian Sacramentary owned by Bishop Hildoard in France, circa 800 AD; directions state that if the Litany is sung, then the Gloria in excelsis is not sung [thus, for example, during Lent].

However, not all editions of the Gregorian Sacramentary make such statements; St. Gregory the Great, on the other hand, in his Letter to John of Syracuse states that on Sundays and Feast Days the Kyrie is not sung as a stand alone chant, but, rather, with the extra / additional things added [with the form of simply the repetition of Kyrie Eleison at that time restricted to ferias]; various 9th and 10th century Gregorian Sacramentary liturgical books do supply verses, especially on Holy Saturday [where there is, in fact, no Introit, but, rather the usage of troped verses on the Kyrie indicated].

We do, of course, possess the Roman Litany known as the "Deprecatio Gelasii", which is more analogous in its structure to the Eastern Litany of Fervent Supplication after the Gospel; and, there is the "Deprecatio Martinii", which is found in the Stowe Missal before the Gospel. Though, the Gelasian Litany has some books indicated a response such as "Kyrie eleison", but, others as "Domine miserere", along with 'praesta, Domine, praesta" at the last petitions.

"Divinae pacis", however, is found as a set of verses that can be sung before the Altar, as indicated in a 10th century Fulda Sacramentary, and thus, cannot be purely construed as exclusively Ambrosian in character.

These Litanies, of course, are more analogous to their Eastern equivlaents, since, Litany, in the West, often had the connotation of the invocation to the Saints, combined with direct invocations to God; this may be why St. Germanus of Paris refers to the Levitical Preces after the Gospel [i.e. the petitions sung by the Deacons], as 'preces', and why we have mention of the petitions at Mass associated with Pope St. Gelasius and St. Martin of Tours identified as "deprecatio".

Divinae Pacis is below: