preces

Preces is a Latin term meaning prayers or supplications, and in Christian liturgy it refers to a short, structured form of prayer used within the daily offices or at the beginning of services. The term emphasizes intercession and petition, often in a call-and-response format between a celebrant and the congregation or choir.

Historically, preces emerged in late antiquity and were developed within monastic and cathedral worship. They became a recognizable part of the exchange between the clergy and the faithful in the medieval liturgical tradition, serving to orient the assembly toward worship, confession, and intercession before moving into the main body of the service. Over time, the exact wording and placement of preces varied by rite and region.

In modern use, the term appears most often in Anglican, Catholic, and some Lutheran writings, though its presence and form have diversified. In Catholic and some Anglican contexts, preces may be described as a brief sequence of invocations, a short litany, a set of petitions, and a concluding prayer, sometimes including a Lord’s Prayer and intercessions. In other settings, the same general function may be fulfilled by different sections of the service or by more contemporary forms of intercession.

Contemporary references to preces are most commonly found in historical or liturgical studies and in discussions of traditional forms of daily prayer. Where used today, they typically aim to foster communal participation, penitence, and petition, while remaining adaptable to the needs of different congregations. See also litany, daily office, and liturgical reform.