Litany of the Saints

[LennyPedersen]

Hi, all!

I’m terribly sorry if this is a stupid question to ask, but I simply do not know and I have not been able to find it anywhere:

What does the “V” and the “R” stand for in the text of the Litany of the Saints?

I know that it is recited by a combination of, for instance, the cantor and the congregants, but I do not know exactly what the “V” and the “R” stand for. I am assuming the “R” is the Latin word “Responsum”, but this is merely speculation on my part.

Can anyone help me out, please?

Thank you very much!

 

[Todd_Easton]

My guess is that the V stands for versicle or the Latin versiculus.

The Webster dictionary definition of versicle is: a short or little verse; esp., one of the short sentences said or sung in a church service by a minister and followed by the response of the congregation.