Litany of the Saints

The Litany of the Saints is one of the oldest and most solemn prayers of the Catholic Church, calling upon the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels, and a long list of saints. It expresses the Church’s deep belief in the Communion of Saints, reminding us that we do not walk the journey of faith alone. The litany is both a prayer of humility—acknowledging our need for God’s mercy—and a prayer of trust, asking the saints to pray for us in every circumstance of life.

• Origin:
  It is one of the earliest known Christian prayers, dating back to the first centuries of the Church. It grew over time as more saints were recognized.

• Structure:

  1. Invocations to God (Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy).

  2. Invocation of Mary, the angels, apostles, martyrs, and major saints of the Church.

  3. Petitions for protection, mercy, and grace (“Deliver us, O Lord” and “Lord, hear our prayer”).

• Purpose:
  It is prayed to seek divine help through the intercession of the saints, especially in solemn or meaningful moments.

• Spiritual Value:
  It expresses the unity of heaven and earth, asking those who have completed the journey of faith to accompany the Church on earth. It is also a powerful reminder of God’s mercy and the help available through the saints.

• When to pray:

  • Easter Vigil during the baptism of catechumens

  • Ordinations of priests, deacons, and bishops

  • Religious profession and consecration

  • Funerals and other moments of profound prayer

  • Major Church ceremonies or times of crisis

Prayer:

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.

Saint Michael, pray for us.
Saint Gabriel, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, pray for us.
All you holy Angels and Archangels, pray for us.
All you holy orders of blessed spirits, pray for us.

Saint John the Baptist, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
All you holy Patriarchs and Prophets, pray for us.

Saint Peter, pray for us.
Saint Paul, pray for us.
Saint Andrew, pray for us.
Saint John, pray for us.
All you holy Apostles and Evangelists, pray for us.
All you holy Disciples of the Lord, pray for us.
All you holy Innocents, pray for us.

Saint Stephen, pray for us.
Saint Lawrence, pray for us.
Saint Vincent, pray for us.
All you holy Martyrs, pray for us.

Saint Sylvester, pray for us.
Saint Gregory, pray for us.
Saint Ambrose, pray for us.
Saint Augustine, pray for us.
Saint Jerome, pray for us.
Saint Martin, pray for us.
All you holy Bishops and Confessors, pray for us.
All you holy Doctors, pray for us.

Saint Anthony, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, pray for us.
Saint Bernard, pray for us.
Saint Francis, pray for us.
Saint Dominic, pray for us.
Saint Ignatius, pray for us.
All you holy Priests and Levites, pray for us.
All you holy Monks and Hermits, pray for us.

Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, pray for us.
Saint Cecilia, pray for us.
Saint Catherine, pray for us.
Saint Anastasia, pray for us.
All you holy Virgins and Widows, pray for us.

All you Saints of God, intercede for us.

Be merciful, Lord, save your people.
From all evil, Lord, save your people.
From every sin, Lord, save your people.
From your anger, Lord, save your people.
From sudden and unprovided death, Lord, save your people.
From the snares of the devil, Lord, save your people.
From anger, hatred, and all ill-will, Lord, save your people.
From the spirit of uncleanness, Lord, save your people.
From lightning and tempest, Lord, save your people.
From the scourge of earthquake, Lord, save your people.
From plague, famine, and war, Lord, save your people.
From everlasting death, Lord, save your people.

By the mystery of your holy Incarnation, Lord, save your people.
By your Nativity, Lord, save your people.
By your Baptism and holy Fasting, Lord, save your people.
By your Cross and Passion, Lord, save your people.
By your Death and Burial, Lord, save your people.
By your holy Resurrection, Lord, save your people.
By your wonderful Ascension, Lord, save your people.
By the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, Lord, save your people.

We sinners, we beg you to hear us.
That you spare us, we beg you, hear us.
That you pardon us, we beg you, hear us.
That you bring us to true penance, we beg you, hear us.
That you govern and preserve your holy Church, we beg you, hear us.
That you preserve our Apostolic Prelate and all orders of the Church in holy religion, we beg you, hear us.
That you humble the enemies of holy Church, we beg you, hear us.
That you give peace and true concord to Christian people, we beg you, hear us.
That you confirm and preserve us in your holy service, we beg you, hear us.
That you raise our minds to heavenly desires, we beg you, hear us.
That you reward with eternal good things all our benefactors, we beg you, hear us.
That you deliver our souls and the souls of our brethren, relatives, and benefactors from eternal damnation, we beg you, hear us.
That you give and preserve the fruits of the earth, we beg you, hear us.
That you give eternal rest to all the faithful departed, we beg you, hear us.
That you graciously hear us, we beg you, hear us.

Son of God, we beg you to hear us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

Let us pray.
Almighty everlasting God,
who has dominion over both the living and the dead
and holds all in your power and mercy,
we humbly entreat you:
grant that those for whom we pray—
whether still in this world or who have departed—
may, through the intercession of all your Saints,
obtain forgiveness of all their sins
through your gracious mercy.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.