Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus
The Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ
Approved by: Pope St. John XXIII (February 24, 1960), for use throughout the universal Church
When to pray: Especially during July (the Month of the Most Precious Blood); on the First Friday of each month in association with the Sacred Heart; before the Blessed Sacrament; for the souls in purgatory.
About this litany
Devotion to the Most Precious Blood, drawn from the wound in the side of the crucified Christ from which flowed blood and water (John 19:34), was promoted especially by St. Gaspar del Bufalo, who founded the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in 1815. Pope Pius IX in 1849 instituted the Feast of the Most Precious Blood, originally on the first Sunday of July; the feast was later moved to July 1.
On February 24, 1960, Pope St. John XXIII approved the present form of the Litany of the Most Precious Blood for use throughout the universal Church, drawing together earlier devotional traditions into a single approved liturgical form.
Opening Kyrie and Trinitarian invocations → 24 invocations of the Most Precious Blood with response 'save us' → three-fold Agnus Dei (with Precious Blood substitution) → versicle/response → collect.
Opening
- V. Lord, have mercy.
- R. Lord, have mercy.
- V. Christ, have mercy.
- R. Christ, have mercy.
- V. Lord, have mercy.
- R. Lord, have mercy.
- V. Christ, hear us.
- R. Christ, graciously hear us.
- V. God the Father of Heaven,
- R. have mercy on us.
- V. God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
- R. have mercy on us.
- V. God the Holy Spirit,
- R. have mercy on us.
- V. Holy Trinity, one God,
- R. have mercy on us.
Invocations
- V. Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the eternal Father,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, of the new and eternal Covenant,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in the Agony,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, price of our salvation,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, stream of mercy,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, victor over demons,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, courage of martyrs,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, strength of confessors,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, bringing forth virgins,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, help of those in peril,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, pledge of eternal life,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory,
- R. save us.
- V. Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honour,
- R. save us.
Concluding Invocations
- V. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
- R. spare us, O Lord.
- V. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
- R. graciously hear us, O Lord.
- V. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
- R. have mercy on us.
- V. Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, in Thy Blood,
- R. and hast made of us a kingdom for our God.
Closing Prayer
V. Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, who hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son to be the Redeemer of the world, and willed to be appeased by His Blood: grant us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate with solemn worship the price of our salvation, and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of this present life, that we may rejoice in its perpetual fruit in Heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
Primary sources