Litany of the Saints
All the Saints in Heaven (foundational liturgical litany)
Approved by: The most ancient of the Catholic litanies; the current short form is in the Roman Missal (used at the Easter Vigil) and the longer form in the Roman Pontifical (used at ordinations and the consecration of religious)
When to pray: At the Easter Vigil; at ordinations and religious professions; in litanic processions; in times of crisis or great need (this is the litany traditionally used to invoke heavenly aid in plague, war, and emergency).
About this litany
The Litany of the Saints is the oldest and most solemn of the Catholic litanies. It opens by addressing the Persons of the Trinity, then invokes the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels, the patriarchs and prophets, the apostles, the martyrs, the doctors and confessors, the virgins, and all the saints. It then begs deliverance from particular evils and asks Christ to hear our prayer through specific intercessions.
This litany is part of the most solemn moments of the Catholic liturgy: it is chanted at the Easter Vigil immediately before the blessing of the baptismal water, at the rite of priestly ordination as the candidates lie prostrate, at the consecration of a church and altar, and in the litanic procession on the feast of St. Mark (April 25) and on the Rogation Days. It may also be used at any time the faithful gather to seek the intercession of the whole Church Triumphant.
Opening Kyrie → Trinitarian invocations → Invocation of saints (Mary, Angels, Patriarchs/Prophets, Apostles/Disciples, Martyrs, Doctors/Confessors/Founders, Virgins/Holy Women, ‘All holy men and women’) → Petitions for deliverance → Petitions through the mysteries of Christ → Petitions for the Church and world → Agnus Dei → collect. Below is the standard short form used at the Easter Vigil.
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.
Invocations
- V. Holy Mary, Mother of God,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint Michael,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Holy Angels of God,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint John the Baptist,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint Joseph,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint Peter and Saint Paul,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint Andrew,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint John,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint Mary Magdalene,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint Stephen,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint Ignatius of Antioch,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint Lawrence,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint Perpetua and Saint Felicity,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint Agnes,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint Gregory,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint Augustine,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint Athanasius,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint Basil,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint Martin,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint Benedict,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint Francis and Saint Dominic,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint Francis Xavier,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint John Vianney,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint Catherine of Siena,
- R. pray for us.
- V. Saint Teresa of Jesus,
- R. pray for us.
- V. All holy men and women, Saints of God,
- R. pray for us.
Concluding Invocations
- V. Lord, be merciful,
- R. Lord, deliver us, we pray.
- V. From all evil,
- R. Lord, deliver us, we pray.
- V. From every sin,
- R. Lord, deliver us, we pray.
- V. From everlasting death,
- R. Lord, deliver us, we pray.
- V. By Your Incarnation,
- R. Lord, deliver us, we pray.
- V. By Your Death and Resurrection,
- R. Lord, deliver us, we pray.
- V. By the outpouring of the Holy Spirit,
- R. Lord, deliver us, we pray.
- V. Be merciful to us sinners,
- R. Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.
- V. Guide and protect Your holy Church,
- R. Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.
- V. Keep the Pope and all the clergy in faithful service to Your Church,
- R. Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.
- V. Bring all peoples together in trust and peace,
- R. Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.
- V. Strengthen us in Your service,
- R. Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.
- V. Jesus, Son of the living God,
- R. Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.
- V. Christ, hear us.
- R. Christ, graciously hear us.
Closing Prayer
V. Let us pray. God of mercy, hear the prayers of your people. We honour the saints in glory, and ask their prayers on our behalf. Strengthen our faith, that one day, with all the saints, we may stand before You. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
Primary sources