Litany of the Saints
Also known as: Litaniae Sanctorum
English Text
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ, hear us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously 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 holy angels and archangels, pray for us. Saint John the Baptist, pray for us. Saint Joseph, pray for us. All holy patriarchs and prophets, pray for us. Saint Peter, pray for us. Saint Paul, pray for us.
Translation tradition: Roman Ritual / Traditional English (opening invocations only)
Latin Text
Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison. Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison.
Christe audi nos. Christe audi nos.
Christe exaudi nos. Christe exaudi nos.
Pater de caelis Deus, miserere nobis.
Fili, Redemptor mundi Deus, miserere nobis.
Spiritum Sancte Deus, miserere nobis.
Sancta Trinitas unus Deus, miserere nobis.
Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis.
Sancta Dei Genitrix, ora pro nobis.
Sancta Virgo virginum, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Michael, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Gabriel, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Raphael, ora pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Angeli et Archangeli, orate pro nobis.
Sancte Ioannes Baptista, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Ioseph, ora pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Patriarchae et Prophetae, orate pro nobis.
Sancte Petre, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Paule, ora pro nobis.
Scripture: Hebrews 12:1; Revelation 5:8
When to pray: Easter Vigil; ordinations; major processions; when seeking the intercession of many saints.
History & Background
The Litany of the Saints is among the most ancient liturgical prayers of the Roman Church. In its present form it belongs to the Roman Rite's official liturgy: it is sung at the Easter Vigil, at ordinations to the diaconate and priesthood, at the blessing of abbots and abbesses, at religious profession, and at papal coronations and elections. The litany's structure — threefold appeal to each Person of the Trinity, followed by petition to Mary and the saints — reflects the early Christian practice of invoking intercessors by name. Pope Gregory the Great (590–604) led a solemn procession through plague-stricken Rome chanting the Litany of the Saints. It appears in early Roman sacramentaries and is prescribed in the current Roman Rite in the Rites of Christian Initiation and Ordination.
Related Prayers
Source
https://www.vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html