Litany of the Saints
Traditional prayer of the Church; text: Roman Missal (English); the page does not name the edition. · ICEL
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Litany
In the Litany the names of some Saints may be added, especially the Titular Saint of the church and the Patron Saints of the place and of those to be baptized.
Leader: Lord, have mercy
All: Lord, have mercy
Leader: Christ, have mercy
All: Christ, have mercy
Leader: Lord, have mercy
All: Lord, have mercy
Leader: Holy Mary, Mother of God
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint Michael
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Holy angels of God
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint John the Baptist
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint Joseph
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint Peter and Saint Paul
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint Andrew
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint John
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint Mary Magdalene
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint Stephen
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint Ignatius
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint Lawrence
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint Perpetua and Saint Felicity
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint Agnes
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint Gregory
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint Augustine
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint Athanasius
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint Basil
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint Martin
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint Benedict
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint Francis and Saint Dominic
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint Francis Xavier
All: Pray for us.
Leader: St John Vianney
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint Catherine
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Saint Teresa
All: Pray for us.
Leader: All holy men and women
All: Pray for us.
Leader: Lord, be merciful
All: Pray for us.
Leader: From all evil
All: Pray for us.
Leader: From every sin
All: Pray for us.
Leader: From everlasting death
All: Pray for us.
Leader: By your Incarnation
All: Pray for us.
Leader: By your Death and Resurrection
All: Pray for us.
Leader: By your outpouring of the Holy Spirit
All: Pray for us.
Intercessions
Leader: Be merciful to us sinners.
All: Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.
If there are candidates to be baptized
If there are candidates to be baptized
Leader: Bring these chosen ones to new birth, through the grace of baptism.
All: Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.
If there is no one to be baptized
If there is no one to be baptized:
Leader: Make this font holy by your grace for the new birth of your children.
All: Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.
Conclusion of the Litany
Leader: Jesus, Son of the living God.
All: Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.
Leader: Christ , hear us.
All: Christ, hear us.
Leader: Christ, graciously hear us.
All: Christ, graciously hear us.
Latin text
I. SUPPLICATIO AD DEUM
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.
Spiritus Sancte Deus,
miserere nobis.
Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus,
miserere nobis.
II. INVOCATIO SANCTORUM
Sancta Maria,
ora pro nobis.
Sancta Dei Genetrix,
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.
Omnes sancti beatorum Spirituum ordines,
orate pro nobis.
PATRIARCHAE ET PROPHETAE
Sancte Abraham,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Moyses,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Elia,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Ioannes Baptista,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Ioseph,
ora pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Patriarchae et Prophetae,
orate pro nobis.
APOSTOLI ET DISCIPULI
Sancte Petre,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Paule,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Andrea,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Iacobe (maior),
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Ioannes,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Thoma,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Iacobe (minor),
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Philippe,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Bartolomaee,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Matthaee,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Simon,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Thaddaee,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Matthia,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Barnaba,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Luca,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Marce,
ora pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Apostoli et Evangelistae,
orate pro nobis.
Omnes sancti discipuli Domini,
orate pro nobis.
MARTYRES
Omnes sancti Innocentes,
orate pro nobis.
Sancte Stephane,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Ignati (Antiochene),
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Polycarpe,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Iustine,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Laurenti,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Vincenti,
ora pro nobis.
Sancti Fabiane et Sebastiane,
orate pro nobis.
Sancti Ioannes et Paule,
orate pro nobis.
Sancti Cosma et Damiane,
orate pro nobis.
Sancti Gervasi et Protasi,
orate pro nobis.
Sancte Cypriane,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Bonifati,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Stanislae,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Thoma (Becket),
ora pro nobis.
Sancti Ioannes (Fisher) et Thoma (More),
orate pro nobis.
Sancte Paule (Miki),
ora pro nobis.
Sancti Ioannes (de Brebeuf) et Isaac (Jogues),
orate pro nobis.
Sancte Petre (Chanel),
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Carole (Lwanga),
ora pro nobis.
Sanctae Perpetua et Felicitas,
orate pro nobis.
Sancta Maria (Goretti),
ora pro nobis.
Omnes sancti martyres,
orate pro nobis.
EPISCOPI ET DOCTORES
Sancte Sylvester,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Leo,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Gregori,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Ambrosi,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Augustine,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Hieronyme,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Athanasi,
ora pro nobis.
Sancti Basili et Gregori (Nazianzene),
orate pro nobis.
Sancte Ioannes Chrysostome,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Martine,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Nicolae,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Patrici,
ora pro nobis.
Sancti Cyrille et Methodi,
orate pro nobis.
Sancte Carole (Borromeo),
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Francisce (de Sales),
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Pie (Decime),
ora pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Pontifices et Confessores,
orate pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Doctores,
orate pro nobis.
PRESBYTERI ET RELIGIOSI
Sancte Antoni,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Benedicte,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Bernarde,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Dominice,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Francisce,
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Thoma (de Aquino),
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Ignati (de Loyola),
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Francisce (Xavier),
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Vincenti (de Paul),
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Ioannes Maria (Vianney),
ora pro nobis.
Sancte Ioannes (Bosco),
ora pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Sacerdotes et Levitae,
orate pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Monachi et Eremitae,
orate pro nobis.
SANCTAE DEI
Sancta Anna,
ora pro nobis.
Sancta Maria Magdalena,
ora pro nobis.
Sancta Agatha,
ora pro nobis.
Sancta Lucia,
ora pro nobis.
Sancta Agnes,
ora pro nobis.
Sancta Caecilia,
ora pro nobis.
Sancta Catharina,
ora pro nobis.
Sancta Anastasia,
ora pro nobis.
Sancta Catharina (Senensis),
ora pro nobis.
Sancta Teresia (de Avila),
ora pro nobis.
Sancta Rosa (de Lima),
ora pro nobis.
Omnes sanctae Virgines et Viduae
orate pro nobis.
LAICI
Sancte Lodovice,
ora pro nobis.
Sancta Monica,
ora pro nobis.
Sancta Elisabeth (Hungariae),
ora pro nobis.
Omnes Sancti et Sanctae Dei,
intercedite pro nobis.
III. INVOCATIO AD CHRISTUM
Propitius esto,
parce nobis, Domine.
Propitius esto,
exaudi nos, Domine.
Ab omni malo,
libera nos, Domine.
Ab omni peccato,
libera nos, Domine.
Ab ira tua,
libera nos, Domine.
A subitanea et improvisa morte,
libera nos, Domine.
Ab insidiis diaboli,
libera nos, Domine.
Ab ira et odio et omni mala voluntate,
libera nos, Domine.
A spiritu fornicationis,
libera nos, Domine.
A fulgure et tempestate,
libera nos, Domine.
A flagello terraemotus,
libera nos, Domine.
A peste, fame et bello,
libera nos, Domine.
A morte perpetua,
libera nos, Domine.
Per mysterium sanctae Incarnationis tuae,
libera nos, Domine.
Per adventum tuum,
libera nos, Domine.
Per nativitatem tuam,
libera nos, Domine.
Per baptismum et sanctum ieiunium tuum,
libera nos, Domine.
Per crucem et passionem tuam,
libera nos, Domine.
Per mortem et sepulturam tuam,
libera nos, Domine.
Per sanctam resurrectionem tuam,
libera nos, Domine.
Per admirabilem ascensionem tuam,
libera nos, Domine.
Per adventum Spiritus Sancti Paracliti,
libera nos, Domine.
In die iudicii,
libera nos, Domine.
IV. SUPPLICATIO PRO VARIIS NECESSITATIBUS
Peccatores,
te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut nobis parcas,
te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut nobis indulgeas,
te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut ad veram paenitentiam nos perducere digneris,
te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut Ecclesiam tuam sanctam regere et conservare digneris,
te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut domum Apostolicum et omnes ecclesiasticos ordines in sancta religione conservare digneris,
te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut inimicos sanctae Ecclesiae humiliare digneris,
te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut regibus et principibus christianis pacem et veram concordiam donare digneris,
te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut cuncto populo christiano pacem et unitatem largiri digneris,
te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut omnes errantes ad unitatem Ecclesiae revocare, et infideles universos ad Evangelii lumen perducere digneris,
te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut nosmetipsos in tuo sancto servitio confortare et conservare digneris,
te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut mentes nostras ad caelestia desideria erigas,
te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut omnibus benefactoribus nostris sempiterna bona retribuas,
te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut animas nostras, fratrum, propinquorum et benefactorum nostrorum ab aeterna damnatione eripias,
te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut fructus terrae dare et conservare digneris,
te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut omnibus fidelibus defunctis requiem aeternam donare digneris,
te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut nos exaudire digneris,
te rogamus, audi nos.
V. CONCLUSIO
Fili Dei,
te rogamus, audi nos.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
parce nobis, Domine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
exaudi nos, Domine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
miserere nobis.
Christe,
audi nos.
Christe,
exaudi nos.
Kyrie, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison.
Christe, eleison.
Christe, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison.
Pater noster
Pater noster (silentio)
Et ne nos inducas in tentationem.
Sed libera nos a malo.
Psalmus LXIX
Deus, in adiutorium meum intende:
Domine ad adiuvandum me festina.
Confundantur, et revereantur,
qui quaerunt animam meam.
Avertantur retrorsum, et erubescant,
qui volunt mihi mala.
Avertantur statim erubescentes,
qui dicunt mihi: Euge, euge.
Exultent et laetentur in te,
omnes qui quaerunt te:
Et dicant semper: Magnificetur Dominus:
qui diligunt salutare tuum
Ego vero egenus et pauper sum:
Deus adiuva me.
Adiutor meus et liberator meus es tu:
Domine, ne moreris.
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Versus et responsoria
Salvos fac servos tuos.
Deus meus, sperantes in te.
Esto nobis, Domine, turris fortitudinis.
A facie inimici.
Nihil proficiat inimicus in nobis.
Et filius iniquitatis non apponat nocere nobis.
Domine, non secundum peccata nostra facias nobis.
Neque secundum iniquitates nostras retribuas nobis.
Oremus pro Pontifice nostro N.
Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius.
Oremus pro benefactoribus nostris.
Retribuere dignare, Domine, omnibus nobis bona facientibus propter nomen tuum, vitam aeternam. Amen.
Oremus pro fidelibus defunctis.
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Requiescant in pace.
Amen.
Pro fratribus nostris absentibus.
Salvos fac servos tuos, Deus meus, sperantes in te.
Mitte eis, Domine, auxilium de sancto.
Et de Sion tuere eos.
Domine, exaudi orationem meam.
Et clamor meus ad te veniat.
Dominus vobiscum.
Et cum spiritu tuo.
Collecta
Oremus:
Deus, cui proprium est misereri semper et parcere: suscipe deprecationem nostram; ut nos, et omnes famulos tuos, quos delictorum catena constringit, miseratio tuae pietatis clementer absolvat.
Exaudi, quaesumus, Domine, supplicum preces, et confitentium tibi parce peccatis: ut pariter nobis indulgentiam tribuas benignus et pacem.
Ineffabilem nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam clementer ostende: ut simul nos et a peccatis omnibus exuas, et a poenis quas pro his meremur, eripias.
Deus, qui culpa offenderis, paenitentia placaris: preces populi tui supplicantis propitius respice; et flagella tuae iracundiae, quae pro peccatis nostris meremur, averte.
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, miserere famulo tuo Pontifici nostro N., et dirige eum secundum tuam clementiam in viam salutis aeternae: ut, te donante, tibi placita cupiat, et tota virtute perficiat.
Deus, a quo sancta desideria, recta consilia, et iusta sunt opera: da servis tuis illam, quam mundus dare non potest, pacem; ut et corda nostra mandatis tuis dedita, et, hostium sublata formidine, tempora sint tua protectione tranquilla.
Ure igne Sancti Spiritus renes nostros et cor nostrum, Domine: ut tibi casto corpore serviamus, et mundo corde placeamus.
Fidelium, Deus omnium Conditor et Redemptor, animabus famulorum famularumque tuarum remissionem cunctorum tribue peccatorum: ut indulgentiam, quam semper optaverunt, piis supplicationibus consequantur.
Actiones nostras, quaesumus, Domine, aspirando praeveni et adiuvando prosequere: ut cuncta oratio et operatio a te semper incipiat et per te coepta finiatur.
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui vivorum dominaris simul et mortuorum, omniumque misereris, quos tuos fide et opere futuros esse praenoscis: te supplices exoramus; ut pro quibus effundere preces decrevimus, quosque vel praesens saeculum adhuc in carne retinet vel futurum iam exutos corpore suscepit, intercedentibus omnibus Sanctis tuis, pietatis tuae clementia, omnium delictorum suorum veniam consequantur. Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum.
Conclusio
Dominus vobiscum.
Et cum spiritu tuo.
Exaudiat nos omnipotens et misericors Dominus.
Amen.
Et fidelium animae per misericordiam Dei requiescant in pace.
Amen.
Meaning in brief
This litany asks for the Lord's mercy, then names one by one the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels, the apostles, the martyrs and other saints, asking them to pray for us. The prayer expresses the communion of saints: we are surrounded by a 'cloud of witnesses' who accompany us on our journey of faith (Heb 12:1).
Intentions and hope
The faithful pray it to entrust important moments, such as a baptism, an ordination or religious vows, to the prayers of the saints, and also in times of hardship for many people. One may hope to feel less alone on the way, because the Church in heaven joins in prayer for the Church on earth.
When and how to pray
- The litany is usually sung or recited together, led by a leader or cantor.
- The leader names a saint, and everyone answers 'Pray for us.'
- In the liturgy, the litany is used at the Easter Vigil, baptisms, ordinations, religious professions and the dedication of a church.
- The litany can also be used in processions or in prayer during times of shared hardship.
- For personal prayer, for example on the Solemnity of All Saints (November 1), add the names of your own patron saint and those of your family.
Where it comes from
History
It is not known when or by whom the Litany of the Saints was composed. The Catholic Encyclopedia judges it to be old because the order of the apostles' names follows the order in the Roman Canon of the Mass. [3]
In the Eastern Church, litanies invoking the names of the saints are recorded as early as the time of Saint Gregory Thaumaturgus (died around 270) and Saint Basil (died 379). An earlier form in Greek is found at the end of the prayer of petition (aetesis): after the commemoration of the Virgin Mary, the names of saints were often added one after another. [3][4]
Catholic reference works link this litany to the penitential procession led by Pope Gregory the Great in Rome in 590, called the 'Litania septiformis', at the end of a plague. These works also mention its use in the processions of Saint Mamertus. Seventh-century witnesses show it as a processional litany on the days of petition (Rogation Days): the Greater Litany on April 25 and the Lesser Litanies on the three days before Ascension Thursday. [3][4][5]
Until a uniform text was established in 1570, the content of this litany varied greatly from place to place, both in the number and choice of saints and in its opening and closing parts. [4]
In today's Roman liturgy, the Church sings this litany at great sacramental moments: at the Easter Vigil before the blessing of baptismal water, at baptisms, at the ordination of deacons, priests and bishops, at the consecration of virgins, at religious professions and at the dedication of a church. The Roman Ritual and the Roman Pontifical allow names to be added, for example local patrons or the patrons of those being baptized or ordained. A shorter form is used when the litany is part of a rite within Mass. [6][7]
Sources & version
Text: ICEL, Roman Missal (English); the page does not name the edition. Checked word for word against the source on 2026-11-05.
- Roman Missal (English); the page does not name the edition — Easter Vigil - Roman Missal
Text follows Roman Missal (English); the page does not name the edition; taken from www.liturgies.net
Prayer text © ICEL; quoted with attribution and a link (owner decision K2, ADR 0067).
- Litaniae Sanctorum - The Litany of the Saints | Virgo Sacrata
Latin text from www.virgosacrata.com
Latin text quoted with attribution and a link.
- Litany of the Saints
Published by Catholic Online (Catholic Encyclopedia)
Cited as a factual source; the source text remains its publisher's.
- Litany
Published by Encyclopedia.com (New Catholic Encyclopedia material)
Cited as a factual source; the source text remains its publisher's.
- Dictionary: Litany of the Saints
Published by CatholicCulture.org
Cited as a factual source; the source text remains its publisher's.
- Roman Ritual: Litany of the Saints
Published by CatholicCulture.org
Cited as a factual source; the source text remains its publisher's.
- Litany of Saints guide (reviewed November 2024)
Published by Office for Worship, Archdiocese of Adelaide
Cited as a factual source; the source text remains its publisher's.
- The Myth of Gregory the Great and the Archangel Michael
Published by James Attebury (Substack)
Cited as a factual source; the source text remains its publisher's.
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