The Litany of the Saints (in Latin: Litaniae Sanctorum) is an ancient traditional type of Christian prayer used by Roman Catholics and the Orthodox communities. Litanies are recited or sung during religious celebrations. It is a supplication prayer to God, and an invocation to the saints, asking for their intercession on the worshipper’s behalf. When praying a Litany, you can invoke several saints (i.e. The Litany of the Saints), or just one particular saint (Saint Joseph, Saint Anthony, etc.).
A Litany is a prayer recited or sung during special liturgical events, such as All Saint’s Day, the Paschal Vigil, or during religious celebrations such as the Sacrament of Baptism and the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Above all, a Litany is a communal prayer used in services to invoke the members of the Church in Heaven. One soloist - most of the time, the Mass celebrant - recites or sings the name of the saints, and the congregants respond with a short phrase of supplication, such as “hear our prayer”.
Litanies are sometimes used during special processions, for example a Papal Conclave. They are beautiful prayers that you can recite with your families.
Litanies usually begin with the Kyrie Eleison, because this prayer is addressed to God - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The first invocation of the Litany of the Saints is to the Virgin Mary, Queen of the Angels and of All Saints. Then, the next sections of the litany address the other saints in the following order:
The Angels (namely, the three Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael),
The Patriarchs and Prophets,
The Apostles and Disciples,
The Martyrs,
The Bishops and Doctors of the Church,
The priests, religious and laypeople,
And finally, all the Holy men and women.
An invocation to Christ and special petitions follow the invocations. The prayer closes with the Agnus Dei.
“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.
Virgin Mary and Angels. Pray for us.
Holy Mary. Pray for us.
Holy Mother of God. Pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins. Pray for us.
Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Pray for us.
All the holy Angels and Archangels. Pray for us.
All the holy orders of blessed Spirits. Pray for us.
Holy Abraham. Pray for us.
Holy Moses. Pray for us.
Holy Elijah. Pray for us.
Saint John the Baptist. Pray for us.
Saint Joseph. Pray for us.
All the holy Patriarchs and Prophets. Pray for us.
Saints Peter and Paul. Pray for us.
Saint Andrew. Pray for us.
Saints John and James. Pray for us.
Saint Thomas. Pray for us.
Saint Matthew. Pray for us.
All the holy Apostles. Pray for us.
Saint Luke. Pray for us.
Saint Mark. Pray for us.
Saint Barnabas. Pray for us.
Saint Mary Magdalene. Pray for us.
All the holy Apostles and Evangelists. Pray for us.
All the holy Disciples of the Lord. Pray for us.
All the holy innocents, Pray for us
Saint Stephen. Pray for us.
Saint Ignatius of Antioch. Pray for us.
Saint Polycarp. Pray for us.
Saint Justin. Pray for us.
Saint Lawrence. Pray for us.
Saint Cyprian. Pray for us.
Saint Boniface. Pray for us.
Saint Stanislaus. Pray for us.
Saint Thomas Becket. Pray for us.
Saints John Fisher and Thomas More. Pray for us.
Saint Paulo Miki. Pray for us.
Saints Jean de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues. Pray for us.
Saint Peter Chanel. Pray for us.
Saint Charles Lwanga. Pray for us.
Saints Perpetua and Felicity. Pray for us.
Saint Agnes. Pray for us.
Saint Maria Goretti. Pray for us.
All the holy Martyrs. Pray for us.
Saints Leo and Gregory. Pray for us.
Saint Ambrose. Pray for us.
Saint Jerome. Pray for us.
Saint Augustine. Pray for us.
Saint Athanasius. Pray for us.
Saints Basil and Gregory of Nazianzus. Pray for us.
Saint John Chrysostom. Pray for us.
Saint Martin. Pray for us.
Saint Patrick. Pray for us.
Saints Cyril and Methodius. Pray for us.
Saint Charles Borromeo. Pray for us.
Saint Francis de Sales. Pray for us.
Saint Pius the Tenth. Pray for us.
All the holy Bishops and Confessors, pray for us.
All the holy Doctors, pray for us.
Saint Anthony. Pray for us.
Saint Benedict. Pray for us.
Saint Bernard. Pray for us.
Saints Francis and Dominic. Pray for us.
Saint Thomas Aquinas. Pray for us.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Pray for us.
Saint Francis Xavier. Pray for us.
All the holy priests and Levites, pray for us
All the holy monks and hermits, pray for us.
Saint Vincent de Paul. Pray for us.
Saint John Vianney. Pray for us.
Saint John Bosco. Pray for us.
Saint Catherine of Siena. Pray for us.
Saint Teresa of Avila. Pray for us.
Saint Rose of Lima. Pray for us.
Saint Louis. Pray for us.
Saint Monica. Pray for us.
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. Pray for us.
All the Holy men and women. Intercede for us
Lord, be merciful. Save your people.
From all evil. Save your people.
From all deadly sins. Save your people.
From the snares of the devil. Save your people.
From anger, and hatred, and all ill-will. Save your people.
From everlasting damnation. Save your people.
By your Incarnation. Save your people.
By your Birth. Save your people.
By your Baptism and holy Fasting. Save your people.
By your Cross and Passion. Save your people.
By your Death and Burial. Save your people.
By your holy Resurrection. Save your people.
By your wonderful Ascension. Save your people.
By the coming of the Holy Spirit. Save your people.
On the day of judgement. Save your people.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
Lord God, you know our weakness. In your mercy grant that the example of your Saints may bring us back to love and serve you through Christ our Lord.
Amen.”
There are various litanies, composed for more specific prayers and demands:
Litanies to Jesus: the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, and the Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus Christ.
Litanies to particular saints: St. Joseph, St. Expedit, St. Michael, St. Antony of Padua, etc.
Hozana helps you enhance your time of prayer by offering you to join multiple spiritual programs to enrich your oratory content and grow your faith! Learn to invoke the saints and ask for their intercession on your behalf with Hozana’s many prayer communities to the saints!
Praying with the saints is a powerful thing. Learn more about the many saints of the Church: you might find your favorite one and ask for their intercession in the future! Join a novena to St. Michael the Archangel and ask for his protection for nine successive days. Discover a spiritual program with St. Ignatius of Loyola and learn to practice the beautiful Lectio Divina prayer.