Traditional litany for private devotion

Litany of Saint Francis of Assisi

For 4 October and the Transitus — the Poverello, from San Damiano to La Verna

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, 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.
Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us.
Saint Francis, seraphic patriarch, pray for us.
Saint Francis, man wholly catholic and apostolic, pray for us.
Saint Francis, who didst leave all for the Gospel, pray for us.
Saint Francis, wedded to Lady Poverty, pray for us.
Saint Francis, who didst rebuild the church of San Damiano, pray for us.
Saint Francis, who didst kiss the leper, pray for us.
Saint Francis, preacher of penance, pray for us.
Saint Francis, who didst preach to the birds, pray for us.
Saint Francis, who didst tame the wolf of Gubbio, pray for us.
Saint Francis, who didst make the crib at Greccio, pray for us.
Saint Francis, who didst go to the Sultan to proclaim Christ, pray for us.
Saint Francis, marked with the wounds of Christ on Mount La Verna, pray for us.
Saint Francis, singer of the creatures, pray for us.
Saint Francis, brother of the sun and of sister death, pray for us.
Saint Francis, model of humility, pray for us.
Saint Francis, mirror of perfection, pray for us.
Saint Francis, lover of holy poverty, pray for us.
Saint Francis, master of obedience, pray for us.
Saint Francis, example of purity, pray for us.
Saint Francis, apostle of peace, pray for us.
Saint Francis, founder of the three Orders, pray for us.
Saint Francis, father of the poor, pray for us.
Saint Francis, glory of the Church, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

℣ Pray for us, Saint Francis.
℟ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray

O God, who by the merits of Saint Francis dost enlarge thy Church with a new family: grant that, imitating him, we may despise earthly goods and ever rejoice in sharing the gifts of heaven. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

SourceTraditional litany for private devotion · For 4 October and the Transitus — the Poverello, from San Damiano to La Verna

The history of this prayer

The Litany of St Francis has circulated in Franciscan fraternities and the Third Order since the eighteenth century. The invocations tell the life of the Poverello as the Franciscan Sources tell it: the kiss to the leper, the voice from the crucifix of San Damiano, the stripping before the bishop, the sermon to the birds, the wolf of Gubbio, the crib at Greccio, the journey to the Sultan, the stigmata on Mount La Verna in 1224 and the Canticle of the Creatures, with sister death.

It is prayed on 4 October, on the evening of 3 October (the Transitus, the celebration of Francis’s death), on 17 September (the stigmata) and in the fraternities. The closing prayer is that of the feast. A litany for private devotion; our own rendering.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Litany of St Francis prayed?

On 4 October, the feast of St Francis, on the evening of 3 October (the Transitus) and on 17 September, the memorial of the stigmata.

What is the Transitus of St Francis?

The celebration of Francis’s death on the evening of 3 October 1226, at which the Gospel of the Last Supper and Psalm 142 are read, as he asked, and the Canticle of the Creatures is sung.

What are the three Orders of St Francis?

The First Order (the Friars Minor), the Second (the Poor Clares, with St Clare) and the Third (lay people and religious who follow the Rule in the world).

More prayers: Litanies

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