Traditionally linked to Saint Bernardine of Siena, 15th century

Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

Especially in January, the month of the Holy Name

LatinEnglish

Kyrie, eleison.
Christe, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison.
Iesu, audi nos.
Iesu, exaudi nos.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Jesus, hear us.
Jesus, graciously hear us.

Pater de caelis, Deus, miserere nobis.
Fili, Redemptor mundi, Deus, miserere nobis.
Spiritus Sancte, Deus, miserere nobis.
Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus, miserere nobis.

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.

Iesu, Fili Dei vivi, miserere nobis.
Iesu, splendor Patris, miserere nobis.
Iesu, candor lucis aeternae, miserere nobis.
Iesu, rex gloriae, miserere nobis.
Iesu, sol iustitiae, miserere nobis.
Iesu, Fili Mariae Virginis, miserere nobis.
Iesu, amabilis, miserere nobis.
Iesu, admirabilis, miserere nobis.
Iesu, Deus fortis, miserere nobis.
Iesu, pater futuri saeculi, miserere nobis.
Iesu, magni consilii angele, miserere nobis.
Iesu potentissime, miserere nobis.
Iesu patientissime, miserere nobis.
Iesu oboedientissime, miserere nobis.
Iesu, mitis et humilis corde, miserere nobis.

Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, splendour of the Father, have mercy on us.
Jesus, brightness of eternal light, have mercy on us.
Jesus, King of glory, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Sun of justice, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary, have mercy on us.
Jesus, most amiable, have mercy on us.
Jesus, most admirable, have mercy on us.
Jesus, the mighty God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Father of the world to come, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Angel of great counsel, have mercy on us.
Jesus, most powerful, have mercy on us.
Jesus, most patient, have mercy on us.
Jesus, most obedient, have mercy on us.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart, have mercy on us.

Iesu, amator castitatis, miserere nobis.
Iesu, amator noster, miserere nobis.
Iesu, Deus pacis, miserere nobis.
Iesu, auctor vitae, miserere nobis.
Iesu, exemplar virtutum, miserere nobis.
Iesu, zelator animarum, miserere nobis.
Iesu, Deus noster, miserere nobis.
Iesu, refugium nostrum, miserere nobis.
Iesu, pater pauperum, miserere nobis.
Iesu, thesaure fidelium, miserere nobis.
Iesu, bone pastor, miserere nobis.
Iesu, lux vera, miserere nobis.
Iesu, sapientia aeterna, miserere nobis.
Iesu, bonitas infinita, miserere nobis.
Iesu, via et vita nostra, miserere nobis.

Jesus, lover of chastity, have mercy on us.
Jesus, lover of us, have mercy on us.
Jesus, God of peace, have mercy on us.
Jesus, author of life, have mercy on us.
Jesus, model of virtues, have mercy on us.
Jesus, zealous lover of souls, have mercy on us.
Jesus, our God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, our refuge, have mercy on us.
Jesus, father of the poor, have mercy on us.
Jesus, treasure of the faithful, have mercy on us.
Jesus, good Shepherd, have mercy on us.
Jesus, true Light, have mercy on us.
Jesus, eternal Wisdom, have mercy on us.
Jesus, infinite Goodness, have mercy on us.
Jesus, our Way and our Life, have mercy on us.

Iesu, gaudium Angelorum, miserere nobis.
Iesu, rex Patriarcharum, miserere nobis.
Iesu, magister Apostolorum, miserere nobis.
Iesu, doctor Evangelistarum, miserere nobis.
Iesu, fortitudo Martyrum, miserere nobis.
Iesu, lumen Confessorum, miserere nobis.
Iesu, puritas Virginum, miserere nobis.
Iesu, corona Sanctorum omnium, miserere nobis.

Jesus, joy of Angels, have mercy on us.
Jesus, King of Patriarchs, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Master of the Apostles, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Teacher of the Evangelists, have mercy on us.
Jesus, strength of Martyrs, have mercy on us.
Jesus, light of Confessors, have mercy on us.
Jesus, purity of Virgins, have mercy on us.
Jesus, crown of all Saints, have mercy on us.

Propitius esto, parce nobis, Iesu.
Propitius esto, exaudi nos, Iesu.

Be merciful, spare us, O Jesus.
Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Jesus.

Ab omni malo, libera nos, Iesu.
Ab omni peccato, libera nos, Iesu.
Ab ira tua, libera nos, Iesu.
Ab insidiis diaboli, libera nos, Iesu.
A spiritu fornicationis, libera nos, Iesu.
A morte perpetua, libera nos, Iesu.
A neglectu inspirationum tuarum, libera nos, Iesu.

From all evil, deliver us, O Jesus.
From all sin, deliver us, O Jesus.
From thy wrath, deliver us, O Jesus.
From the snares of the devil, deliver us, O Jesus.
From the spirit of impurity, deliver us, O Jesus.
From everlasting death, deliver us, O Jesus.
From the neglect of thine inspirations, deliver us, O Jesus.

Per mysterium sanctae Incarnationis tuae, libera nos, Iesu.
Per nativitatem tuam, libera nos, Iesu.
Per infantiam tuam, libera nos, Iesu.
Per divinissimam vitam tuam, libera nos, Iesu.
Per labores tuos, libera nos, Iesu.
Per agoniam et passionem tuam, libera nos, Iesu.
Per crucem et derelictionem tuam, libera nos, Iesu.
Per languores tuos, libera nos, Iesu.
Per mortem et sepulturam tuam, libera nos, Iesu.
Per resurrectionem tuam, libera nos, Iesu.
Per ascensionem tuam, libera nos, Iesu.
Per sanctissimae Eucharistiae institutionem tuam, libera nos, Iesu.
Per gaudia tua, libera nos, Iesu.
Per gloriam tuam, libera nos, Iesu.

Through the mystery of thy holy Incarnation, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thy Nativity, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thine infancy, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thy most divine life, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thy labours, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thine agony and Passion, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thy Cross and dereliction, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thy sufferings, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thy death and burial, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thy Resurrection, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thine Ascension, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thine institution of the most holy Eucharist, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thy joys, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thy glory, deliver us, O Jesus.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, parce nobis, Iesu.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, exaudi nos, Iesu.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis, Iesu.
Iesu, audi nos.
Iesu, exaudi nos.

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

Oremus. Domine Iesu Christe, qui dixisti: Petite et accipietis; quaerite et invenietis; pulsate et aperietur vobis: quaesumus, da nobis petentibus divinissimi tui amoris affectum, ut te toto corde, ore et opere diligamus, et a tua numquam laude cessemus.
Sancti Nominis tui, Domine, timorem pariter et amorem fac nos habere perpetuum, quia numquam tua gubernatione destituis, quos in soliditate tuae dilectionis instituis. Qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast said: Ask, and you shall receive; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: grant, we beseech thee, to us who ask, the gift of thy most divine love, that we may love thee with all our heart, in word and in deed, and never cease from praising thee.
Make us, O Lord, to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name; for thou never failest to govern those whom thou dost solidly establish in thy love. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

SourceTraditionally linked to Saint Bernardine of Siena, 15th century · Especially in January, the month of the Holy Name

The history of this prayer

Devotion to the Name of Jesus grew strong in the fifteenth century through the preaching of Saint Bernardine of Siena and Saint John of Capistrano, who held up the IHS monogram before the crowds. Tradition links this litany to them, though its author is not known for certain. It circulated for centuries in private use and was approved for public use throughout the Church in the late nineteenth century, under Leo XIII.

The text runs through the titles of Christ drawn from Scripture ("the mighty God, Father of the world to come, Angel of great counsel", from Isaiah 9) and then asks deliverance from evil through the mysteries of his life, from the Incarnation to his glory. The first closing prayer quotes Matthew 7:7: "Ask, and you shall receive".

The Church gives the month of January to the Holy Name, and its memorial is kept on 3 January. Praying the litany devoutly carries a partial indulgence. In Church Latin, "Iesu" is said YAY-soo.

Frequently asked questions

Who wrote the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus?

Its author is uncertain; tradition links it to Saint Bernardine of Siena and Saint John of Capistrano, fifteenth-century preachers of the Holy Name.

When is the Litany of the Holy Name prayed?

At any time, especially in January and on the memorial of the Most Holy Name, 3 January.

More prayers: Litanies and chaplets

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