Traditional litany for private devotion, 19th century

Traditional litany for private devotion, 19th century

Litany of the Holy Spirit

The seven gifts, the twelve fruits and the Veni Sancte Spiritus in invocations

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.

Father all-powerful, have mercy on us.
Jesus, eternal Son of the Father and Redeemer of the world, save us.
Spirit of the Father and of the Son, boundless life of both, sanctify us.
Holy Trinity, hear us.

Holy Spirit, who proceedest from the Father and the Son, enter our hearts.
Holy Spirit, who art equal to the Father and the Son, enter our hearts.
Promise of God the Father, have mercy on us.
Ray of heavenly light, have mercy on us.
Author of all good, have mercy on us.
Source of living water, have mercy on us.
Consuming fire, have mercy on us.
Ardent charity, have mercy on us.
Spiritual unction, have mercy on us.
Spirit of love and truth, have mercy on us.
Spirit of wisdom and understanding, have mercy on us.
Spirit of counsel and fortitude, have mercy on us.
Spirit of knowledge and piety, have mercy on us.
Spirit of the fear of the Lord, have mercy on us.
Spirit of grace and prayer, have mercy on us.
Spirit of peace and meekness, have mercy on us.
Spirit of modesty and innocence, have mercy on us.
Holy Spirit, the Comforter, have mercy on us.
Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, have mercy on us.
Holy Spirit, who governest the Church, have mercy on us.
Gift of God the Most High, have mercy on us.
Spirit who fillest the universe, have mercy on us.
Spirit of the adoption of the children of God, have mercy on us.

Holy Spirit, inspire us with horror of sin.
Holy Spirit, come and renew the face of the earth.
Holy Spirit, shed thy light into our souls.
Holy Spirit, engrave thy law in our hearts.
Holy Spirit, inflame us with the flame of thy love.
Holy Spirit, open to us the treasures of thy graces.
Holy Spirit, teach us to pray well.
Holy Spirit, enlighten us with thy heavenly inspirations.
Holy Spirit, lead us in the way of salvation.
Holy Spirit, grant us the only necessary knowledge.
Holy Spirit, inspire in us the practice of good.
Holy Spirit, grant us the merits of all virtues.
Holy Spirit, make us persevere in justice.
Holy Spirit, be thou our everlasting reward.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, send us the Holy Spirit.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, pour down into our souls the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant us the Spirit of wisdom and piety.

℣ Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful.
℟ And kindle in them the fire of thy love.

Let us pray

Grant, O merciful Father, that thy divine Spirit may enlighten, inflame and purify us; that he may penetrate us with his heavenly dew and make us fruitful in good works. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who with thee, in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth, God, world without end.

Amen.

SourceTraditional litany for private devotion, 19th century · The seven gifts, the twelve fruits and the Veni Sancte Spiritus in invocations

The history of this prayer

The Litany of the Holy Spirit is not one of the six litanies approved for public worship; it is a litany for private devotion, found in prayer books since the nineteenth century and prayed above all in the novena before Pentecost, in preparation for Confirmation, and in the first part of the 33 days of consecration to Our Lady according to St Louis de Montfort, who asks for it by name.

The invocations run through the names Scripture and the liturgy give the Spirit: promise of the Father, fire, unction, gift of God; then the seven gifts of Isaiah 11; and finally the petitions, which echo the Veni, Sancte Spiritus. The closing prayer is that of the votive Mass of the Holy Spirit.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Litany of the Holy Spirit prayed?

In the novena before Pentecost (between the Ascension and Pentecost), before Confirmation and, at St Louis de Montfort’s request, in the first twelve days of the consecration to Our Lady.

Is the Litany of the Holy Spirit approved by the Church?

It is a litany for private devotion: it may be prayed at home and in groups, but it is not one of the six litanies approved for public worship (Saints, Loreto, Holy Name, Sacred Heart, Precious Blood and St Joseph).

What are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit?

Wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2-3). The litany invokes them two by two.

More prayers: Litanies

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