Approved for the whole Church by Pope Leo XIII in 1899

Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Thirty-three invocations, the number of the years of Our Lord's life

LatinEnglish

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

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

Cor Iesu, Filii Patris aeterni, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, in sinu Virginis Matris a Spiritu Sancto formatum, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, Verbo Dei substantialiter unitum, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, maiestatis infinitae, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, templum Dei sanctum, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, tabernaculum Altissimi, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, domus Dei et porta caeli, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, fornax ardens caritatis, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, iustitiae et amoris receptaculum, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, bonitate et amore plenum, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, virtutum omnium abyssus, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, omni laude dignissimum, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, rex et centrum omnium cordium, miserere nobis.

Heart of Jesus, Son of the eternal Father, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mother, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, substantially united to the Word of God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, sacred temple of God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, burning furnace of charity, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, abode of justice and love, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, king and centre of all hearts, have mercy on us.

Cor Iesu, in quo sunt omnes thesauri sapientiae et scientiae, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, in quo habitat omnis plenitudo divinitatis, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, in quo Pater sibi bene complacuit, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, de cuius plenitudine omnes nos accepimus, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, desiderium collium aeternorum, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, patiens et multae misericordiae, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, dives in omnes qui invocant te, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, fons vitae et sanctitatis, miserere nobis.

Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father was well pleased, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, patient and most merciful, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, enriching all who invoke thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness, have mercy on us.

Cor Iesu, propitiatio pro peccatis nostris, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, saturatum opprobriis, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, attritum propter scelera nostra, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, usque ad mortem oboediens factum, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, lancea perforatum, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, fons totius consolationis, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, vita et resurrectio nostra, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, pax et reconciliatio nostra, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, victima peccatorum, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, salus in te sperantium, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, spes in te morientium, miserere nobis.
Cor Iesu, deliciae Sanctorum omnium, miserere nobis.

Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, loaded down with opprobrium, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, bruised for our offences, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, made obedient unto death, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, victim for sin, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who trust in thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, delight of all the Saints, have mercy on us.

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.

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.

℣. Iesu, mitis et humilis Corde.
℟. Fac cor nostrum secundum Cor tuum.

℣. Jesus, meek and humble of heart.
℟. Make our hearts like unto thine.

Oremus. Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, respice in Cor dilectissimi Filii tui et in laudes et satisfactiones, quas in nomine peccatorum tibi persolvit, iisque misericordiam tuam petentibus, tu veniam concede placatus in nomine eiusdem Filii tui Iesu Christi: qui tecum vivit et regnat in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, look upon the Heart of thy dearly beloved Son, and upon the praise and satisfaction he offers thee in the name of sinners; and, being appeased, grant pardon to those who seek thy mercy, in the name of the same thy Son, Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee for ever and ever. Amen.

SourceApproved for the whole Church by Pope Leo XIII in 1899 · Thirty-three invocations, the number of the years of Our Lord's life

The history of this prayer

The Litany of the Sacred Heart grew up in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century France, as devotion to the Heart of Jesus spread after the revelations to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque at Paray-le-Monial. Several litanies circulated among convents and confraternities; the form prayed today draws on them and was approved for public use throughout the Church by Pope Leo XIII in 1899, the same year he consecrated the human race to the Sacred Heart.

It has thirty-three invocations, a number devotion commonly links with the years of Christ's earthly life. Many are phrases of Scripture: "in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead" (Col 2:9), "of whose fullness we have all received" (Jn 1:16), "made obedient unto death" (Phil 2:8).

It is prayed especially in June, the month of the Sacred Heart, on First Fridays, and on the solemnity of the Sacred Heart, the Friday after the second Sunday after Pentecost. Like the other approved litanies, it carries a partial indulgence. In Church Latin, "Cor Iesu" is said KOR YAY-soo.

Frequently asked questions

How many invocations are in the Litany of the Sacred Heart?

Thirty-three, a number devotion commonly links with the years of Our Lord's life on earth.

When is the Litany of the Sacred Heart prayed?

At any time, but especially in June, on First Fridays and on the solemnity of the Sacred Heart.

Who approved the Litany of the Sacred Heart?

Pope Leo XIII, who approved it for public use throughout the Church in 1899.

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