The oldest litany of the Roman Church

Litany of the Saints (short form)

Sung at the Easter Vigil, at ordinations and in processions

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.

Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis.
Sancta Dei Genetrix, ora pro nobis.
Sancta Virgo virginum, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Michael, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Gabriel, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Raphael, ora pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Angeli et Archangeli, orate pro nobis.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Saint Michael, pray for us.
Saint Gabriel, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, pray for us.
All ye holy Angels and Archangels, pray for us.

Sancte Ioannes Baptista, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Ioseph, ora pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Patriarchae et Prophetae, orate pro nobis.
Sancte Petre, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Paule, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Andrea, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Ioannes, ora pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Apostoli et Evangelistae, orate pro nobis.
Sancte Stephane, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Laurenti, ora pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Martyres, orate pro nobis.

Saint John the Baptist, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
All ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets, pray for us.
Saint Peter, pray for us.
Saint Paul, pray for us.
Saint Andrew, pray for us.
Saint John, pray for us.
All ye holy Apostles and Evangelists, pray for us.
Saint Stephen, pray for us.
Saint Lawrence, pray for us.
All ye holy Martyrs, pray for us.

Sancte Gregori, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Augustine, ora pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Pontifices et Confessores, orate pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Doctores, orate pro nobis.
Sancte Benedicte, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Dominice, ora pro nobis.
Sancte Francisce, ora pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Sacerdotes et Levitae, orate pro nobis.
Omnes sancti Monachi et Eremitae, orate pro nobis.
Sancta Maria Magdalena, ora pro nobis.
Sancta Agnes, ora pro nobis.
Omnes sanctae Virgines et Viduae, orate pro nobis.

Saint Gregory, pray for us.
Saint Augustine, pray for us.
All ye holy Bishops and Confessors, pray for us.
All ye holy Doctors, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, pray for us.
Saint Dominic, pray for us.
Saint Francis, pray for us.
All ye holy Priests and Levites, pray for us.
All ye holy Monks and Hermits, pray for us.
Saint Mary Magdalen, pray for us.
Saint Agnes, pray for us.
All ye holy Virgins and Widows, pray for us.

Omnes Sancti et Sanctae Dei, intercedite pro nobis.

All ye holy men and women, Saints of God, make intercession for us.

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

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

Ab omni malo, libera nos, Domine.
Ab omni peccato, libera nos, Domine.
A morte perpetua, libera nos, Domine.
Per mysterium sanctae Incarnationis tuae, libera nos, Domine.
Per passionem et crucem tuam, libera nos, Domine.
Per sanctam resurrectionem tuam, libera nos, Domine.
Per adventum Spiritus Sancti Paracliti, libera nos, Domine.
In die iudicii, libera nos, Domine.

From all evil, O Lord, deliver us.
From all sin, O Lord, deliver us.
From everlasting death, O Lord, deliver us.
Through the mystery of thy holy Incarnation, O Lord, deliver us.
Through thy Passion and Cross, O Lord, deliver us.
Through thy holy Resurrection, O Lord, deliver us.
Through the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, O Lord, deliver us.
In the day of judgment, O Lord, deliver us.

Peccatores, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut nobis parcas, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut Ecclesiam tuam sanctam regere et conservare digneris, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut domnum apostolicum et omnes ecclesiasticos ordines in sancta religione conservare digneris, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut cuncto populo christiano pacem et unitatem largiri digneris, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut omnibus fidelibus defunctis requiem aeternam donare digneris, te rogamus, audi nos.
Ut nos exaudire digneris, te rogamus, audi nos.
Fili Dei, te rogamus, audi nos.

We sinners, we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst spare us, we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to govern and preserve thy holy Church, we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to preserve the Sovereign Pontiff and all orders of the Church in holy religion, we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant peace and unity to all Christian people, we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed, we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst vouchsafe graciously to hear us, we beseech thee, hear us.
Son of God, we beseech thee, hear 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.

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

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

Oremus. Deus, refugium nostrum et virtus, adesto piis Ecclesiae tuae precibus, auctor ipse pietatis, et praesta, ut quod fideliter petimus, efficaciter consequamur. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Let us pray. O God, our refuge and our strength, who art thyself the author of all godliness, give ear to the devout prayers of thy Church, and grant that what we ask in faith we may effectually obtain. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

SourceThe oldest litany of the Roman Church · Sung at the Easter Vigil, at ordinations and in processions

The history of this prayer

The Litany of the Saints is the oldest litany of the Latin Church and the model for all the others. It grew out of the penitential processions of early medieval Rome, when the people walked through the city calling on the Virgin, the angels, the apostles and the martyrs, answering each name with "pray for us".

The liturgy sings it at its greatest moments: at the Easter Vigil, before the blessing of the baptismal water; at the ordination of deacons, priests and bishops, while the candidates lie prostrate; at the consecration of virgins and the dedication of churches. It is also prayed beside the dying and on the old Rogation days.

The full list is long and has varied with time and place; this is a short form keeping the saints of the traditional text and the petitions to Christ, suited to private or group prayer. Prayed devoutly, it carries a partial indulgence. The names are said in the Roman way: "Sancte" is SAHNK-tay, "Ioannes" is yo-AHN-nes.

Frequently asked questions

When does the Church sing the Litany of the Saints?

At the Easter Vigil, at ordinations, at the consecration of virgins, at the dedication of churches and in processions of supplication.

Can I add other saints to the litany?

In private prayer, yes: it is customary to add one's patron, one's name saint and local saints in the matching group.

More prayers: Litanies and chaplets

← All the traditional prayers · Prayers and novenas

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