One of the eight approved litanies for public recital, the Litany of Saints, use in various itineration throughout the Church's liturgies, is one of Her most powerful prayers.
Earth asks Heaven for its help in this valley of tears.
How very appropriate for not only today, but every day.
(Additional saints may be added in the appropriate category.)
(This particular wording comes from the website of Ascension Press, with editorial adjustments.)
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V. Lord, have mercy on us.
R. Christ have mercy on us.
V. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us,
R. Christ, graciously hear us.
V. God, the Father of heaven,
R. Have mercy on us.
V. God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
R. Have mercy on us.
V. God, the Holy Spirit,
R. Have mercy on us.
V. Holy Trinity, One God,
R. Have mercy on us.
V. Holy Mary,
R. Pray for us. (Repeat after each invocation.)
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Saint Michael,
Saint Gabriel,
Saint Raphael,
All ye holy angels and archangels,
All ye holy orders of blessed spirits,
Saint John the Baptist,
Saint Joseph, .
All ye holy patriarchs and prophets.
Saint Peter,
Saint Paul,
Saint Andrew,
Saint James,
Saint John,
Saint Thomas,
Saint James,
Saint Philip,
Saint Bartholomew.
Saint Matthew,
Saint Simon,
Saint Thaddeus,
Saint Matthias,
Saint Barnabas,
Saint Luke,
Saint Mark,
All ye holy apostles and evangelists,
All ye holy disciples of our Lord.
All ye holy Innocents,
Saint Stephen,
Saint Lawrence,
Saint Vincent,
Saints Fabian and Sebastian,
Saints John and Paul,
Saints Cosmas and Damian,
Saints Gervase and Protase,
All ye holy martyrs,
Saint Sylvester,
Saint Gregory,
Saint Ambrose,
Saint Augustine.
Saint Jerome,
Saint Martin,
Saint Nicolas,
All ye holy bishops and confessors,
All ye holy doctors,
Saint Anthony,
Saint Benedict,
Saint Bernard,
Saint Dominic,
Saint Francis,
All ye holy priests and levites,
All ye holy monks and hermits.
Saint Mary Magdalen,
Saint Agatha,
Saint Lucy,
Saint Agnes,
Saint Cecily,
Saint Catherine,
Saint Anastasia,
All ye holy virgins and widows,
V. All ye holy men and women, Saints of God,
R. Make intercession for us.
V. Be merciful,
R. Spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful
R. Graciously hear us, O Lord.
V. From all evil,
R. O Lord, deliver us. (Repeat after each invocation.)
From all sin,
From Thy wrath,
From a sudden and unprovided death,
From the snares of the devil,
From anger, and hatred, and all ill will,
From the spirit of fornication,
From lightning and tempest,
From the scourge of earthquake.
From pestilence, famine and war,
From everlasting death,
Through the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation,
Through Thy coming,
Through Thy nativity,
Through Thy baptism and holy fasting,
Through Thy Cross and Passion,
Through Thy death and burial,
Through Thy holy Resurrection,
Through Thine admirable Ascension,
Through the coming of the Holy Spirit the Paraclete,
In the day of judgment,
V. We sinners,
R. We beseech Thee, hear us. (Repeat after each invocation.)
That Thou wouldst spare us,
That Thou wouldst pardon us,
That Thou wouldst bring us to true penance,
That Thou wouldst govern and preserve Thy holy Church
That Thou wouldst preserve our Apostolic Prelate, and all ecclesiastical orders in holy religion,
That Thou wouldst humble the enemies of Thy holy Church,
That Thou wouldst give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes,
That Thou wouldst grant peace and unity to all Christian people,
That Thou wouldst bring back to the unity of the Church all those who have strayed away, and lead to the light of the Gospel all unbelievers,
That Thou wouldst confirm and preserve us in Thy holy service,
That Thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires,
That Thou wouldst render eternal blessings to all our benefactors,
That Thou wouldst deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren, relations and benefactors, from eternal damnation,
That Thou wouldst give and preserve the fruit of the earth,
That Thou wouldst give eternal rest to all the faithful departed, .
That Thou wouldst graciously hear us We beseech Thee, hear us. Son of God,
V. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
R. Spare us, O Lord.
V. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
R. Graciously hear us, O Lord.
V. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
R. Have mercy on us.
V. Christ hear us.
R. Christ, graciously hear us.
V. Lord, have mercy on us.
R. Christ, have mercy on us.
V. Lord, have mercy on us.
Our Father.. (silently)…. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Amen.
Psalm 69
Deign, O Lord, to rescue me; O Lord, make haste to help me. Let them be put to shame and confounded who seek my life. Let them be turned back in disgrace who desire my ruin. Let them retire in their shame who say to me, "Aha, aha!" But may all who seek Thee exult and be glad in Thee, And may those who love Thy salvation say ever, "God be glorified!" But I am afflicted and poor; O God, hasten to me! Thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, hold not back!
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
V. Save Thy servants.
R. Who trust in Thee, O my God.
V. Be a tower of strength for us, O Lord,
R. Against the attack of the enemy.
V. Let not the enemy prevail against us.
R. And let not the son of evil dare to harm us.
V. O Lord, deal not with us according to our sins.
R. Neither requite us according to our iniquities.
V. Let us pray for a true Sovereign Shepherd.
R. The Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.
V. Let us pray for our benefactors.
R. Deign, O Lord, for Thy name's sake, to reward with eternal life all those who do us good. Amen.
V. Let us pray for the faithful departed. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord;
R. And let perpetual light shine upon them.
V. May they rest in peace.
R. Amen.
V. For our absent brethren.
R. Save Thy servants, who trust in Thee, my God.
V. Send them help, O Lord, from Thy sanctuary.
R. And sustain them from Zion.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
V. The Lord be with Thee.
R. And with Thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O God, Whose property is always to have mercy and to spare, receive our petition, that we, and all Thy servants who are bound by the chains of sin, may, by the compassion of Thy goodness, be mercifully absolved.
Graciously hear, we beg Thee, O Lord, the prayers of Thy suppliants, and pardon the sins of those who confess to Thee, that in Thy bounty Thou may grant us both pardon and peace.
In Thy clemency, O Lord, show us Thy ineffable mercy, that Thou may both free us from all our sins, and deliver us from the punishments which we deserve for them.
O God, Who by sin are offended and by penance pacified, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy suppliant people, and turn away the scourges of Thy anger, which we deserve for our sins.
Almighty, everlasting God, have mercy upon Thy servant N., our Sovereign Pontiff, and direct him according to Thy clemency into the way of everlasting salvation, that by Thy grace he may desire those things that are pleasing to Thee, and perform them with all his strength.
O God, from Whom are holy desires, good counsels, and just works, give to Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts be set to keep Thy commandments, and that, being removed from the fear of our enemies, we may pass our time in peace under Thy protection.
Burn our desires and our hearts with the fire of the Holy Spirit, O Lord, that we may serve Thee with a chaste body, and with a clean heart be pleasing to Thee.
O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of Thy servants and handmaids the remission of all their sins, that, through devout prayers, they may obtain the pardon which they always desired.
Direct, we beg Thee, O Lord, our actions by Thy holy inspirations, and carry them on by Thy gracious assistance, that every prayer and work of ours may begin always with Thee, and through Thou be happily ended.
Almighty and everlasting God, Thou hast dominion over the living and the dead, and Thou art merciful to all who Thou foreknowest will be Thine by faith and good works; we humbly beg Thee that those for whom we intend to pour forth our prayers, whether this present world still detain them in the flesh, or the world to come has already received them out of their bodies, may, through the intercession of all Thy Saints, by the clemency of Thy goodness, obtain the remission of all their sins.
Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
V. May the almighty and merciful Lord graciously hear us.
R. Amen.
V. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R. Amen.
