About Litany of the Saints
A litany is a series of similar prayer requests. Early Christians would ask Apostles and other holy people in heaven to pray for them. There were many prayer formats and lists of saints for these early litanies.
In 595, Pope Gregory the Great formalized the Litany of the Saints prayer. Over time, the list of saints has evolved and different lists are used in different parts of the word for different purposes.
In 1973, the International Commission on English in the Liturgy published a Litany of Saints that is traditionally chanted. In 1987, John D. Becker modified the Litany of Saints to create this musical version which is also available for download or viewing as a PDF.
PDF: Litany of the Saints
Video: Litany of the Saints
Pray the Litany of the Saints
When praying in a group, the leader will say what is bold. Everyone will say what is in the parentheses.
Lord have mercy (Lord have mercy)
Christ have mercy (Christ have mercy)
Lord have mercy (Lord have mercy)
Holy Mary mother of God (pray for us)
Saint Michael (pray for us)
Holy Angels of God (pray for us)
Saint John the Baptist (pray for us)
Saint Joseph (pray for us)
Saint Peter and Saint Paul (pray for us)
Saint Andrew (pray for us)
Saint John (pray for us)
(All you holy men and women, pray for us)
Saint Mary Magdalene (pray for us)
Saint Stephen (pray for us)
Saint Ignatius of Antioch (pray for us)
Saint Lawrence (pray for us)
Saint Perpetua Saint Felicity (pray for us)
Saint Agnes (pray for us)
Saint Gregory (pray for us)
Saint Augustine (pray for us)
(All you holy men and women, pray for us)
Saint Athanasius (pray for us)
Saint Basil (pray for us)
Saint Martin (pray for us)
Saint Benedict (pray for us)
Saint Francis and Saint Dominic (pray for us)
Saint Francis Xavier (pray for us)
Saint John Vianney (pray for us)
Saint Catherine of Sienna (pray for us)
(All you holy men and women, pray for us)
Saint Teresa of Jesus (pray for us)
Saint James (pray for us)
Saint Elizabeth (pray for us)
Saint Clare (pray for us)
Saint Agatha (pray for us)
Saint Cecilia (pray for us)
All holy men and women (pray for us)
Saints of God (pray for us)
(All you holy men and women, pray for us)
For the following, begin the response ‘Lord deliver us…’ when the leader begins the last syllable of the last word.
Lord be merciful (Lord deliver us we pray)
From all evil (Lord deliver us we pray)
From every sin (Lord deliver us we pray)
From everlasting death (Lord deliver us we pray)
By your incarnation (Lord deliver us we pray)
By your death and resurrection (Lord deliver us we pray)
By the outpouring (Lord deliver us we pray)
Of the Holy Spirit (Lord deliver us we pray)
(All you holy men and women, pray for us)
Be merciful to us sinners (Lord we ask you hear our prayer)
Bring these chosen ones to you Lord (Lord we ask you hear our prayer)
Through the grace of baptism (Lord we ask you hear our prayer)
Jesus Son of the living God (Lord we ask you hear our prayer)
(Christ hear us, Christ Gracious hear us)
Our Family Prayers 