Litanies

Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus

A litany of praise to Jesus under his many titles, which grew out of the preaching of St Bernardine of Siena and St John of Capistrano in the fifteenth century and was approved for the whole Church by Blessed Pope Pius IX in 1862; given here in its traditional public domain English form. One person leads each line and everyone answers, or you can pray it alone; it suits January, the month of the Holy Name, and any time you want to honor the name of Jesus.

The Holy Trinity, a painting by El Greco
The Holy Trinity, El Greco, 1577-1579

The prayer

V. Lord, have mercy on us.
R. Christ, have mercy on us.
V. Lord, have mercy on us.
V. Jesus, hear us.
R. Jesus, graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, splendor of the Father, have mercy on us.
Jesus, brightness of eternal light, have mercy on us.
Jesus, King of glory, have mercy on us.

Jesus, sun of justice, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary, have mercy on us.
Jesus, most amiable, have mercy on us.
Jesus, most admirable, have mercy on us.
Jesus, the mighty God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Father of the world to come, have mercy on us.
Jesus, angel of great counsel, have mercy on us.
Jesus, most powerful, have mercy on us.

Jesus, most patient, have mercy on us.
Jesus, most obedient, have mercy on us.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart, have mercy on us.
Jesus, lover of chastity, have mercy on us.
Jesus, lover of us, have mercy on us.
Jesus, God of peace, have mercy on us.
Jesus, author of life, have mercy on us.
Jesus, model of virtues, have mercy on us.

Jesus, zealous for souls, have mercy on us.
Jesus, our God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, our refuge, have mercy on us.
Jesus, father of the poor, have mercy on us.
Jesus, treasure of the faithful, have mercy on us.
Jesus, good Shepherd, have mercy on us.
Jesus, true light, have mercy on us.
Jesus, eternal wisdom, have mercy on us.

Jesus, infinite goodness, have mercy on us.
Jesus, our way and our life, have mercy on us.
Jesus, joy of the Angels, have mercy on us.
Jesus, King of the Patriarchs, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Master of the Apostles, have mercy on us.
Jesus, teacher of the Evangelists, have mercy on us.
Jesus, strength of Martyrs, have mercy on us.
Jesus, light of Confessors, have mercy on us.

Jesus, purity of Virgins, have mercy on us.
Jesus, crown of all Saints, have mercy on us.

Be merciful, spare us, O Jesus.
Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Jesus.
From all evil, deliver us, O Jesus.
From all sin, deliver us, O Jesus.
From thy wrath, deliver us, O Jesus.
From the snares of the devil, deliver us, O Jesus.
From the spirit of fornication, deliver us, O Jesus.
From everlasting death, deliver us, O Jesus.

From the neglect of thine inspirations, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through the mystery of thy holy Incarnation, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thy Nativity, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thine infancy, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thy most divine life, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thy labors, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thine agony and passion, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thy cross and dereliction, deliver us, O Jesus.

Through thy sufferings, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thy death and burial, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thy Resurrection, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thine Ascension, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thine institution of the most Holy Eucharist, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thy joys, deliver us, O Jesus.
Through thy glory, deliver us, O Jesus.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Jesus.
V. Jesus, hear us.
R. Jesus, graciously hear us.

Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast said: Ask and you shall receive; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: mercifully attend to our supplications, and grant us the gift of thy divine charity, that we may ever love thee with our whole heart, in word and deed, and never cease from praising thee.

Give us, O Lord, a perpetual fear and love of thy holy name; for thou never failest to govern those whom thou dost firmly establish in thy love. Who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.

Pray it this week

Pray this litany once this week, and each time you hear the name of Jesus used carelessly, say it back quietly with love.

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