A litany is a prayer consisting of a series of invocations and supplications by the leader with alternate responses by the congregation.  Although they are traditionally used in church services, they can also be prayed in private devotions, and may be sung.  This form of prayer pre-dates Christianity when Jews used this responsive pattern in public worship, especially when praying the psalms.

Even though there are many litanies in existence today, only six are approved for public prayer by the Catholic Church: Litany of the Saints; Litany of Loreto; Litany of Most Holy Name of Jesus; Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus; Litany of St. Joseph.  There are many others that can be used for private prayers, however.

The practice of praying litanies can be traced to early Christians in Rome and Asia.  The Litany of the Saints, one of the most widely known litanies, was used by St. Gregory as early as the third century and by St. Basil in the fourth century.  Even so, there are different forms of the Litany of the Saints used for different rites in the Church.  The form listed below is the litany prayed during Last Rites.

Whatever form we use, and whether it is prayed alone or in a group setting, we (the Church militant) call upon the Saints in Heaven to help us here on earth and the souls in Purgatory.  As it states in one of the Eucharistic prayers said at Mass to God: “May their merits and prayers gain us Your constant help and protection.”

continued….

Lord, be merciful, Lord, save your people
From all evil, Lord, save your people
From every sin, Lord, save your people
From Satan’s power, Lord, save your people
At the moment of death, Lord, save your people
From everlasting death, Lord, save your people
On the day of judgment, Lord, save your people
By Your coming as man, Lord, save your people
By Your suffering and cross, Lord, save your people
By Your death and rising to new life, Lord, save your people
By Your return in glory to the Father, Lord, save your people
By Your gift of the Holy Spirit, Lord, save your people
By Your coming again in glory, Lord, save your people
Be merciful to us sinners, Lord, hear our prayer

Bring (name) to eternal life, first promised to him/her in baptism, Lord, hear our prayer

Raise (name) on the last day, for he/she has eaten the bread of life, Lord, hear our prayer

Let (name) share in Your glory, for he/she has shared in Your suffering and death, Lord, hear our prayer

Jesus, Son of the living God, Lord, hear our prayer
Christ, hear us, Christ, hear us
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer, Lord Jesus, hear our prayer

There are many other private litanies that include various appeals to our Lord and other saints, for various causes.   You can find a list of traditional litanies at www.catholictradition.org/Litanies/litanies.htm

The litany below is a wonderful one to say during times of trials and sufferings.

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

From all evil, deliver us, O Lord
From all sin, deliver us, O Lord
From Your wrath, deliver us, O Lord
From sudden and unprovided death, deliver us, O Lord
From the snares of the devil, deliver us, O Lord
From anger, hatred, and all ill will, deliver us, O Lord
From all lewdness and fornication, deliver us, O Lord
From lightning and tempest, deliver us, O Lord
From the scourge of earthquakes, deliver us, O Lord
From the plague, famine, and war, deliver us, O Lord
From everlasting death, deliver us, O Lord

We sinners, we beg you to hear us
That You spare us, we beg you to hear us
That You pardon us, we beg you to hear us
That You bring us to true penance, we beg you to hear us
That You govern and preserve Your holy Church, we beg you to hear us
That You preserve our Holy Father and all ranks in the Church in holy religion, we beg you to hear us
That You humble the enemies of the holy Church, we beg you to hear us
That You give peace and true harmony to all Christian rulers, we beg you to hear us
That You give peace and unity to the whole Christian world, we beg you to hear us
That You restore to the unity of the Church all who have strayed from the truth, and lead all unbelievers to the light of the Gospel, we beg you to hear us
That You confirm and preserve us in Your holy service, we beg you to hear us
The You lift up our minds to heavenly desires, we beg you to hear us
That You grant everlasting blessings to all our benefactors, we beg you to hear us
That You deliver our souls and the souls of our family, relatives, and those who assist us, from everlasting damnation, we beg you to hear us
That You give and preserve the fruits of the earth, we beg you to hear us
That You grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed, we beg you to hear us
That You graciously hear us, Son of God, we beg you to hear us

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us

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

LET US PRAY.  O God, Whose nature is always to have mercy and to spare Your children, receive our humble petition: that we, and all Your servants who are bound by the chain of sin, may by the compassion of Your goodness be mercifully absolved.

Graciously hear, we beseech You, O Lord, the prayer of Your suppliants, and forgive the sins of those that confess to You: that, in Your bounty, You may grant us pardon and peace.

In Your clemency, O Lord, show Your unspeakable mercy to us: that You may both loose us from all our sins, and deliver us from the punishments which we deserve for them.

O God, Who are offended by sin, and appeased by penance, mercifully regard the prayers of Your people making supplication to You, and turn away the scourges of Your anger, which we deserve for our sins.

O God, from Whom flow all holy desires, right counsels, and just works, give unto Your servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our hearts, given over to Your commands, and our times with the fear of our foes removed, may by Your protection be peaceful.

Inflame, O Lord, our hearts with the fire of the Holy Spirit: that we may serve You with a chaste body and please You with a clean heart.

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of Your departed servants the remission of all their sins: that through our pious supplications, they may obtain that pardon which they have always desired.

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Almighty, everlasting God, Who has dominion over the living and the dead and are merciful to all: we humbly beseech You, that they for whom we intend to pour forth our prayers, whether still living in this present world or departed from this world, may obtain the remission of all their sins through the intercession of all Your Saints and the clemency of Your goodness. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.  Amen.