LITANIÆ LAURETANÆ | LITANY OF LORETO
REFLECT ON THE TITLES OF MARY TO DEPEND ON HER AS MODEL, GUIDE, AND MOTHER
About This Prayer
The Litany of Loreto (Litaniae Lauretanae) dates to at least the 16th century and takes its name from the Holy House of Loreto in Italy. It is a series of invocations honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary under her many titles. Traditionally prayed after the Rosary, it was approved by Pope Sixtus V in A.D. 1587.
LITANIÆ LAURETANÆ
V. Kýrie, eléison. [TTS: "Kýrie, eléison. Kýrie, eléison."] R. Kýrie, eléison. V. Chríste, eléison. [TTS: "Chríste, eléison. Chríste, eléison."] R. Chríste, eléison. V. Kýrie, eléison. [TTS: "Kýrie, eléison. Kýrie, eléison."] R. Kýrie, eléison. V. Chríste, audi nos. [TTS: "Chríste, audi nos. Chríste, audi nos."] R. Chríste, audi nos. V. Chríste, exáudi nos. [TTS: "Chríste, exáudi nos. Chríste, exáudi nos."] R. Chríste, exáudi nos. V. Pater de cǽlis Déus. [TTS: "Pater de cǽlis Déus. Miserére nóbis."] R. Miserére nóbis. V. Fili Redémptor mundi Déus. [TTS: "Fili Redémptor mundi Déus. Miserére nóbis."] R. Miserére nóbis. V. Spíritus Sáncte Déus. [TTS: "Spíritus Sáncte Déus. Miserére nóbis."] R. Miserére nóbis. V. Sáncta Trinitas, unus Déus. [TTS: "Sáncta Trinitas, unus Déus. Miserére nóbis."] R. Miserére nóbis. Sáncta María, ora pro nóbis [TTS: "Sáncta María, ora pro nóbis: Sáncta Déi Génetrix, ora pro nóbis: Sáncta Virgo vírginum, ora pro nóbis."] Sáncta Déi Génetrix, Sáncta Virgo vírginum, Máter Chrísti, [TTS: "Máter Chrísti, ora pro nóbis: Máter Ecclesiæ, ora pro nóbis: Máter Divinæ gratiæ, ora pro nóbis: Máter purissima, ora pro nóbis: Máter castissima, ora pro nóbis: Máter invioláta, ora pro nóbis: Máter intemeráta, ora pro nóbis: Máter amábilis, ora pro nóbis: Máter admirábilis, ora pro nóbis: Máter boni Consílii, ora pro nóbis: Máter Creatóris, ora pro nóbis: Máter Salvatóris, ora pro nóbis."] Máter Ecclesiæ, Máter Divinæ gratiæ, Máter purissima, Máter castissima, Máter invioláta, Máter intemeráta, Máter amábilis, Máter admirábilis, Máter boni Consílii, Máter Creatóris, Máter Salvatóris, Virgo prudentissima, [TTS: "Virgo prudentissima, ora pro nóbis: Virgo veneránda, ora pro nóbis: Virgo prædicánda, ora pro nóbis: Virgo potens, ora pro nóbis: Virgo clemens, ora pro nóbis: Virgo fidélis, ora pro nóbis."] Virgo veneránda, Virgo prædicánda, Virgo potens, Virgo clemens, Virgo fidélis, Spéculum iustitiæ, [TTS: "Spéculum iustitiæ, ora pro nóbis: Sédes sapiéntiæ, ora pro nóbis: Causa nostræ lætitiæ, ora pro nóbis: Vas spirituále, ora pro nóbis: Vas honorábile, ora pro nóbis: Vas insigne devotiónis, ora pro nóbis."] Sédes sapiéntiæ, Causa nostræ lætitiæ, Vas spirituále, Vas honorábile, Vas insigne devotiónis, Rosa mýstica, [TTS: "Rosa mýstica, ora pro nóbis: Turris Davidica, ora pro nóbis: Turris ebúrnea, ora pro nóbis: Domus áurea, ora pro nóbis: Fœderis arca, ora pro nóbis: Iánua cǽli, ora pro nóbis: Stella matutina, ora pro nóbis: Salus infirmórum, ora pro nóbis: Refúgium peccatórum, ora pro nóbis: Consolátrix afflictórum, ora pro nóbis: Auxilium Christianórum, ora pro nóbis."] Turris Davidica, Turris ebúrnea, Domus áurea, Fœderis arca, Iánua cǽli, Stella matutina, Salus infirmórum, Refúgium peccatórum, Consolátrix afflictórum, Auxilium Christianórum, Regína Angelórum, [TTS: "Regína Angelórum, ora pro nóbis: Regína Patriarchárum, ora pro nóbis: Regína Prophetárum, ora pro nóbis: Regína Apostolórum, ora pro nóbis: Regína Mártyrum, ora pro nóbis: Regína Confessórum, ora pro nóbis: Regína Vírginum, ora pro nóbis: Regína Sanctórum ómnium, ora pro nóbis: Regína sine labe origináli concépta, ora pro nóbis: Regína in cǽlum assumpta, ora pro nóbis: Regína Sanctissimi Rosárii, ora pro nóbis: Regína familiæ, ora pro nóbis: Regína pacis, ora pro nóbis."] Regína Patriarchárum, Regína Prophetárum, Regína Apostolórum, Regína Mártyrum, Regína Confessórum, Regína Vírginum, Regína Sanctórum ómnium, Regína sine labe origináli concépta, Regína in cǽlum assumpta, Regína Sanctissimi Rosárii, Regína familiæ, Regína pacis, V. Agnus Déi, qui tollis peccáta mundi. [TTS: "Agnus Déi, qui tollis peccáta mundi. Parce nóbis, Dómine."] R. Parce nóbis, Dómine. V. Agnus Déi, qui tollis peccáta mundi. [TTS: "Agnus Déi, qui tollis peccáta mundi. Exáudi nóbis, Dómine."] R. Exáudi nóbis, Dómine. V. Agnus Déi, qui tollis peccáta mundi. [TTS: "Agnus Déi, qui tollis peccáta mundi. Miserére nóbis."] R. Miserére nóbis. Oremus [TTS: "Déus cúius Unigénitus per vitam, mórtem et resurrectiónem suam nóbis salútis ætérnæ præmia comparávit: concéde, quæsumus; ut, hæc mystéria sacratíssimo beátæ Maríæ Virginis Rosário recolentes, et imitémur quod cóntinent, et quod promíttunt, assequámur. Per eúmdem Chrístum Dóminum nóstrum. Amen."] Déus cúius Unigénitus per vitam, mórtem et resurrectiónem suam nóbis salútis ætérnæ præmia comparávit: concéde, quæsumus; ut, hæc mystéria sacratíssimo beátæ Maríæ Virginis Rosário recolentes, et imitémur quod cóntinent, et quod promíttunt, assequámur. Per eúmdem Chrístum Dóminum nóstrum. Amen.
LITANY OF LORETO
V. Lord, have mercy on us. R. Lord, have mercy on us. V. Christ, have mercy on us. R. Christ, have mercy on us. V. Lord, have mercy on us. R. Lord, have mercy on us. V. Christ hear us. R. Christ hear us. V. Christ, graciously 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. Holy Mary, pray for us Holy Mother of God, Holy Virgin of virgins, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church Mother of divine grace, Mother most pure, Mother most chaste, Mother inviolate, Mother undefiled, Mother most amiable, Mother most admirable, Mother of good counsel, Mother of our Creator, Mother of our Savior, Virgin most prudent, Virgin most venerable, Virgin most renowned, Virgin most powerful, Virgin most merciful, Virgin most faithful, Mirror of justice, Seat of wisdom, Cause of our joy, Spiritual vessel, Vessel of honor, Singular vessel of devotion, Mystical rose, Tower of David, Tower of ivory, House of gold, Ark of the covenant, Gate of heaven, Morning star, Health of the sick, Refuge of sinners, Comforter of the afflicted, Help of Christians, Queen of Angels, Queen of Patriarchs, Queen of Prophets, Queen of Apostles, Queen of Martyrs, Queen of Confessors, Queen of Virgins, Queen of all Saints, Queen conceived without original sin, Queen assumed into heaven, Queen of the most holy Rosary. Queen of the family, Queen of Peace, V. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. R. Spare us, O Lord. V. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. R. Graciously hear us, O Lord. V. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. R. Have mercy on us. Let us Pray O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation; grant we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Related Prayers
Common Questions
When and how is the Litany of Loreto prayed?
The Litany of Loreto is traditionally prayed after the Rosary, particularly during the month of May (the Month of Mary) and October (the Month of the Rosary). It may be prayed in private or in groups, and is often sung in Latin in monasteries and parishes on Marian feasts. The faithful respond with 'Pray for us' to each title proclaimed by the leader, allowing the prayer to flow as a kind of litany of love directed to the Mother of God.
What is the structure of the Litany?
The Litany of Loreto opens with a triple invocation of the Lord and the Trinity ('Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy'), then moves into a long sequence of titles addressed to the Blessed Virgin Mary, each followed by 'Pray for us.' The titles unfold in a beautiful progression: titles of holiness ('Holy Mother of God,' 'Mother most pure'), titles of metaphor and praise ('Mystical Rose,' 'Tower of David,' 'Star of the Sea'), and titles of queenship ('Queen of Angels,' 'Queen of Peace,' 'Queen of Heaven'). The prayer concludes with the Agnus Dei and a closing collect.
Where does the Litany of Loreto come from?
The Litany takes its name from the Holy House of Loreto in Italy, the small dwelling traditionally venerated as the home of the Holy Family in Nazareth and the very place of the Annunciation. According to ancient tradition, the house was carried by the ministry of angels from Nazareth to Loreto in the late 13th century, where it has been venerated ever since within what is now the Basilica of the Holy House. The Litany itself dates to at least the 16th century and may draw on earlier Marian litanies; Pope Sixtus V formally approved it for the universal Church in A.D. 1587, placing it at the heart of Marian devotion throughout the Catholic world.
How has the Litany grown over the centuries?
Several titles have been added to the Litany of Loreto by successive popes in response to the great moments of the Church. After the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in A.D. 1854, Pope Pius IX permitted 'Queen Conceived without Original Sin'; Leo XIII added 'Queen of the Most Holy Rosary' in A.D. 1883; Benedict XV added 'Queen of Peace' in A.D. 1917 during the First World War; Pius XII added 'Queen Assumed into Heaven' in A.D. 1950 after the dogma of the Assumption; Saint John Paul II added 'Mother of the Church' in A.D. 1980 and 'Queen of Families' in A.D. 1995. In A.D. 2020 Pope Francis added 'Mother of Mercy,' 'Mother of Hope,' and 'Solace of Migrants,' continuing the Litany's growth as a living prayer.