The tradition holds that by invoking God and calling on the Blessed Virgin, the angels and named saints to 'make intercession for us', the saints will intercede before God and God will 'hear the prayers of the worshippers' — i.e., the community's petitions are presented to God through the communion of saints and answered by divine mercy.
The Litany of the Saints is a structured chant or responsive prayer forming part of the Western liturgical tradition. It opens with a series of invocations addressed to the Triune God (the Kyrie-style petitions), continues with a long sequence of invocations addressed to groups and individual saints with a congregational response (traditionally 'pray for us' or short responsories), and concludes with a set of supplications asking God to hear the worshippers' prayers. It is historically ancient and has been used in public processions, penitential rites and solemn liturgies; in contemporary liturgical practice it is sung most prominently during the Easter Vigil, on All Saints' Day, and in rites such as the conferring of Holy Orders, the Consecration of a Virgin, and the reception of perpetual religious vows. While primarily embedded within public liturgy led by clergy or designated liturgical ministers, devotional versions and adaptations for private or family use also exist.
- 01Assemble the congregation within the appropriate liturgical celebration (e.g., Easter Vigil, All Saints' Day, ordination, profession of vows) and ensure the liturgical leader (priest, deacon, or designated cantor) is prepared to lead the chant.
- 02Begin the Litany with the opening invocations to the Trinity: chant or recite in sequence 'Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.' (or the equivalent Kyrie-style invocation in the authorized text being used).
- 03Following the Trinity invocations, the leader intones the summons to the saints (for example, 'All ye holy men and women, saints of God, make intercession for us') in the authorized liturgical text or chant setting.
- 04Proceed through the series of invocations to groups and individual saints in the authorized text: after each invocation the congregation gives the established response (traditionally 'pray for us' or the short chant response specified in the edition being used).
- 05Continue through the entire sequence of invocations and responses until the litany's list of saints and invocations in the authorized liturgical book is completed.
- 06Conclude the invocations with the closing series of supplications addressed directly to God that ask God to hear the prayers of the worshippers (the concluding petitions as found in the authorized liturgical text).
- 07If used within a larger rite (e.g., ordination, profession of vows), continue immediately with the subsequent ceremonial actions of that rite per the rubrics; if used in standalone devotional context, end with the final blessing or prayer practice appropriate to that setting.
- ⚠Should not be substituted or used outside its authorized liturgical place or text in contexts where rubrics of the rite require specific forms (e.g., during solemn sacramental rites) without adherence to those rubrics.
- ⚠When used in the context of sacramental rites (ordination, consecration, profession of vows), it should be led according to the norms of that Church's liturgical law and by the ministers authorized by that Church.
Community Record
- [1]Litany of the Saints. Wikipedia: Litany of the Saints - summary of form, purpose, and liturgical occasionswiki
- [2]Litany of the Saints (prayer text excerpt). Catholicity: prayer text excerpt showing opening Kyrie-like invocations and litany responsesother
- [3]Litany of the Saints (prayer page). Catholic Doors: partial litany text and examples of invocations to the saintsother
- [4]Litany of the Saints (encyclopedic note). Catholic Encyclopedia / Catholicity encyclopedia entry noting antiquity and historical liturgical useother
- [5]Litany of the Saints (prayer site). Hozana: description of structure and Latin title 'Litaniae Sanctorum'other
- [6]Litany of the Saints (devotional history note). Spirit Work/Jesterbear: notes on antiquity and traditional origins attributed to Pope Gregory (stated in devotional source)folk
- [7]Body Theology - The Litany of the Saints. Body Theology: notes that this litany is the model among several approved litanies in Catholic practiceother