The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Litaniae Lauretanae
The litany said after the rosary and at Marian devotions, in the form it now has — fifty-odd titles of Our Lady, each answered ora pro nobis. The Latin is what is sung; the English is given beside it.
The Kyrie
Each line is said by one voice and repeated by all.
Kyrie, eleison.
Lord, have mercy.
Christe, eleison.
Christ, have mercy.
Kyrie, eleison.
Lord, have mercy.
Christe, audi nos.
Christ, hear us.
Christe, exaudi nos.
Christ, graciously hear us.
To the Holy Trinity
The answer to each is miserere nobis — have mercy on us.
Pater de caelis, Deus,
God the Father of heaven,
Fili, Redemptor mundi, Deus,
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Spiritus Sancte, Deus,
God the Holy Spirit,
Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus,
Holy Trinity, one God,
The Mother of God
From here to the end of the invocations the answer to each is ora pro nobis — pray for us.
Sancta Maria,
Holy Mary,
Sancta Dei Genetrix,
Holy Mother of God,
Sancta Virgo virginum,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Mater Christi,
Mother of Christ,
Mater Ecclesiae,
Mother of the Church,
Mater misericordiae,
Mother of mercy,
Mater divinae gratiae,
Mother of divine grace,
Mater spei,
Mother of hope,
Mater purissima,
Mother most pure,
Mater castissima,
Mother most chaste,
Mater inviolata,
Mother inviolate,
Mater intemerata,
Mother undefiled,
Mater amabilis,
Mother most amiable,
Mater admirabilis,
Mother most admirable,
Mater boni Consilii,
Mother of good counsel,
Mater Creatoris,
Mother of our Creator,
Mater Salvatoris,
Mother of our Saviour,
The Virgin
Virgo prudentissima,
Virgin most prudent,
Virgo veneranda,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgo praedicanda,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgo potens,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgo clemens,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgo fidelis,
Virgin most faithful,
The Figures
The titles taken from the Old Testament and read of Our Lady — the tower of David and the tower of ivory are from the Song of Songs (4:4 and 7:4), the ark from Exodus, the gate of heaven from Jacob’s dream at Bethel.
Speculum iustitiae,
Mirror of justice,
Sedes sapientiae,
Seat of wisdom,
Causa nostrae laetitiae,
Cause of our joy,
Vas spirituale,
Spiritual vessel,
Vas honorabile,
Vessel of honour,
Vas insigne devotionis,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Rosa mystica,
Mystical rose,
Turris Davidica,
Tower of David,
Turris eburnea,
Tower of ivory,
Domus aurea,
House of gold,
Foederis arca,
Ark of the covenant,
Ianua caeli,
Gate of heaven,
Stella matutina,
Morning star,
Our Help in Trouble
Salus infirmorum,
Health of the sick,
Refugium peccatorum,
Refuge of sinners,
Solacium migrantium,
Solace of migrants,
Consolatrix afflictorum,
Comforter of the afflicted,
Auxilium Christianorum,
Help of Christians,
The Queen
Regina Angelorum,
Queen of angels,
Regina Patriarcharum,
Queen of patriarchs,
Regina Prophetarum,
Queen of prophets,
Regina Apostolorum,
Queen of apostles,
Regina Martyrum,
Queen of martyrs,
Regina Confessorum,
Queen of confessors,
Regina Virginum,
Queen of virgins,
Regina Sanctorum omnium,
Queen of all saints,
Regina sine labe originali concepta,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Regina in caelum assumpta,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Regina sacratissimi Rosarii,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
Regina familiae,
Queen of families,
Regina pacis,
Queen of peace,
The Agnus Dei
Each is said by one voice, and each answer by all.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
R. parce nobis, Domine.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
R. spare us, O Lord.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
R. exaudi nos, Domine.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
R. graciously hear us, O Lord.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
R. miserere nobis.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
R. have mercy on us.
The Versicle and the Prayer
V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genetrix.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Oremus. Concede nos famulos tuos, quaesumus, Domine Deus, perpetua mentis et corporis sanitate gaudere: et gloriosa beatae Mariae semper Virginis intercessione, a praesenti liberari tristitia, et aeterna perfrui laetitia. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
Let us pray. Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord God, that we thy servants may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body; and by the glorious intercession of blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sorrow and come to everlasting joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Named for the Holy House at Loreto, where its use is recorded by 1558; Sixtus V approved it in 1587, and additions have needed Rome’s leave since the seventeenth century — which is why every one of them can be dated. Leo XIII prescribed Regina sacratissimi Rosarii for the whole Church on 24 December 1883 and added Mater boni Consilii by decree of 22 April 1903. Benedict XV ordered Regina pacis added by letter to Cardinal Gasparri of 5 May 1917, in the third year of the war, having allowed it provisionally since 1915. Pius XII added Regina in caelum assumpta in 1950, the year he defined the Assumption; John Paul II added Mater Ecclesiae in 1980 and Regina familiae on 31 December 1995. The last three are Pope Francis’, by a letter of the Congregation for Divine Worship to the presidents of the bishops’ conferences dated 20 June 2020, which named the place of each: Mater misericordiae after Mater Ecclesiae, Mater spei after Mater divinae gratiae, Solacium migrantium after Refugium peccatorum. They are in place here, so a printed card older than 2020 will be three invocations short. The litany is prayed after the rosary as often as by itself, and carries a partial indulgence.
