Litany of the Saints Rosary
October 22 to November 2nd and into 2025 for one's country (Diary of St. Faustina, Entry 59) + Link to St. John Paul II Library of Writings
In thanksgiving to God the Father, the Church professes all this when she proclaims
"You give us an example to follow in the lives of your Saints, assistance by their intercession, and a bond of fraternal love in the communion of grace"(278).
FOR RECITATION IN CHORUS
THE LITANY OF THE SAINTS
LEADER: Lord, have mercy
R. Lord, have mercy.
LEADER: Christ, have mercy.
R. Christ, have mercy.
LEADER: Lord, have mercy.
R. Lord, have mercy.
LEADER: Holy Mary:
R. Pray for us.
LEADER: St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael the Archangels
R. Pray for us.
Angels of God: Pray for us.
Abraham, Moses, and Elijah: Pray for us.
Saint Joseph: Pray for us.
Saint John the Baptist: Pray for us.
Holy prophets: Pray for us.
Saint Peter and Saint Paul: Pray for us.
All holy apostles: Pray for us.
Saint Mary Magdalene: Pray for us.
All disciples of the Lord: Pray for us.
Saint Stephen: Pray for us.
Saint Perpetua and Saint Felicity: Pray for us.
Saint Agnes: Pray for us.
Saint Boniface: Pray for us.
Saint Thomas More: Pray for us.
Saint Charles Lwanga: Pray for us.
All holy martyrs: Pray for us.
Saint Augustine: Pray for us.
Saint Basil and Saint Gregory: Pray for us.
Saint John Chrysostom: Pray for us.
Saint Catherine: Pray for us.
Saint Martin: Pray for us.
Saint Patrick: Pray for us.
Saint Benedict: Pray for us.
Saint Francis: Pray for us.
Saint Clare: Pray for us.
Saint Francis Xavier: Pray for us.
Saint Vincent de Paul: Pray for us.
Saint Elizabeth: Pray for us.
Saint Therese: Pray for us.
Saint John Vianney: Pray for us.
Saint Jacinta and St. Francisco. Pray for us.
{Insert other Saints here}
All holy men and women: Pray for us.
LEADER: Lord, be merciful!
R. Lord, save your people.
LEADER: From all harm:
R. Lord, save your people.
LEADER: From every sin:
R. Lord, save your people.
LEADER: From all temptations:
R. Lord, save your people.
LEADER: From everlasting death:
R. Lord, save your people.
LEADER: By your coming among us:
R. Lord, save your people.
LEADER: By your death and rising to new life:
R. Lord, save your people.
LEADER: By your gift of the Holy Spirit:
R. Lord, save your people.
LEADER: Be merciful to us sinners:
R. Lord, hear our prayer.
LEADER: Guide and protect your holy church:
R. Lord, hear our prayer.
LEADER: Bring all peoples together in trust and peace.
R. Lord, hear our prayer.
LEADER: Strengthen us in your service:
R. Lord, hear our prayer.
LEADER: Jesus, Son of the living God:
R. Lord, hear our prayer.
LEADER: Christ, hear us.
R. Christ, hear us.
LEADER: Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.
R. Lord Jesus, hear our prayer. Amen
Quick History of this prayer:
“Litany of the Saints”
Excerpts from the Vatican Directory on Popular Piety
The Litany of the Saints1 has been used in the Roman Church since the seventh century. Its liturgical structure is subtle, simple and popular. Through the litany, the Church invokes the saints on certain great sacramental occasions and on other occasions when her imploration is intensified: at the Easter Vigil, before blessing the baptismal fount; in the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism; in conferring sacred orders of the episcopate, priesthood and diaconate; in the rite for the consecration of virgins and of religious profession; in the rite of dedication of a church and consecration of an altar; at rogation; at the station Masses and penitential processions; when casting out the devil during the rite of exorcism; and in entrusting the dying to the mercy of God.”2
“A prayer that dates back to the fourth century, and by the sixth or early seventh century it was introduced into different Church processions by Pope St. Gregory the Great (r. 590-604). The litany was chanted during the rogation days devotion from the ninth century until the 20th century when the devotion was removed from the liturgical calendar.3
THE ROSARY HOUR PODCAST | NEWSLETTER 22 OCTOBER 2024, 2nd Ed.
Why pray the Litany of the Saints Rosary?
In prayer, St. Faustina heard the following words from Jesus:
“Make a novena for your country.
This novena will consist of the recitation of the Litany of the Saints.”
(Diary Entry #59).
After praying the litany, Faustina says she
“saw a great radiance and, in the midst of it, God the Father. Between this radiance and the earth I saw Jesus nailed to the Cross in such a way that when God wanted to look at the earth, He had to look through the wounds of Jesus. And I understood that it was for the sake of Jesus that God blessed the earth.”
(Diary Entry #60)
Excerpt #2: from the “Vatican Directory on Popular Piety”
211. The doctrine of the Church and her Liturgy, propose the Saints and Beati who already contemplate in the "clarity of His unity and trinity"(276) to the faithful because they are:
historical witnesses to the universal vocation to holiness; as eminent fruit of the redemption of Christ, they are a poof and record that God calls his children to the perfection of Christ (cf. Ef 4, 13; Col 1, 28), in all times and among all nations, and from the most varied socio-cultural conditions and states of life;
illustrious disciples of Christ and therefore models of evangelical life (277); the church recognises the heroicness of their virtues in the canonization process and recommends them as models for the faithful;
citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem who ceaselessly sing the glory and mercy of God; the Paschal passage from this world to the Father has already been accomplished in them;
intercessors and friends of the faithful who are still on the earthly pilgrimage, because the Saints, already enraptured by the happiness of God, know the needs of their brothers and sisters and accompany them on their pilgrim journey with their prayers and protection;
patrons of the Local Churches, of which they were founders (St. Eusebius of Vercelli) or illustrious Pastors (St. Ambrose of Milan); patrons of nations: apostles of their conversion to the Christian faith (St Thomas and St. Bartholomew in India) or expressions of national identity ( St. Patrick in the case of Ireland); of corporations and professions (St. Omobono for tailors); in particular circumstances - in childbirth (St. Anne, St. Raimondo Nonato), in death (St. Joseph) - or to obtain specific graces (St. Lucy for the recovery of eyesight) etc..
NINE-DAY LITANY TO THE SAINTS FOR ONE’S COUNTRY
SAMPLE: Let us pray for 9-days that God in His infinite majesty, Divine Mercy and Divine Wisdom might send to us the help of the Queen of Angels and of all the Holy Celestial Court: the Angels and Saints to protect the country of __________________ and cause it to renew spiritually and flourish in the light of Christ according to God’s Holy Will.
Now, we invite you to pray the Holy Rosary (5 decades) + end with the Litany to the Saints.
CARD BELOW:
ANOTHER NOVENA OPTION: https://www.praymorenovenas.com/litany-saints
QUICK LINK TO THE WRITINGS of ST. POPE JOHN PAUL II HERE:
https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/pt.html
OUR LADY’S ROLE IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE: QUEEN OF ANGELS & SAINTS
Fr. Chad’s notes on the Heavenly power of Our Lady,
rewarded for her journey with Christ:
The 4th Glorious Mystery: Our Lady’s Assumption in Heaven represents “the moment of her greatest triumph” — Our Lady’s completing her life — sinless before God;
The 5th Glorious Mystery: Our Lady was crowned as Queen of Heaven and earth, “the moment of greatest honor”, drawing attention to her perfection;
The 5th Sorrowful Mystery: Our Lady standing beneath the Cross in Perfect Virtue — “the moment of greatest glory in all of history” (a.k.a. “the manifestation of Our Lady’s excellence”); by looking at Calvary, we see the greatest excellence of all of creation standing beside Jesus Christ.
Fr. Chad emphasizes Our Lady’s relationship to God: “His level of Trust for us is proportionate to how much He can Trust us”. In short, Fr. Chad notes that “all she did for God was for God. She never once counted the personal cost for any sacrifice she made in her life because of her pure love for God.” He argues that this means, therefore, the same things it does in any spousal relationship: if in marriage we did everything we could do to please our spouse - “that is the relationship of God with Our Lady.” He continues that it is thus dynamic of the fact that “she did everything to please him” and as a result of that accomplishment, “he will never deny her of anything”. Fr. Chad teaches that “God knows he can absolutely trust Our Lady with anything she asks whatsoever because never ONCE did she do anything contrary to His will.” In that sense, Fr. Chad’s commentary reminds us of the merit of the desire to make the request in our Rosary for the grace to become like Our Lady — focusing as we pray the Rosary to be in her school — that which allows us to emulate Our Lady’s witness to the life of Christ.
All is grace from God. We cannot accomplish this grace without the theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love distributed through the Sacraments of the Church — thus, let us ask for that grace to envision the Mysteries of the Life of Christ as we pray the Rosary with the Saints in Heaven. Amen.
LINK TO THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY HERE:
https://www.vatican.va/special/rosary/documents/misteri_en.html
FOOTNOTES: (1st Edition of Post Reviewed by Izzy, PACIFIC STANDARD TIME; 2nd Edition Repost Reviewed by Karen Rocha, EST with addition of new prayer card).4
Another Novena sample can be located here:
Today this devotion is still can be celebrated, including chanting the Litany of the Saints, but is not widespread in the United States. Rogation (meaning to ask) were three days of penance, fasting and prayer to seek protection for the people and the crops from natural disasters.” (Citation from: https://thepriest.com/2019/10/16/the-litany-of-the-saints/)
Easter Egg: