Marian Devotion: The Litany of Loreto

As we continue our celebration of May, the month of Our Blessed Mother, we recite the Litany of Loreto—that Marian prayer which Our Lady of Laus encouraged Blessed Benoite and her friends to recite each evening in the chapel. This litany—a processional supplication to Our Blessed mother—recognizes Mary by her many roles and titles, as mother, as advocate, as wellspring of new life. These titles and invocations set before us the Blessed Virgin’s exalted privileges, her holiness of life, her love, grace, and mediating power, her motherly spirit and queenly majesty.


Composed during the Middle Ages, the place of honor it now holds in the life of the Church is due to its faithful use at the shrine of the Holy House at Loreto. The principles of the litany were beautifully enunciated by Pope Pius IX when he said, "God enriched her so wonderfully from the treasury of His divinity, far beyond all angels and saints with the abundance of all heavenly gifts, that she . . .should show forth such fullness of innocence and holiness, than which a greater under God is unthinkable and which, beside God, no one can even conceive in thought."

We are reminded during Our Mother’s month that whatever virtue and holiness is found in angels and saints—in any of God’s creation-- must be present in Mary in an immeasurably higher degree.

Lord have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy on us.


Christ have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.


Lord have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy on us.


Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.


God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us
Holy Mother of God, pray for us
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us
Mother of Christ, pray for us
Mother of divine grace, pray for us
Mother most pure, pray for us
Mother most chaste, pray for us
Mother inviolate, pray for us
Mother undefiled, pray for us
Mother most amiable, pray for us
Mother most admirable, pray for us
Mother of good counsel, pray for us
Mother of our Creator, pray for us
Mother of our Redeemer, pray for us
Virgin most prudent, pray for us
Virgin most venerable, pray for us
Virgin most renowned, pray for us
Virgin most powerful, pray for us
Virgin most merciful, pray for us
Virgin most faithful, pray for us
Mirror of justice, pray for us
Seat of wisdom, pray for us

Cause of our joy, pray for us
Spiritual vessel, pray for us
Vessel of honor, pray for us
Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us
Mystical rose, pray for us
Tower of David, pray for us
Tower of ivory, pray for us
House of gold, pray for us
Ark of the covenant, pray for us
Gate of Heaven, pray for us
Morning Star, pray for us
Health of the sick, pray for us
Refuge of sinners, pray for us
Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us
Help of Christians, pray for us
Queen of Angels, pray for us
Queen of Patriarchs, pray for us
Queen of Prophets, pray for us
Queen of Apostles, pray for us
Queen of Martyrs, pray for us
Queen of Confessors, pray for us
Queen of Virgins, pray for us
Queen of all Saints, pray for us
Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us
Queen assumed into Heaven, pray for us
Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us
Queen of peace, pray for 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: Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us.

Pray for us, most holy Mother of God,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.


O God, who by the Resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, granted joy to the whole world, grant, we beg you, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, his Mother, we may attain the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.