The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Litany of Loreto)
The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also called the Litany of Loreto, is said to have been prayed since 1558 at The Shrine of Loreto in Italy. However, it was formally approved by Pope Sixtus V in 1587.
This beautiful litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is only one of six Litanies approved for public recitation by the Catholic Church.
Additions Made to the Litany of the Blessed Virgin
The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary has changed over the centuries. There were additions added to the beautiful Litany dedicated to our Blessed Mother and they are expressions of growing devotion and understanding of the Blessed mother’s many roles.
Below are the major changes that were made.
- As early as 1614, the title Queen of the Most Holy Rosary (Regina sacratissimi rosarii) was found in Dominican Breviaries.
“Although by decree of 1631, and by Bull of Pope Alexander VII (1664), it was strictly forbidden to make any additions to the litanies, another decree of the Congregation of Rites, dated 1675, permitted the Confraternity of the Rosary to add the invocation “Regina sacratissimi rosarii”, and this was prescribed for the whole Church by Pope Leo XII on 24 December 1883.
Source
- Queen of All Saints was added by Pope Pius V when he returned to Rome after Napoleon’s imprisonment
- Queen conceived without original sin was seen as early as 1846, even before the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854.
- Mother of Good Counsel was added in 1903 by Pope Leo XIII.
- Queen of Peace was added by Pope Benedict XV in 1917.
- Pope Pius XII added Queen assumed into heaven in 1950.
- Pope John Paul II added Mother of the Church in 1980.
- Pope John Paul II added Queen of Families in 1995
- Pope Francis added Mother of Mercy, Mother of Hope, and “Solace of Migrants in June 2020.
*** Please note that the Litany below is the Traditional Litany found in the 1962 Missal, so it does not include the additions of Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis.
The Litany of the Blessed Virgin is traditionally prayed after the Rosary, so if you’re looking for a post-rosary, prayer, feel free to pray this in honor of the Blessed Virgin!
The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
***Responses are in Italics***
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. 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 Spirit,
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 Savior, 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 the Family, pray for us.
Queen of Peace, pray for us.
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Grant, we beg Thee, O Lord God, that we Thy servants, may enjoy lasting health of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, be delivered from present sorrow and enter into the joy of eternal happiness.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Blessed Virgin Mary Literature
- Crown of the Virgin
- Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God by Scott Hahn
- Manual for Marian Devotion by the Dominican Sisters of Mary”
- Mary, the Church at the Source by Hans Urs von Balthasar & Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
- True Devotion to Mary: with Preparation for Total Consecration (St Louis de Montfort:
- The World’s First Love by Bishop Fulton Sheen
- Compendium of Marian Devotions: An Encyclopedia of the Church’s Prayers, Dogmas, Devotions, Sacramentals, and Feasts Honoring the Mother of God
- The Glories of Mary by St Alphonsus Liguori
Queen of all saints was added by Pope Pius VII after returning from his imprisonment