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New Release! Chant Compendium 8 with beautiful Gregorian chant

Litany of the Saints - Translated in English
Original version of the Litany which was sung at the funeral procession (translation) of Pope John Paul II.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ 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 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.
Saint Michael, Pray for us.
Saint Gabriel, Pray for us.
Saint Raphael, Pray for us.
All ye holy angels and archangels, Pray for us.
All ye holy orders of blessed spirits, Pray for us.
Saint John the Baptist, Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, Pray for us.
All ye holy patriarchs and prophets. Pray for us.
Saint Peter, Pray for us.
Saint Paul, Pray for us.
Saint Andrew, Pray for us.
Saint James, Pray for us.
Saint John, Pray for us.
Saint Thomas, Pray for us.
Saint James, Pray for us.
Saint Philip, Pray for us.
Saint Bartholomew. Pray for us.
Saint Matthew, Pray for us.
Saint Simon, Pray for us.
Saint Thaddeus, Pray for us.
Saint Matthias, Pray for us.
Saint Barnabas, Pray for us.
Saint Luke, Pray for us.
Saint Mark, Pray for us.
All ye holy apostles and evangelists, Pray for us.
All ye holy disciples of our Lord. Pray for us.
All ye holy Innocents, Pray for us.
Saint Stephen, Pray for us.
Saint Lawrence, Pray for us.
Saint Vincent, Pray for us.
Saints Fabian and Sebastian, Pray for us.
Saints John and Paul, Pray for us.
Saints Cosmas and Damian, Pray for us.
Saints Gervase and Protase, Pray for us.
All ye holy martyrs, Pray for us.
Saint Sylvester, Pray for us.
Saint Gregory, Pray for us.
Saint Ambrose, Pray for us.
Saint Augustine. Pray for us.
Saint Jerome, Pray for us.
Saint Martin, Pray for us.
Saint Nicolas, Pray for us.
All ye holy bishops and confessors, Pray for us.
All ye holy doctors, Pray for us.
Saint Anthony, Pray for us.
Saint Benedict, Pray for us.
Saint Bernard, Pray for us.
Saint Dominic, Pray for us.
Saint Francis, Pray for us.
All ye holy priests and levites, Pray for us.
All ye holy monks and hermits. Pray for us.
Saint Mary Magdalen, Pray for us.
Saint Agatha, Pray for us.
Saint Lucy, Pray for us.
Saint Agnes, Pray for us.
Saint Cecily, Pray for us.
Saint Catherine, Pray for us.
Saint Anastasia, Pray for us
All ye holy virgins and widows, Pray for us.

All ye holy men and women, Saints of God, Make intercession for us.
Be merciful, Spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful, Graciously hear us, O Lord.

From all evil, O Lord, deliver us.
From all sin, O Lord, deliver us.
From Thy wrath, O Lord, deliver us.
From a sudden and unprovided death, O Lord, deliver us.
From the snares of the devil, O Lord, deliver us.
From anger, and hatred, and all ill will, O Lord, deliver us.
From the spirit of fornication, O Lord, deliver us.
From lightning and tempest, O Lord, deliver us.
From the scourge of earthquake. O Lord, deliver us.
From pestilence, famine and war, O Lord, deliver us.
From everlasting death, O Lord, deliver us.
Through the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation, O Lord, deliver us.
Through Thy coming, O Lord, deliver us.
Through Thy nativity, O Lord, deliver us.
Through Thy baptism and holy fasting, O Lord, deliver us.
Through Thy Cross and Passion, O Lord, deliver us.
Through Thy death and burial, O Lord, deliver us.
Through Thy holy Resurrection, O Lord, deliver us.
Through Thine admirable Ascension, O Lord, deliver us.
Through the coming of the Holy Spirit the Paraclete, O Lord, deliver us.
In the day of judgment, O Lord, deliver us.

We sinners, We beseech Thee, hear us,
That Thou wouldst spare us, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst pardon us, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst bring us to true penance, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst govern and preserve Thy holy Church We beseech Thee, hear us.,
That Thou wouldst preserve our Apostolic Prelate, and all ecclesiastical orders in holy religion, We beseech Thee, hear us,
That Thou wouldst humble the enemies of Thy holy Church, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst grant peace and unity to all Christian people, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst bring back to the unity of the Church all those who have strayed away, and lead to the light of the Gospel all unbelievers, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst confirm and preserve us in Thy holy service, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst render eternal blessings to all our benefactors, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren, relations and benefactors, from eternal damnation, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst give and preserve the fruit of the earth, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst give eternal rest to all the faithful departed, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst graciously hear us We beseech Thee, hear us. Son of God, We beseech Thee, hear us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

Christ hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.

Our Father.. (silently)…. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.

Click here for the original Latin lyrics.

This is the traditional version of the Litany of the Saints, as it was heard in churches and monasteries before 1962. This is the version found in the 1962 edition of the Liber Usualis. Recently, at the funeral of John Paul II, a modernized version was sung (using the same melody). It was in Latin, but several parts were changed from the traditional version found here on this page (and on Chant Compendium 3). It was played again at the start of the Papal Conclave at which our current Pope, Benedict XVI, was elected. Even in its updated form, it is quite powerful because it uses the same centuries-old melody which is perfect for asking assistance from all the saints in heaven for our many needs. The substance, what is prayed for, is also the same— though many items were rephrased, combined or removed.

This prayer is sublime and beautiful; The Church leaves out nothing as it places in our mouths exactly what we should be praying for. For the Church, for our country, for our fellow Catholics, for those outside the Faith, for earthly prosperity, for the faithful departed, it asks for God's mercy in general, it asks forgiveness for our sins. One could scarcely find an important subject that doesn't come under one of the many invocations found after the line, "Peccatores" (We, sinners). At this point in the Litany, the response becomes "Te rogamus, audi nos." (We beseech Thee, hear us.)


This is found on the following CD(s): Chant Compendium 3.

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