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Litany of the Holy Spirit
Litanies

Litany of the Holy Spirit

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The Litany of the Holy Spirit is a Catholic prayer that invokes the third person of the Trinity through His various titles and attributes. Originating as a popular private devotion, it asks for the Spirit's seven gifts, His fruits, and deliverance from sin. This prayer is a powerful way to prepare for Pentecost or confirmation.

Prayer Text

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. Divine Essence, one true God, have mercy on us. Spirit of truth and wisdom, have mercy on us. Spirit of holiness and justice, have mercy on us. Spirit of understanding and counsel, have mercy on us. Spirit of love and joy, have mercy on us. Spirit of peace and patience, have mercy on us. Spirit of longanimity and meekness, have mercy on us. Spirit of benignity and goodness, have mercy on us. Love substantial of the Father and the Son, have mercy on us. Love and life of saintly souls, have mercy on us. Fire ever burning, have mercy on us. Living water to quench the thirst of hearts, have mercy on us. From all evil, deliver us, O Holy Spirit. From all impurity of soul and body, deliver us, O Holy Spirit. From all gluttony and sensuality, deliver us, O Holy Spirit. From all attachments to the things of earth, deliver us, O Holy Spirit. From all hypocrisy and pretense, deliver us, O Holy Spirit. From all imperfections and deliberate faults, deliver us, O Holy Spirit. From our own will in all things, deliver us, O Holy Spirit. From slander, deliver us, O Holy Spirit. From deceiving our neighbors, deliver us, O Holy Spirit. From our passions and disorderly appetites, deliver us, O Holy Spirit. From our inattentiveness to Thy holy inspirations, deliver us, O Holy Spirit. From despising little things, deliver us, O Holy Spirit. From desolation and spiritual dryness, deliver us, O Holy Spirit. From all sin against the Holy Spirit, deliver us, O Holy Spirit. Through Thine eternal procession from the Father and the Son, deliver us, O Holy Spirit. Through the virginal conception of Jesus Christ, deliver us, O Holy Spirit. Through Thy descent upon Jesus Christ at His baptism, deliver us, O Holy Spirit. Through Thy descent upon the Apostles at Pentecost, deliver us, O Holy Spirit. In the day of judgment, deliver us, O Holy Spirit. We sinners, we beseech Thee, hear us. That we may live in perfect obedience to Thy commandments, we beseech Thee, hear us. That we may grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Holy Spirit, we beseech Thee, hear us. That Thou wouldst impart to us the knowledge and love of prayer, we beseech Thee, hear us. That Thou wouldst grant us the grace to follow the counsels of the Gospel, we beseech Thee, hear us. That Thou wouldst give us the grace to know all that is necessary, we beseech Thee, hear us. That Thou wouldst teach us to pray and help us by Thy grace, we beseech Thee, hear us. That Thou wouldst inspire in us horror for sin, we beseech Thee, hear us. That Thou wouldst direct us and those under our charge in the way of salvation, we beseech Thee, hear us. That Thou wouldst give us the grace to know the will of the Father, we beseech Thee, hear us. That Thou wouldst give us the spirit of faithful prayer, we beseech Thee, hear us. That Thou wouldst enlighten us with Thy heavenly inspirations, we beseech Thee, hear us. That Thou wouldst lead all nations into the light of the Gospel, we beseech Thee, hear us. That Thou wouldst make the fruit of Thy graces abound in our souls, we beseech Thee, hear us. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, send us Thy Holy Spirit. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, pour down into our souls the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us the Spirit of wisdom and piety. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, And enkindle in them the fire of Thy love. Let us pray. Grant, O merciful Father, that Thy Divine Spirit may enlighten, inflame, and purify us, that He may penetrate us with His heavenly dew and make us fruitful in good works, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who with Thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

What is the Litany of the Holy Spirit?

Unlike the Litany of the Saints, which is part of the Roman Missal for specific rites, the Litany of the Holy Spirit is a private devotion whose exact origins are not precisely documented. While popular for centuries, it is not among the litanies officially approved by the Church for public liturgical use. Its structure follows the traditional litanic form, invoking God and then asking for deliverance and intercession. The Catechism affirms that the Holy Spirit is the one who brings us into communion with Christ (CCC 683).

What does the Litany of the Holy Spirit mean?

This litany deepens one's relationship with the Holy Spirit, the "Giver of Life" confessed in the Nicene Creed. By invoking His many titles—"Spirit of understanding and counsel," "Fire ever burning"—the prayer illuminates His distinct role within the Trinity. It is a comprehensive plea for the seven gifts and twelve fruits of the Spirit, seeking to purify the soul from sin and align the human will with God's. It cultivates a docility to the Spirit's "heavenly inspirations," as mentioned in the prayer itself.

When Do Catholics Pray the Litany of the Holy Spirit?

This litany is especially fitting during the novena leading up to Pentecost, the great feast of the Holy Spirit. It is also a powerful prayer for those preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation or for anyone seeking divine guidance in making an important decision. Many pray it to overcome specific faults listed in the petitions, such as "inattentiveness to Thy holy inspirations" or "despising little things," asking the Spirit to sanctify their daily lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Litany of the Holy Spirit

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