LITANY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. THIS Litany is frequently called the Litany of Loretto, because it was first composed in that city, and sung in the processions. In saying this litany we implore the mercy of God through the intercession of the blessed Virgin, the Mother of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We begin first by invoking the adorable Trinity, and each of the three divine persons for mercy; to show that all mercy and every good thing comes from God, who is the fountain and origin of all good. Then we address ourselves to the blessed Virgin, begging the help of her prayers to obtain that mercy for us, of which we acknowledge ourselves to be unworthy. After this we have recourse to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world, to show that all our hopes of obtaining that mercy, through the intercession of his blessed Mother, are wholly founded on the merits of his passion and death, by which he takes away the sins of the world. Lastly, the whole ends by a short anthem addressed to the blessed Virgin, and a prayer to God, begging that through the cross of Christ we may be brought to a glorious resurrection. The titles which we give to the blessed Virgin refer to the great mystery of the Incarnation and redemption, and are grounded on that relationship which exists between her and her divine Son; so that all the honour which we here pay to the Mother, is founded on the dignity and sacred character of the Son. These titles are, I Those which relate to her most exalted dignity of Mother of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is true God, and the Creator of all things. Hence she is called Holy Mother of God, Mother of our Creator, Mother of our Redeemer. She is called Mother of divine grace, because she is the parent of Him who is the source and author of all grace. The other titles of most pure, most chaste, &c., are designed to express the immaculate purity of the Mother on whom the Holy Ghost descended, whom the power of the Most High overshadowed, and who ever remained a Virgin. 2. Those titles which are given to her in quality of a Virgin and several of her amiable virtues are mentioned. She is called most prudent, most venerable, most faithful, most renowned, according to that prophecy of her own, Behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Luke i. 48. 3. Several mystical or figurative titles are given to her, expressing her high prerogatives. Thus she is called, Mirror of Justice, as being the bright pattern of exalted virtue; Seat of Wisdom, as being replenished with this heavenly virtue, because she is the mother of him who is wisdom itself; Cause of our Joy, as being the instrument of that great blessing which is the source of all our Christian consolations; Spiritual Vessel, as being filled with the spirit of holiness; Vessel of Honour, as being exalted to the dignity of being the Mother of Christ; Vessel of Singular Devotion, as being constantly united to God, and engaged in acts of sanctity; Mystical Rose, as being distinguished by the beauty and odour of her virtues, just as the rose is the emblem of what is peculiarly beautiful and pleasing, according to that expression of the divine wisdom, I was exalted like the Rose plant in Jericho, Eccl. xxiv. 18; Tower of David, as being by her virtues, &c. the powerful descendant of the race of David; Tower of Ivory, as being remarkable for the purity of innocence; ivory, by its whiteness, being the emblem of delicacy, whence that Saying in the Canticles, Thy neck is as a tower of ivory, vii. 4; House of Gold, as being, by the mystery of the Incarnation, the habitation of our blessed Redeemer: Ark of the Covenant, as being the parent of Him who is the mediator of the new covenant; Gate of Heaven, as being, again, the Mother of Him who has opened to us the gate of eternal happiness; Morning Star, as being the harbinger of that bright day which has brought immortality to light; Health of the Weak, Refuge of Sinners, &c. These are the expressions of her charity in our regard, and of the interest which she exerts in our behalf before the throne of her eternal Son. 4. Many titles are given to her which express the sublime lignity to which, as being the Mother of the world's Releemer, she is exalted above all the Angels and Saints of God in the Kingdom of her Son. Hence she is called, Queen of Angels, Queen of Virgins, Queen of all Saints. Thus all the exalted titles which we give to the Blessed Virgin, are wholly founded on the great Mystery of the Redemption. We therefore employ them in order to express our admiration and our gratitude to God for this inestimable benefit; to extol the virtues of her who was selected by divine wisdom to be the instrument in this great work; and to solicit through her powerful intercession at the throne of her divine Son, those blessings and graces which he purchased for us by his death. Sixtus V. June 11, 1587, granted to all Christians an Indulgence of two hundred days each time, for piously reciting the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which Indulgence was confirmed by Benedict XIII. Jan, 20, 1728. WE Anthem. E fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God! Despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us from all dangers, O ever glorious and blessed Virgin. 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 Ghost, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. Holy Mary, Holy Mother of God, Holy Virgin of Virgins, Mother of divine grace, Mother most chaste, Mother undefiled, Mother inviolate, Mother most amiable. Mother most admirable, Pray for us. Virgin most merciful, Virgin most faithful, Cause of our Joy, Vessel of Honour, Vessel of singular Devotion, Tower of David, Tower of Ivory, House of Gold, Ark of the Covenant, Gate of Heaven, Morning Star, Health of the Weak, Refuge of Sinners, Comforter of the afflicted, Help of Christians, Queen of Patriarchs, Queen of Prophets, Queen of Apostles, Queen of Martyrs, Queen of Confessors, Queen of Virgins, Queen of all Saints, Pray for us Queen conceived without Original Sin, 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 V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God! R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Prayer. POUR forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the incarnation of Christ thy Son, was made known by the message of an Angel, may, by his passion and cross, be brought to the glory of his resurrection : through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayer. BLESS, O Lord, the repose I am going to take, that by renewing my bodily strength I may be better enabled to serve thee. () all ye Saints and Angels, but especially thou, O Mother of God, intercede for me, not only during this night, and the rest of my life, but also at the hour of my death. Amen. Another Prayer. POUR down thy blessings, O Lord, on my parents, benefactors, friends, and on my enemies, if I have any. Protect my superiors, spiritual, and temporal. Help the poor and sick, and those who are in their last agony. Convert all heretics and unbelievers. God of mercy and goodness! have mercy on the souls of the faithful in Purgatory: put an end to their sufferings: and grant to all those for whom I am particularly bound to pray, eternal light, rest, and happiness. Amen |