Six Litanies
( Approved by the Catholic Church)
The six litanies—available on this website—officially approved by the Catholic Church for public recitation are:
Litany of the Saints
The oldest litany was approved in 590 by Pope Gregory the Great. It is used in many liturgical rites, such as ordinations, the Easter Vigil, and exorcisms. A shorter version is used in the Ordo Commendationis Animae (Commendation of the Departing Soul). It invokes the intercession of Mary, the angels, apostles, martyrs, and all saints, followed by petitions for deliverance from evils and for various graces, with congregational responses such as “Pray for us,” “Lord, deliver us,” or “Lord, hear us.”
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Approved in the late 16th century; it is one of the most popular Marian litanies and is often prayed in May or during rosary devotions.
Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus
Approved for public use in 1587; it honors the name of Jesus and draws heavily from Scripture.
Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus originated as a late 17th century compilation of earlier private devotions to the Sacred Heart. Its roots lie in the broader devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which gained prominence in the 17th century through the visions of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647–1690). In 1899 Pope Leo XIII formally approved the Litany for public recitation.
Litany of Saint Joseph
Approved in 1909 by Pope Pius X; it invokes St. Joseph under many titles and is especially popular during March (his dedicated month) or on his feast days.
Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus
The most recent of the six, approved for public recitation in 1960 by Pope St. John XXIII. It focuses on the redemptive power of Christ’s Blood.
These six litanies are the only ones the Church has formally approved for public liturgical or devotional use (that is, in a Church setting led by a priest or deacon, or in group prayer). All other litanies may be prayed privately by the faithful.