Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a
The litany contains many of the titles used formally and informally for the
A
Background
According to Directory on Popular Piety:
Litanies are to be found among the prayers to the Blessed Virgin recommended by the
Ora pro nobis). The liturgical books contain two Marian litanies: The Litany of Loreto, repeatedly recommended by the Roman Pontiffs; and the Litany for the Coronation of Images of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which can be an appropriate substitute for the other litany on certain occasions. ...The Litanies are independent acts of worship. They are important acts of homage to the Blessed Virgin Mary, or as processional elements, or form part of a celebration of the Word of God or of other acts of worship.[7]
Form
In form, the Litany of Loreto is based on a fixed plan common to several
Twelve invocations refer to Mary as
A litany is prayed like this: first an invocation is said by the prayer leader followed by the response, "Pray for us".[9]
The Litany
The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary was translated in the English form as:[10]
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,
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.
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 peace,
pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes 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.
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we Thy Servants may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, be delivered from present sorrow and enjoy eternal happiness. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
History
Origins
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There is a great lack of documentary evidence concerning the origin of the Litany of Loreto, the growth and development of the litany into the forms under which it is known, and as it was for the first time definitely approved by the Catholic Church in the year 1587. Some writers declare that they know nothing of its origin and history; others, on the contrary, trace it back to the translation of the
The oldest printed copy hitherto discovered is that of Dillingen in Germany, dating to 1558; it is fairly certain it is a copy of an earlier one, but thus far, the oldest known Italian copy dates from 1576.[8]
The litany was probably published and circulated in Germany by Saint
Development
On 5 February 1578, the archdeacon of Loreto, Giulio Candiotti, sent to Pope Gregory XIII the "New praises or litanies of the most holy Virgin, drawn from Sacred Scripture", with Porta's music, expressing the wish that the pope would cause it to be sung in Saint Peter's Basilica and in other churches as was the custom at Loreto. The pope's reply is unknown, but we have the opinion of the theologian to whom the matter was referred, in which the composition of the new litany is praised, but which does not judge it opportune to introduce it into Rome or into church use on the authority of the pope, all the more because Pius V "in reforming the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin completely abolished, among other things, some similar litanies of the Blessed Virgin which existed in the old office. The judgment concluded that the litany might be sung at Loreto as a devotion proper to this shrine, and if others wanted to adopt it they might do so by way of private devotion.[8]
This attempt having failed, the Scriptural litany straightway began to lose favor, and the Loreto text was revived. In another manual for pilgrims, published in 1578, the Scriptural litany is omitted, and the old Loreto text appears. The Loreto text was introduced elsewhere, and even reached Rome, when Pope Sixtus V, who had entertained a singular devotion for Loreto, by the Bull Reddituri of 11 July 1587, gave formal approval to it, as to the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, and recommended preachers everywhere to propagate its use among the faithful.[8]
On the strength of this impulse given to the Litany of Loreto, certain ascetical writers began to publish a great number of litanies in honour of the Saviour, the Virgin, and the saints, often ill-advised and containing expressions theologically heterodox, so Pope Clement VIII had promulgated (6 Sept., 1601) a severe decree of the Holy Office, which, while upholding the litanies contained in the liturgical books as well as the Litany of Loreto, banned the publication of new litanies, or use of those already published in public worship, without the approbation of the Congregation of Rites.[8]
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In Rome, the Litany of Loreto was introduced into the
Additions
- The Dominicans caused the invocation Regina sacratissimi rosarii ("Queen of the Most Holy Rosary") to be inserted in the litany, and it appears in print for the first time in a Dominican Breviary dated 1614, as has been pointed out by Father Walsh, O.P., in The Tablet, 24 October 1908. 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 XIII on 24 December 1883.[1][8]
- The invocation Queen of All saints was added by Pope Pius VII when he returned to Rome after his long imprisonment by order of Napoleon.[1]
- In 1766 Clement XIII granted Spain the privilege of adding after "Mater intemerata" the invocation Mater immaculata, which is still customary in Spain, notwithstanding the addition of Regina sine labe originali concepta. This last invocation was originally granted by Pope Pius IX to the Bishop of Mechelen in 1846, and, after the definition of the Immaculate Conception (1854), the Congregation by various rescripts authorized many dioceses to make a like addition, so that in a short time it became the universal practice.[8] The title Queen conceived without original sin dates from 1843, some years before the official promulgation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.[11]
- By decree of 22 April 1903, Pope Leo XIII added the invocation "Mater boni consilii" (Mother of Good Counsel), which, under the form of Mater veri consilii, was contained in the Marian litany used for centuries in St Mark's Basilica, Venice.[8]
- The addition Queen of peace was ordered by Pope Benedict XV in 1916.[12]
- In 1950, Pope Pius XII added Queen assumed into heaven.
- In 1980, Pope John Paul II added Mother of the church. The invocation Queen of families was added on 31 December 1995, also by Pope John Paul II.[13]
- On 20 June 2020, during the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pope Francis added three invocations: Mother of mercy, Mother of hope, and Solace of migrants.[14][15]
Indulgence
The 2004
Musical settings
- Tomás Luis de Victoria, Litanies de la Vierge for two Chorus.
- Palestrina, 11 Litanies de la Vierge for 3,, 4, 5, and 8 voices.
- William Byrd, Laetania, for 4 voices
- Thomas Tallis, Laetania, for 5 voices
- Paul Damance, Les Litanies de la Saint Vierge. 1707.
- Jan Dismas Zelenka, 10 Litanies ZWV 147–157.
- Johann Stamitz (1717-1757), Litaniae Lauretanae en do majeur pour voix seule, chœur et orchestre.
- Michel-Richard de Lalande, Litanies de la Saint Vierge à quatre parties, (music lost).
- Marc-Antoine Charpentier : 9 Litanies de La Vierge Marie :
- H.82, for 3 voices and continuo;
- H.83, for 6 voices and 2 treble viols;
- H.84, for 3 voices, 2 treble instruments, and continuo;
- H.85, for soloists, chorus, flutes, strings, and continuo;
- H.86, for 3 voices and continuo;
- H.87, for soloists, chorus and continuo;
- H.88, for soloists, chorus, and continuo;
- H.89, for soloists, chorus, and continuo;
- H.90, for soloists, chorus, and continuo. ( 1680 - 1690).
- Henry Du Mont, Les Litanies de la Vierge for 5 voices and continuo (1657), livre second.
- Paolo Lorenzani, Les Litanies à la Vierge, for 4 voices and continuo (after 1694)
- František Tůma, 20 Litanies de la Vierge Marie
- Charles d'Ambleville, Litanies de la Vierge.
- Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy, 4 Litanies de la Sainte Vierge.
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart : Litaniae Lauretanae KV 109 and KV 195.
- Joseph Haydn, 12 Litanies ; (7 en do, Hob. XXIIIc2, 3, 4, 16, 17, 18, and 20 ; 2 en ré. Hob. XXIIId 6 & 7 ; 2 en fa. Hob. XXIIIf3 & 4 ; 1 en sol. Hob.XIIIg2).
- Luigi Cherubini, Litanies de la Vierge, for chorus (4 voices) and orchestra (1820)
- Charles Gounod, Litanies de la Sainte Vierge, for mixed chorus and organ. (1888)
- César Franck, Litanies de la Sainte Vierge, for 4 voices and organ (1888)
- Jules Massenet, Litanies de la Sainte Vierge, for chorus, organ or harmonium (1888)
- Ernest Reyer, Litanies de la Sainte Vierge, for 3 or 4 voices (1888)
- Ambroise Thomas, Litanies de la sainte Vierge , for 3 or 4 voices (1888)
- Alexandre Guilmant, 5 litanies en l'honneur de le Bienheureuse Vierge Marie, for 1, 2, 3 or 4 voices and organ or harmonium (1877)
- Léo Delibes, Litanies de la Sainte Vierge, pour choeur à 4 voix mixtes et orgue ou harmonium (1867)
- Simon Mayr, Litaniae Lauretanae in A major.
- Francis Poulenc, Litanies à la Vierge Noire (1936).
- Camille Saint-Saëns, Litanies à la Sainte Vierge pour soliste et orgue (1917).
- Joseph Auer, Lauretanische Litanei (1890).
- Johannes Habert, Lauretanische Litanei in A dur, N°2" (1877).
- Jehan Alain, Litanies for organ, opus 119A (1939)
- Sergio Antonio del Rio, Litanei zur Muttergottes (1998).[17]
- Gilbert Amy, Litanies pour Ronchamp (2005)
- Thierry Escaich, Litanies pour un jubilé (2015)
Croats have several different folk musical settings (tunes) of litanies (in Herzegovina,[18] Solin[19] etc.).
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Sullivan, John F., The Externals of the Catholic Church, P.J. Kenedy & Sons (1918) pp. 273-79 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ISBN 9780300072235
- ISBN 9780198166221
- ^ Auer, Joseph, "Lauretanische Litanei" (1890). Marian Sheet Music. 37
- ^ Habert, Johannes, "Lauretanische Litanei in A dur, No. 2" (1877). Marian Sheet Music. 65
- ^ Joseph Cardinal Ferretto, Sacred Apostolic Penitentiary, The Enchiridion of Indulgences, No. 29, Liberia Editrice Vatican, 1968
- ^ a b Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Directory on Popular Piety, §203, December 2001
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Santi, Angelo de (1910). "Litany of Loreto". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ^ "Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary". Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia.
- ^ "Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Prayers".
- ^ Nardin, Vito. "Rosmini’s Contribution to the definition of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception", Charitas, no. 11, November 2004, pp. 297 –300
- ISBN 9780814682937
- ^ Mauriello, Matthew. "Mary, Queen of Families". University of Dayton.
- ^ "Letter of the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments to the Presidents of the Conferences of Bishops on the invocations Mater misericordiæ, Mater spei, and Solacium migrantium to be inserted into the Litany of Loreto, 20.06.2020". 20 June 2020.
- ^ "Pope adds three new invocations to the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary". Vatican News. 20 June 2020.
- Enchiridion Indulgentiarum.quarto editur, Concessiones, 22 2°
- ^ "Fabian Norman Verlag - Litany to the Mother of God EN".
- ISSN 1849-3106.
- ISSN 1849-0417.