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The Great Mary Litany


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This Litany is based a little bit on the Litany of Loreto of the Roman Church (which aparently was based on that of St. Brogan); a little on Orthodox titles applied to the Theotokos; but almost all of it comes from the ancient Irish Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary by St. Brogan, believed to be the oldest litany of Mary in the world. It is used for private devotion by some Celtic Catholics. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is an integral feature of early Celtic Christian spirituality.


Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Christ, 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, Sanctifier of the faithful,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary,
  Pray for us.
      Repeat the invocation, Pray for us, after each of the following:

picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the Book of Kells O Great Mary,
O Mary, greatest of Marys,
O Greatest of women,
Holy Mother of God,
Mother of Christ,
Mother of divine grace,
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother most admirable,
Mother of good counsel,
Mother of Christ our Creator,
Mother of our Savior,
Mother most worthy,
Mother more spacious than the heavens,
Mother of consolation,
Mother of eternal glory,
Mother of the Heavenly and Earthly Church,
Mother of fondness and forgiveness,
Mother of the golden Light,
Lady of the Heavens,
Lady of the families of earth,
O Woman full and replete with the Grace of the Holy Spirit,
True beauty of women,
Virgin most prudent, most venerable and faithful,
Virgin most powerful, most merciful and renowned,
Beauty of virgins,
Chief of the maidens,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Joy of all who sorrow,
Life-giving spring,
O Cleansing of sins,
O Renewal of life,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honor,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Holy Grail,
Mystical rose,
Enclosed garden,
Burning bush,
Fountain of the gardens,
Tower of David,
Palace of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of heaven,
Temple of the Divinity,
Throne of the eternal King,
Sanctuary of the Holy Spirit,
Keeper of the portal,
Ladder of Heaven,
Virgin of the root of Jesse,
Cedar of Mount Lebanon,
Cypress of Mount Zion,
Purple rose of the land of Israel,
O flowering like a palm,
O fruitful like the olive tree,
Light of Nazareth,
Glory of Jerusalem,
Beauty of the world,
Noblest born of the Christian Flock,
Morning star,
Star of the sea,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Model of saints,
Searcher for the lost,
Comforter of the afflicted,
Breast of the infants,
Solace of the wretched,
Mother of the motherless,
Mother of the unloved,
Help of Christians,
Terror of demons,
Unexpected joy,
Sign of Tranquility,
O Shapely like a dove,
O Serene like the moon,
O Resplendent like the sun,
O Quick to hear,
Queen of angels,
Queen of all saints,
Queen of peace,
Handmaiden of God,
Daughter of God the Father,
Mother of God the Son,
Spouse of God the Holy Spirit,
O Blessed and Most Blessed,
  Pray for us.

Carry our longings and prayers to the presence of the Creator, for we, though redeemed by your Son, are not worthy to approach God's mighty presence. Pray for us:
  For the forgiveness of our sins, pray for us.
  For the cleansing of our defilements, pray for us.
  For the healing of our sickness, pray for us.
  For the strengthening of our weakness, pray for us.
  For release from our enslavement, pray for us.
  For amendment of our evil habits, pray for us.
  For the filling of our emptiness, pray for us.

Pray to God for us that we may dwell with him, with you, and with all the saints in his glorious Kingdom forever.
May we reach it, may we inhabit it, may we dwell there forever.

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God. Amen.

You may want to conclude this litany with one of the prayers to Mary.




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Holy Mary, pray for us.     St. John the Paranymphos, pray for us.     St. Philip, pray for us.     St. Joseph of Arimathea, pray for us.     St. Brendan, pray for us.     St. Mary Hazel of Sleepy Hollow, pray for us.