“Madonna of the Rosary� (1539) by Lorenzo Lotto - Cingoli (Province of Macerata)
The most widespread Litany of Our Lady in the Catholic world are called the Lauretan Litanies. The Litany is a "prayer of supplication" w ith a peculiar repetitive element (ora pro nobis). They are composed of a series of short invocations containing titles and praise addressed to the Virgin Mary. Ancient formularies report a remarkable variety of Marian Litanies. However, among all existing Marian Litanies, the Loreto Litanies prevailed on all the other ones, and so they took the title of «Lauretan Litanies». Their innate beauty, poetry and harmony, along with the reputation of the Sanctuary, made them the most popular prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Throughout the centuries, they were set to music by great musicians: Pierluigi Da Palestrina, Orlando Di Lasso, W. Amadeus Mozart, Lorenzo Perosi. The first Pope to approve the Litany recited in the Holy House of Loreto was Pope Sixtus V, in 1587. Pope Clement VIII, by decree in 1601, established the official formulary of the Litanies, consisting of 44 invocations to the Virgin Mary, in this way the Lauretan Litanies became official in the Catholic Church. Since then every change or addition to the Litany of Loreto must be approved by the Holy See. Later, over the centuries, other invocations have been officially added. The latest additions: ”Regina Familiae” (Queen of the Family) by Pope John Paul II, in 1995; ”Mater misericordiae” (Mother of Mercy),“Mater spei” (Mother of Hope) and ”Solacium migrantium” (Comfort of Migrants) by Pope Francis in 2020. The current official form of the Litany consists of fifty-four invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary, preceded by three supplications to Jesus and, at the end, by three invocations to the Agnus Dei. The Litany of Loreto is usually recited at the end of the Holy Rosary and after the prayer: "Hail, holy Queen”. However, they could be recited independently of the Rosary, as a prayer in itself. Moreover, the art of the Shrine of Loreto has exalted them through the wonderful frescoes (1890-1895) painted by Cesare Maccari in the top of the Dome of the Basilica, where some invocations to Mary the Queen are depicted.
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Latin text
English text
Kyrie, eléison
Lord, have mercy
Christe, eléison
Christ, have mercy
Kyrie, eléison
Lord, have mercy
Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis
Holy Mary, pray for us
Sancta Dei Génitrix, ora pro nobis
Holy Mother of God, pray for us
Sancta Virgo virginum, ora pro nobis
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us
Mater Christi, ora pro nobis
Mother of Christ, pray for us
Mater Ecclesiae, ora pro nobis
Mother of the Church, pray for us
Mater Misericordiae, ora pro nobis
Mother of Mercy, pray for us
Mater divinae gratiae, ora pro nobis
Mother of Divine Grace, pray for us
Mater spei, ora pro nobis
Mother of hope, pray for us
Mater purissima, ora pro nobis
Mother most pure, pray for us
Mater castissima, ora pro nobis
Mother most chaste, pray for us
Mater inviolata, ora pro nobis
Mother inviolate, pray for us
Mater intemerata, ora pro nobis
Mother undefiled, pray for us
Mater amabilis, ora pro nobis
Mother most amiable, pray for us
Mater admirabilis, ora pro nobis
Mother most admirable, pray for us
Mater boni consilii, ora pro nobis
Mother of good counsel, pray for us
Mater Creatoris, ora pro nobis
Mother of our Creator, pray for us
Mater Salvatoris, ora pro nobis
Mother of our Saviour, pray for us
Virgo prudentissima, ora pro nobis
Virgin most prudent, pray for us
Virgo veneranda, ora pro nobis
Virgin most venerable, pray for us 2
Virgo praedicanda, ora pro nobis
Virgin most renowned, pray for us
Virgo potens, ora pro nobis
Virgin most powerful, pray for us
Virgo clemens, ora pro nobis
Virgin most merciful, pray for us
Virgo fidelis, ora pro nobis
Virgin most faithful, pray for us
Speculum iustitiae, ora pro nobis
Mirror of justice, pray for us
Sedes sapientiae, ora pro nobis
Seat of wisdom, pray for us
Causa nostrae laetitiae, ora pro nobis
Cause of our joy, pray for us
Vas spirituale, ora pro nobis
Spiritual vessel, pray for us
Vas honorabile, ora pro nobis
Vessel of honor, pray for us
Vas insigne devotionis, ora pro nobis
Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us
Rosa mystica, ora pro nobis
Mystical Rose, pray for us
Turris Davidica, ora pro nobis
Tower of David, pray for us
Turris eburnea, ora pro nobis
Tower of ivory, pray for us
Domus aurea, ora pro nobis
House of gold, pray for us
Foederis arca, ora pro nobis
Ark of the covenant, pray for us
Ianua coeli, ora pro nobis
Gate of heaven, pray for us
Stella matutina, ora pro nobis
Morning star, pray for us
Salus infirmorum, ora pro nobis
Health of the sick, pray for us
Refugium peccatorum, ora pro nobis
Refuge of sinners, pray for us
Solacium migrantium, ora pro nobis
Comfort of migrants, pray for us
Consolatrix afflictorum, ora pro nobis
Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us
Auxilium Christianorum, ora pro nobis
Help of Christians, pray for us
Regina Angelorum, ora pro nobis
Queen of Angels, pray for us
Regina Patriarcharum, ora pro nobis
Queen of Patriarchs, pray for us
Regina Prophetarum, ora pro nobis
Queen of Prophets, pray for us
Regina Apostolorum, ora pro nobis
Queen of Apostles, pray for us 3
Regina Martirum, ora pro nobis
Queen of Martyrs, pray for us
Regina confessorum, ora pro nobis
Queen of Confessors, pray for us
Regina virginum, ora pro nobis
Queen of virgins, pray for us
Regina Sanctorum omnium, ora pro nobis
Queen of all Saints, pray for us
Regina sine labe originali concepta, ora pro nobis
Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us
Regina in caelum assumpta, ora pro nobis
Queen assumed into Heaven, pray for us
Regina sacratissimi Rosarii, ora pro nobis
Queen of the most Holy Rosary, pray for us
Regina familiae, ora pro nobis
Queen of the family, pray for us
Regina pacis, ora pro nobis
Queen of peace, pray for us
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, parce nobis, Domine
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, spare us, o Lord!
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, exaudi nos, Domine
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, o Lord!
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us!
Madonna of Loreto 4
Litaniae ad Virginem Lauretanam Hand painted engraving (XVIII Cent.) Franco Raffi collection, Loreto - Italy