Litanies

Litany of the Holy Childhood of Jesus

For private use only.

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 Spirit,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.

O Divine Infant Jesus, sent to earth from Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
O Divine Infant Jesus, born of Mary in Bethlehem,
Have mercy on us.
O Divine Infant Jesus, wrapped in swaddling clothes, etc.
O Divine Infant Jesus, placed in the crib,
O Divine Infant Jesus, praised by the Angels,
O Divine Infant Jesus, adored by the shepherds,
O Divine Infant Jesus, proclaimed as Savior through Thy adorable Name,
O Divine Infant Jesus, announced by the star,
O Divine Infant Jesus, worshipped by the Magi with symbolic gifts,
O Divine Infant Jesus, presented in the Temple by the Virgin,
O Divine Infant Jesus, embraced by the aged Simeon,
O Divine Infant Jesus, revealed in the Temple by the prophetess Anna,
O Divine Infant Jesus, persecuted by King Herod,
O Divine Infant Jesus, fleeing into the exile of Egypt,
O Divine Infant Jesus, crowning with martyrdom the infants of Bethlehem,
O Divine Infant Jesus, rejoicing the heart of Mary with Thy first words,
O Divine Infant Jesus, learning to take Thy first steps in exile,
O Divine Infant Jesus, returning from Egypt to be reared in Nazareth,
O Divine Infant Jesus, loved by all as a shining example of obedience,
O Divine Infant Jesus, brought to the Temple at the age of twelve,
O Divine Infant Jesus, lost by Mary and Joseph on their return home,
O Divine Infant Jesus, sought for three days with great sorrow,
O Divine Infant Jesus, found with great delight,

Be merciful, O Jesus.
Be merciful, hear us, O Jesus.
From all evil, deliver us, O Jesus.
From all sin, deliver us, O Jesus.
From misconduct in the Church, etc.
From quarrels and anger,
From lies and thievery,
From evil talk and bad example,
From bad habits,
By Thine Incarnation,
By Thy birth,
By Thy most bitter poverty,
By Thy persecution and sufferings,
Through the intercession of Thy most holy Mother,
Through the intercession of Thy holy foster father,
Through the intercession of the Holy Innocents,
Through the intercession of all the Angels and Saints,

We, Thy sinful children,
beseech Thee to hear us,
Hear our prayer for the salvation of the unfortunate heathen,
we beseech Thee to hear us.
With pity,
we beseech Thee to hear us.
That Thou wouldst look kindly upon our small gifts, etc.
That Thou wouldst number the men of God among Thy Saints,
That Thou wouldst richly bless their apostolic works,
That all the world may kneel before Thee,
That we may be zealous to convert all unbelievers,
in the Name of Thy Holy Childhood,
That we may keep our Baptismal vows faithfully,
That we may rejoice to be children of Thy Father in Heaven,
That we may ever honor and love our Father in Heaven,
That we may pray as Christian children, freely and devoutly,
That we may willingly obey Thy Commandments,
That we may inscribe in our hearts the Fourth
Commandment: "Honor thy father and thy Mother,"
That we may grow in wisdom and virtue as we grow in years,
That Thou wilt keep us innocent,
That Thou wilt deliver us from temptation,
That Thou wilt instill in us great love and devotion for Thy Mother, Mary,
That we may never make an unworthy Confession,
That we may receive Holy Communion with sincerity,
That Thou wilt grant our parents a long life,
That Thou wilt grant them Thy best gifts,
That Thou wilt enlighten our pastors and give them strength,
That Thou wilt repay our benefactors with eternal gifts,
 That Thou wilt have mercy upon the poor souls in Purgatory,

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,
Hear our prayer, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us, O Lord.

V. Christ, hear us
R. Christ, graciously hear us.

Say an Our Father.

Let Us Pray.
We pray to Thee, Heavenly Father, Who for the Infant Jesus' sake
adopted us as Thy children and as heirs of Heaven, look kindly upon children
not of the Faith and let them participate in our unearned and priceless fortune.
We ask this through the Infant Jesus Christ, Thy Son Our Lord, Who liveth
and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. R. Amen.