Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus
The Most Holy Name of Jesus is the name given by heaven for the salvation of mankind. Sacred Scripture teaches that “in the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Philippians 2:10). Through this litany, the faithful honor the divine Person of Jesus Christ, call upon His saving mercy, and seek His help in every spiritual need. Each invocation draws the heart closer to the Lord whose Holy Name brings hope, strength, peace, and salvation.
What Is the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus?
The Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus is a traditional Catholic prayer that honors the sacred Name of Jesus and meditates upon who He is and what He has done for mankind. Through a series of short invocations, the faithful proclaim Jesus as the Son of God, the Savior of the human race, the source of holiness, and the hope of those who call upon Him.
The litany begins by asking the Holy Trinity for mercy. It then presents many titles and works of Christ, with the response, “Have mercy on us.” These invocations praise His divine majesty, His perfect goodness, His saving sacrifice, and His loving care for souls. The prayer also asks Jesus to deliver His people from sin, temptation, spiritual harm, and anything that may draw them away from God.
Praying this litany is more than repeating the Name of Jesus. It is an act of faith in the Lord Himself. As Sacred Scripture teaches, “in the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Philippians 2:10). Each invocation invites the faithful to place greater trust in Christ, seek His mercy, and honor the Holy Name through which salvation was given to mankind.
Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus — Full Prayer
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Jesus, hear us.
Jesus, 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.
Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Splendor of the Father, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Brightness of eternal light, have mercy on us.
Jesus, King of glory, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Sun of justice, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary, have mercy on us.
Jesus, most amiable, have mercy on us.
Jesus, most admirable, have mercy on us.
Jesus, the mighty God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Father of the world to come, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Angel of great counsel, have mercy on us.
Jesus, most powerful, have mercy on us.
Jesus, most patient, have mercy on us.
Jesus, most obedient, have mercy on us.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart, have mercy on us.
Jesus, lover of chastity, have mercy on us.
Jesus, lover of us, have mercy on us.
Jesus, God of peace, have mercy on us.
Jesus, author of life, have mercy on us.
Jesus, model of virtues, have mercy on us.
Jesus, zealous for souls, have mercy on us.
Jesus, our God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, our refuge, have mercy on us.
Jesus, father of the poor, have mercy on us.
Jesus, treasure of the faithful, have mercy on us.
Jesus, good Shepherd, have mercy on us.
Jesus, true light, have mercy on us.
Jesus, eternal wisdom, have mercy on us.
Jesus, infinite goodness, have mercy on us.
Jesus, our way and our life, have mercy on us.
Jesus, joy of angels, have mercy on us.
Jesus, king of patriarchs, have mercy on us.
Jesus, master of apostles, have mercy on us.
Jesus, teacher of evangelists, have mercy on us.
Jesus, strength of martyrs, have mercy on us.
Jesus, light of confessors, have mercy on us.
Jesus, purity of virgins, have mercy on us.
Jesus, crown of all saints, have mercy on us.
Be merciful, spare us, O Jesus.
Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Jesus.
From all evil, deliver us, O Jesus.
From all sin, deliver us, O Jesus.
From Thy wrath, deliver us, O Jesus.
From the snares of the devil, deliver us, O Jesus.
From the spirit of fornication, deliver us, O Jesus.
From everlasting death, deliver us, O Jesus.
From the neglect of Thy inspirations, deliver us, O Jesus.
By the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation, deliver us, O Jesus.
By Thy Nativity, deliver us, O Jesus.
By Thy Infancy, deliver us, O Jesus.
By Thy most divine life, deliver us, O Jesus.
By Thy labors, deliver us, O Jesus.
By Thy agony and Passion, deliver us, O Jesus.
By Thy Cross and dereliction, deliver us, O Jesus.
By Thy sufferings, deliver us, O Jesus.
By Thy death and burial, deliver us, O Jesus.
By Thy Resurrection, deliver us, O Jesus.
By Thy Ascension, deliver us, O Jesus.
By Thy institution of the most holy Eucharist, deliver us, O Jesus.
By Thy joys, deliver us, O Jesus.
By Thy glory, deliver us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Jesus.
Jesus, hear us.
Jesus, graciously hear us.
Let us pray
O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast said: Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you: grant, we beseech Thee, to us who ask the gift of Thy divine love, that we may ever love Thee with our whole heart, and in all our words and actions, and never cease from praising Thee.
Make us, O Lord, to have a perpetual fear and love of Thy holy Name; for Thou never failest to help and govern those whom Thou dost establish in Thy love. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
How to Pray the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus
The Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus may be prayed alone, with a family, or in a parish group. Before beginning, the faithful may make the Sign of the Cross, quiet their thoughts, and offer the prayer for a personal need, the needs of another person, or the good of the Church.
When the litany is prayed in a group, one person usually reads each invocation while the others give the stated response. The opening petitions are answered with “Have mercy on us.” The titles of Jesus are followed by the same response, while the petitions for deliverance are answered with “Deliver us, O Jesus.” Near the end, the faithful respond to the invocations of the Lamb of God and then join in the closing prayer.
When praying alone, one person simply reads both the invocation and its response. The words should be prayed slowly and with attention, allowing each title of Jesus to become an act of praise, trust, and love. The value of the litany does not come from speed or the number of times it is said, but from turning the heart toward Christ and calling upon His Holy Name with faith.
Meaning of the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus
The Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus leads the faithful through an ordered prayer of mercy, praise, deliverance, and trust. It begins by asking God for mercy, then honors the Holy Trinity before turning to the many titles and virtues of Jesus Christ. The prayer continues with petitions for freedom from sin and spiritual danger, remembers the saving mysteries of Christ’s life, and closes by asking the Lamb of God to hear His people.
Each part of the litany helps the faithful understand why the Name of Jesus is holy. His Name cannot be separated from His divine Person, His saving work, or His love for mankind. To call upon the Name of Jesus with faith is to turn toward the Savior Himself.
Opening Petitions for Mercy
The litany opens with the ancient Christian plea, “Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.” These words place the faithful before God with humility and trust. Those who pray admit their need for grace and ask Jesus to look upon them with compassion.
This request for mercy is not made in despair. Christian prayer approaches Christ with confidence because He came to seek and save sinners. The opening petitions prepare the heart to receive the rest of the litany as an act of repentance, love, and faith.
The words also remind the faithful that every grace begins with God. Human strength alone cannot overcome sin, heal the heart, or lead a soul to heaven. The mercy of Christ must be sought before all else.
Invocation of the Holy Trinity
The prayer next calls upon God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, and the Holy Trinity, one God. This part places devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus within the full faith of the Church. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of the Father, one in divine nature with the Father and the Holy Ghost.
The Name of Jesus was given to the Son when He took human flesh for the salvation of mankind. Honoring His Holy Name therefore leads the faithful into the mystery of the Triune God. The Son was sent by the Father and became man through the power of the Holy Ghost so that mankind might be freed from sin and brought into communion with God.
The response, “Have mercy on us,” is addressed to the one true God. Although the three divine Persons are named, Catholics worship one God in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Titles and Attributes of Jesus
The central portion of the litany presents a long series of titles for Jesus. He is praised as the Son of the living God, the brightness of eternal light, the King of glory, the Sun of justice, the Son of the Virgin Mary, and the mighty God. Each title reveals something true about His divine identity, His human life, or His saving mission.
Other invocations honor the virtues seen in Christ. He is called most patient, most obedient, meek and humble of heart, and a lover of souls. These titles remind the faithful that the Son of God did not save mankind from a distance. He entered human life, accepted suffering, obeyed the Father, and gave Himself upon the Cross.
Jesus is also praised as the Good Shepherd, the true light, eternal wisdom, infinite goodness, the way and the life, and the crown of all the saints. These titles show that every spiritual good is found in Him. He guides the lost, enlightens the mind, strengthens the weak, and leads souls to eternal life.
The repeated response, “Have mercy on us,” turns every title into a personal prayer. The faithful do more than state what Jesus is; they ask Him to act in their lives according to His goodness. Because He is the Good Shepherd, they ask Him to guide them. Because He is the true light, they ask Him to lead them out of darkness. Because He is the way and the life, they entrust their salvation to Him.
Petitions for Mercy and Deliverance
After praising Jesus by His titles, the litany asks Him to spare His people, hear their prayers, and deliver them from evil. The petitions name the dangers that threaten the life of grace, including sin, the snares of the devil, disordered desires, eternal death, and the neglect of God’s inspirations.
The response changes to “Deliver us, O Jesus.” This is a direct appeal to Christ as Savior. The faithful acknowledge that evil is real and that sin can wound or destroy the soul. At the same time, they confess that Jesus has power over every enemy of salvation.
These petitions also ask for freedom from the hidden habits that keep a person from following God. A soul may resist grace, ignore the voice of conscience, or cling to a sinful way of life. By asking Jesus for deliverance, the faithful seek not only safety from outward harm but also freedom from everything within them that opposes His will.
The Holy Name is invoked with confidence because salvation comes through Jesus Christ. As Saint Peter proclaimed, “For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Appeals Through the Mysteries of Jesus Christ
The litany then asks for deliverance through the saving events of Christ’s life. It recalls His Incarnation, birth, infancy, divine life, labors, agony, Cross, sufferings, death, burial, Resurrection, Ascension, institution of the Holy Eucharist, joys, and glory.
These appeals show that every part of the life of Jesus has saving meaning. The Son of God became man, lived among His people, suffered, died, and rose again for their redemption. The faithful place their needs within these mysteries and ask that the grace won by Christ may be active in their lives.
Calling upon the Incarnation recalls the humility of the Son who took human flesh. Calling upon His Cross and Passion recalls the price He paid for sin. Calling upon His Resurrection and Ascension expresses hope in victory over death and the promise of heaven. Calling upon the Holy Eucharist turns the heart toward the gift of Christ’s true Body and Blood.
This part of the litany helps the faithful unite their own joys, trials, and sufferings with the life of Jesus. Nothing offered to Him in faith is wasted. His mysteries give meaning to Christian life and lead the soul toward its final union with God.
Lamb of God Petitions and Closing Prayer
Near the end of the litany, Jesus is addressed as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. This title recalls both His innocence and His sacrifice upon the Cross. Like the lambs offered under the Old Covenant, Christ was offered for sin, yet His sacrifice is perfect and complete because He is the divine Son.
The petitions ask Jesus to spare His people, hear them graciously, and have mercy on them. These responses gather together the main desires of the entire litany. The faithful seek forgiveness for sin, help in their needs, and the mercy required for eternal life.
The closing prayer asks Jesus to grant the gift of divine love so that His people may love Him with their whole hearts, honor Him in their words and deeds, and never cease praising His Holy Name. It also asks for a lasting reverence and love for that Name.
The litany therefore ends where Christian life is meant to lead: not only to freedom from danger, but to a faithful love of Jesus Christ. Those who honor His Name are called to live in a manner worthy of it, trusting Him in prayer and bearing witness to Him through lives of faith, obedience, and charity.
Why Catholics Honor the Holy Name of Jesus
Catholics honor the Most Holy Name of Jesus because His Name reveals who He is and why He came into the world. It is the Name of the eternal Son of God made man, the Savior who frees His people from sin and opens the way to eternal life.
The Church’s reverence is directed not toward a word apart from Christ, but toward Jesus Himself. Speaking His Name with faith becomes an act of worship, trust, love, and surrender. His Holy Name comforts the sorrowful, strengthens the tempted, and reminds every soul that salvation is found in Him.
The Name Jesus Means “God Saves”
The name Jesus means “God saves” or “the Lord saves.” This meaning was declared by the angel who told Saint Joseph, “Thou shalt call his name Jesus. For he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
His Name reveals the heart of His mission. The Son of God came not merely to teach or perform miracles, but to rescue mankind from sin and restore friendship with God. Every time the faithful speak the Name of Jesus with faith, they proclaim that He is the Savior and that no sin, wound, or trial is beyond His mercy.
The litany draws upon this truth by calling Jesus the salvation of those who believe, the refuge of sinners, the comfort of the afflicted, and the hope of the dying. His Name assures the faithful that God has drawn near and has acted to save His people.
The Holy Name of Jesus in Sacred Scripture
Sacred Scripture treats the Name of Jesus with great honor. Saint Paul teaches that God gave Christ “a name which is above all names,” so that “in the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Philippians 2:9–10). Heaven and earth acknowledge the majesty and authority of the risen Lord.
Saint Peter also proclaimed, “For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Salvation does not come through human wisdom, wealth, or power. It comes through Jesus Christ, who died and rose again for mankind.
The Apostles preached, healed, baptized, and suffered in the Name of Jesus. Their faith was not placed in a mere spoken formula, but in the living Lord whose Name they invoked. The litany continues this biblical practice by placing the Holy Name upon the lips and within the heart of the faithful.
Reverence for the Name of Jesus
Reverence for the Name of Jesus is a sign of love for the Lord. Catholics traditionally bow their heads when His Holy Name is spoken, especially during the sacred liturgy. This simple act expresses humility before the Son of God and gratitude for the salvation He has won.
The Second Commandment forbids the misuse of God’s Name. The Name of Jesus should never be used carelessly, in anger, or as an empty expression. It should be spoken with respect because it belongs to the divine Person who loved mankind unto death.
True reverence extends beyond words. Those who honor the Name of Jesus are called to live according to His Gospel. Their conduct, speech, prayer, and treatment of others should bear witness to the Lord whose Name they profess.
Prayer and Salvation in the Name of Jesus
Christ taught His disciples to pray in His Name. He promised, “Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, that will I do” (John 14:13). To pray in the Name of Jesus means approaching the Father through the Son, trusting in His merits and seeking what agrees with His holy will.
The Name of Jesus may be invoked in temptation, fear, suffering, illness, and danger. A quiet and faithful repetition of His Name can turn the heart away from distress and toward the Savior. The strength comes from Christ Himself, not from treating His Name as a charm or formula.
Calling upon Jesus also expresses hope in eternal salvation. The faithful live, pray, repent, and die trusting in His mercy. The Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus helps form this trust by teaching the soul to seek every grace through the Savior and to rest in the Name by which mankind is saved.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus?
The Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus is a traditional Catholic prayer that honors Jesus Christ through His sacred Name, divine titles, virtues, and saving works. Its repeated petitions praise Him as Savior, ask for His mercy, and seek deliverance from sin and spiritual danger. The litany leads the faithful to greater love, trust, and reverence for Jesus.
Why Do Catholics Honor the Holy Name of Jesus?
Catholics honor the Holy Name because it belongs to Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God and Savior of mankind. The name Jesus means “God saves,” revealing the purpose of His coming among His people. Reverence for His Name is therefore an act of love and worship directed toward Jesus Himself, not toward a word apart from Him.
Is Devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus Biblical?
Yes. Sacred Scripture teaches that Jesus received “a name which is above all names” and that “in the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Philippians 2:9–10). Saint Peter also declared, “For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Devotion to the Holy Name rests upon the Bible’s clear witness to the saving power and divine authority of Jesus Christ.
When Should the Litany of the Holy Name Be Prayed?
The litany may be prayed at any time, either alone or with others. It is well suited for times of temptation, fear, sorrow, illness, repentance, or any moment when a person needs the mercy and strength of Christ. It may also be prayed during January, which has long been devoted in a special way to the Holy Name of Jesus.
Can the Litany Be Prayed for a Special Intention?
Yes. The Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus may be offered for a personal need, the conversion or healing of another person, the protection of a family, the needs of the Church, or the repose of a departed soul. The intention may be named quietly before the prayer begins and then entrusted to the wisdom and mercy of Jesus.
Is the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus an Official Catholic Litany?
Yes. The Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus is an approved Catholic litany used in the public and private devotional life of the Church. It is a formal devotional prayer rather than a required part of the Mass. Catholics may pray it confidently as a faithful expression of honor, repentance, and trust in Jesus Christ.
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Charles Rogers is a resident of South Carolina and a retired computer programmer by trade. Raised in various Christian denominations, he came to faith in Jesus Christ early in life. In 2012, he began experiencing authentic spiritual encounters with the Blessed Virgin Mary, which led him on a seven-year journey at her hands, that included alcohol addiction, a widow maker heart attack and death and conversion to the Catholic Faith. He is the exclusive author and owner of Two Percent Survival, a website dedicated to and created in honor of the Holy Mother. Feel free to email Charles at twopercentsurvival@gmail.com.
May Our Lady of the Rosary lead you deeper into the grace you have been given. Pray always, and trust the mercy of God while the door remains open.
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