Eucharistic Litany

EUCHARISTIC LITANY.

Profitable alike for those that sacrifice and for those that communicate.

Collected out of Holy Scripture.

NOTE.—Passages marked thus [ ] relate to priests only, and may be passed over by others.

Lord have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy on us.

God the Father of heaven, who hast so loved the world as to give thy only-begotten Son, and hast caused him to take flesh, and undergo the cross for us, Have mercy on me:
That I may receive him with my whole heart, and with the inmost affection of love; and give myself to thee wholly and entirely, and live not to myself, but to thee.
Father eternal, who for the love of us didst not spare thy own Son, but deliveredst him up for us all, Have mercy on me:
That with a thankful heart I may reflect upon a work of so great love, and commemorate it in this holy mystery.
Father, most holy, who didst send thy Son into the world, not to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him, Have mercy on me:
That his Body and Blood may not be to me to judgment and condemnation, but to life and salvation.
Father, most wise, who, by thy wonderful providence, hast wrought our salvation in the midst of the earth; and willed thy Son, whom thou hast begotten from eternity equal to thyself, to be born in time of a virgin, to exist in this Sacrament in a new and admirable manner, and be with us even to the consummation of the world, Have mercy on me:
That I may never be found ungrateful for the benefits of thy so unspeakable grace and love.
Father, most good, with whom we have an advocate, Jesus Christ, who is the propitiation for our sins, Have mercy on me:
That through him I may merit to obtain from thee pardon and remission of my sins; for behold, he is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Father, most mighty, who, with a loud voice, didst testify that this is thy beloved Son, in whom thou art well pleased, Have mercy on me:
And because by my own actions I cannot please thee, look upon the face of thy Christ, that through him I may find grace in thy sight.
Father, most bountiful, who, according to the promise of thy most dear Son, wilt give us whatsoever we shall ask in his name, Have mercy on me:
That I may obtain that which I ask before all things, namely, that I may never receive unworthily or to my condemnation, the mysteries of the Body and Blood of thy Son.
Father of the fatherless, since the eyes of all hope in thee, and thou givest them meat in due season, Have mercy on me:
And give me this day my daily bread, that living Bread which comes down from heaven, that it may strengthen my heart, and nourish it for ever.

II.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, who, of thy infinite love, didst undertake the work of our redemption; and, by taking flesh in the most chaste womb of the Virgin Mary, wast made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man, Have mercy on me:
That in my inmost heart I may cherish the memory of thy boundless love, and of thy most holy Incarnation, as often as, by this Sacrament, thou art born in my soul.
Jesus, most sweet Saviour, who hast prepared a table before us against all who afflict us, Have mercy on me:
That my enemies may never prevail against me, and that I may fear no evil, because thou art with me, and art in this Sacrament most inwardly present to my soul.
Jesus, most gracious, who hast said, Come to me, all you that labour and are burdened, and I will refresh you, Have mercy on me:
That I may be delivered from the weight of my sins, because, as a heavy burden, they are become heavy upon me; and refresh, with this heavenly food, my hungry and fainting spirit.
Jesus, most merciful, who hadst compassion on the multitudes that long waited on thee; and when they had nothing to eat, didst, by the wonderful might of thy power, feed them all to the full, Have mercy on me:
That I may not faint in the way, if defrauded of this heavenly food.
Jesus, most bountiful, who hast given us bread that is rich, and yields delight to kings, and feedest us with the fat of wheat, Have mercy on me:
And let my soul be filled as it were with marrow and fatness, that my heart may never be withered, if I forget to eat my bread.
Jesus, most tender, who exhortest us to receive thee, saying, My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed; and, Except you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man, And drink his Blood, you shall not have life in you, Have mercy on me:
And grant me worthily to receive this meat and drink, that I may no more hunger and thirst, and may not die for ever.
Jesus, most sweet, whom Zacchæus received into his house with joy, and the centurion, out of reverence, presumed not to receive under his roof, Have mercy on me:
That I may ever unite both their affections of love and of fear, when I receive thee into my house.
Jesus most humble, who didst vouchsafe to be very intimate, and to eat with even publicans and sinners, saying: They that are in health need not a physician, but they that are ill, Have mercy on me:
That thou mayest vouchsafe also to visit me a sinner; and to heal my soul, for it is sick unto death.
Jesus, great and magnificent King, who, to show the power and riches of thy kingdom, hast made for us a great feast, and so lovingly condescended to invite to it all the subjects of thy kingdom, Have mercy on me:
That I may come joyfully and promptly to this divine feast, but never without being clothed in a wedding garment.
Jesus, most loving, who, before thy passion, didst most ardently desire to eat this pasch with thy disciples, Have mercy on me:
That as the hart pants after the fountains of water, so in this Sacrament my soul may pant after thee the living God.
Jesus, most pure, who, when going to institute this Sacrament, didst first kneel upon the ground and wash the feet of thy disciples, in token of the purity and cleanness with which thou wouldst have us prepared to receive these holy mysteries, Have mercy on me:
And wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sins; wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head; that is, let my affections, acts, and intention be pure, when I desire to be a guest at thy table.
Jesus, most tender, who didst plant in the midst of Paradise, that is, thy Church, the tree of life to be a remedy against all diseases, and even the death of the soul, Have mercy on me:
That thence I may receive the fruit of life and immortality, and my youth be renewed from it as the eagle's.
Jesus, most bountiful, who hast given thyself to us, at birth to be our companion, at table to be our food, in death to be our ransom, and in thy kingdom wilt give thyself to be our reward, Have mercy on me:
That for such great blessings my soul, and all that is within me, at all times, may bless thy holy name.
Jesus, most true, who saidst, when giving thyself to be meat and drink, This is my Body, which shall be delivered for you; and, This is my Blood, which shall be shed for you, Have mercy on me:
That I may not waver in faith, nor in believing in the words of thy lips; for thou art the Truth itself, in whose mouth is found neither lie nor deceit; and thou art also God Almighty, with whom no word is impossible.
Jesus, most meek, who, when going to depart out of this world to the Father, didst leave us a lasting monument of thy boundless love; and hast given us in this Sacrament the memory of thy wonderful works, by commanding us to do this for the commemoration of thee, Have mercy on me:
That I may ever earnestly bear thee in mind, and ever constantly venerate thy power, wisdom, and goodness, here shining forth, and never forget all that thou hast done for me.
Jesus, most mild, who, at thy last supper, wouldst not exclude even Judas from the company of the disciples, and from thy table, Have mercy on me:
That I, who am, alas! thy too unworthy and unfaithful servant, may never, with Judas, become guilty of thy Body and Blood.
Jesus, most thankful, who, when thou hadst accomplished this mystery in presence of thy disciples, didst give thanks to thy eternal Father, and, having sung a hymn, didst go forth into the garden, which was thy place of prayer, Have mercy on me:
That I may never come away unthankful from so excellent a feast, but that my soul may be more and more inflamed with thy love by the serious consideration of so great a benefit.
Jesus, Priest for ever, who hast offered thyself a sacrifice on the altar of the cross: good Shepherd, who hast laid down thy life for thy sheep, and feedest them with thy very Body and Blood, Have mercy on me:
And because I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost, seek thy servant, carry me back on thy shoulders to thy fold, and feed me in the place of pasture, where thou hast set me.
Jesus, most merciful, who, in the guise of a stranger, didst join thy disciples as they were going to Emmaus; and madest thyself known to them at length in the breaking of bread, Have mercy on me:
That I, who believe thee truly present under these figures, though I see thee not with my eyes, may at length merit to contemplate thee with face revealed; and that whilst thou vouchsafest meanwhile to feed me on the way with thy sweet converse, and with the food of thy Body, my heart may burn within me with the love and desire of thee.

III.

God the Holy Ghost, who, by the wonderful operation of thy divine power, didst effect the mystery of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Virgin's womb, making her in an ineffable manner fruitful, and sanctifying her, that she might merit to become the worthy habitation of the Son of God, Have mercy on me:
That I too may conceive my Lord and God in this holy sacrament, with pure affection and a clean heart; and may henceforth display him openly in the holiness of my works.

IV.

Holy Trinity, one God, who openest thy hand, and fillest with blessing every living creature, Have mercy on me:
That the bread which strengthens the heart of man may be given me to eat, and that in the strength of that food I may walk through this desert, even to thy holy mountain.
Holy Trinity, one God, who didst command the children of Israel to eat the paschal lamb, which was a type of our Saviour, in memory of their deliverance from the hard bondage of Pharao, Have mercy on me:
That as often as I receive these divine mysteries, I may reflect upon the work of our Redemption with a thankful heart.
Holy Trinity, one God, who feddest the children of Israel passing through the desert with manna from heaven and with the food of angels, which has in it all that is delicious; but didst punish them severely when at length weary of it, Have mercy on me:
That with the purified palate of my heart I may taste and see how sweet the Lord is, and that my soul may never grow weary of that as though it were the poorest food.
Holy Trinity, one God, who didst more than once visit with severe punishment the irreverence and wrong done to the Sacrifice and to the Ark (which were only figures or shadows of this Sacrament of ours), Have mercy on me:
That, warned by these examples, I may more cautiously, holily, and religiously, treat thy most holy mysteries.
[Holy Trinity, one God, who, of thy infinite mercy, hast chosen me to be thy minister, and lifting up the poor out of the dunghill, hast willed me to execute the office of the priesthood, that I may offer thee gifts and sacrifices for an odour of sweetness, Have mercy on me:
That, by the worthiness of my conduct, I may correspond to so high and holy a vocation; and with pure hands and a clean heart may ever offer to thee the sacrifice of praise, and pay my vows to thee the Most High.
Holy Trinity, one God, who wouldst have thy ministers holy, saying, “Be holy, because I am holy,” Have mercy on me:
That my heart may be withdrawn from earthly cares and carnal desires, and that I may serve in holiness and justice before thee all the days of my life.]

V.

Holy Mary, who, blessed among women, chosen to the most high mystery of the Incarnation of the Lord, and prepared by the Holy Ghost, alone didst merit to conceive, and bear for nine months in thy most chaste womb, the Lord of heaven and earth, and to give to the world a Saviour, Pray for me:
That I too, thy unworthy servant, may in this [sacrifice] (or) sacrament, receive and bear with a pure mind [and dispense to others] that same Lord, even thy Son!
All ye holy Angels and Archangels, who humbly adored your Lord, made man for us; venerated with astonishment your King lying in a manger; announced the glad tidings of a Saviour's birth; and always stand ministering to him now that he reigns in heaven; nay, and while the priest celebrates, encircle the altar in adoring numbers, ¹ Pray for me:
That I too may ever duly honour this bread of Angels, and that my heart may be so strengthened by its frequent reception, that my enemies may never prevail against me.
Holy Joseph, who, when chosen by God to be the spouse of Mary the Mother of God, and foster-father of Jesus Christ, didst render diligent attention and service to thy spouse and wife, and all worship and honour to thy reputed Son, Pray for me:
That I too may diligently serve them both; and that I may always especially render due worship and reverence to Christ in this memorable Sacrament.

VI.

St. Simeon, who, with patient expectation and ardent longing, didst desire to see the Messias, and didst at length merit to see him with thy eyes, and to take him into thy arms, saying joyfully, “Now thou dost dismiss,” &c., Pray for me:
That I too may ardently desire to see Jesus in glory, and with no less ardent desire may ever pant after him, truly present in this Sacrament, and merit most sweetly to embrace him in the arms of my soul.
Holy Magi and Kings, who, from a distant country, by the guidance of a star, came hastening to the new-born King of kings, and with signal faith and inward devotion most humbly offered him your gifts, falling down to the ground, Pray for me:
That I too, with similar faith and devotion, may come to adore this same King, truly present in this Sacrament, and honour him with my gifts, however small, or rather be anticipated by his gifts, and received with the same clemency as yourselves.
All ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets, who by various types, figures, and shadows, have foreshown the mysteries of this Sacrifice and Sacrament, and with earnest longing, and many prayers and sighs, have panted after the Messias, Pray for me:
That I too may treat with reverence, and embrace with pure heart, not the shadow, but the substance; not the figure, but the reality; not the ark, but the Holy of Holies; not sheep or oxen, but the Son of God himself.
All ye holy Innocents, infant Martyrs, who in the very years of childhood and innocence consecrated your tender bodies to the new-born Christ, Pray for me:
That in my innocence I may go in to the altar of God, and offer myself, in union with this [sacrifice] Sacrament, a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to my God. ²
St. John the Baptist, who, when visited by Christ and his mother, didst leap for joy in thy mother's womb; but afterwards didst esteem thyself unworthy to loose the latchet of his shoe; yet wert worthy to be pronounced by the voice of Christ himself the greatest among those that are born of women, and more than Prophet, and in baptising him, to touch his sacred head, Pray for me:
That with joy I may go in to the altar of God, to God who gives joy to my youth; but strive nevertheless to appear before his terrible majesty, not without fear and profound humility.

VII.

St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, who didst confess Christ to be the Son of the living God, not by the instinct of flesh and blood, but by the revelation of the eternal Father who is in heaven; and didst not only receive from him charge to feed his sheep, but also the keys of heaven, Pray for me:
That in this Sacrament I may, with a lively and steadfast faith, confess my true God and Lord Jesus Christ, acknowledge him to be here truly and really present, and reverence him therefore as I ought.
St. Paul, who from a wolf wast made a lamb; from a persecutor a preacher of the Gospel; from a vessel of dishonour a vessel of election; and, being rapt to the third heaven, wast signally instructed in the heavenly mysteries, ³ and so didst deliver in weightiest words the institution and right use of the Sacrament, Pray for me:
That when going to approach these tremendous mysteries, I may first seriously prove myself, according to thy admonition, taking anxious care not to receive them to my condemnation and death; and never be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord.
St. John, beloved of the Lord, who at the last supper, in the confidence of thy signal love towards thy Master, and of his love to thee in return, didst lean upon the breast of thy Lord, and thence imbibe those heavenly streams which thou pouredst forth afterwards in writing thy Gospel, like an eagle taking a higher flight to behold the mysteries of the Divine and Incarnate Word, and disclosed them to us, Pray for me:
That I may be rather drawn by love to Christ my Saviour, present in this Sacrament, than kept away from him by fear: with holy confidence lean upon my beloved; ⁴ and with joy draw the waters of life out of the Saviour's fountains.
All ye holy Apostles, who, when made priests by our Saviour Christ himself at his last supper, received the power of consecrating these most holy mysteries; but were first admonished by the washing of your feet, as a symbol of purity, of the necessity hereto of inward cleanness, and so admitted to eat of the true Lamb, that is, the Body and Blood of your Lord, Pray for me:
That I too may venerate with due honour the grace and office of the priesthood [conferred upon me by your successors with imposition of hands] ; and that I may never come to the participation of these divine mysteries but with a previously purified conscience.
Holy Evangelists, who, with plain testimony, have declared the institution of this Sacrament, Pray for me:
That I may ever venerate and partake of this holy mystery with full faith, lively hope, and fervent charity.
All ye holy Disciples of the Lord, who, together with the first faithful, were so persevering daily in the communication of the breaking of bread, that the multitude of believers had but one heart and one soul, and no one called anything his own, Pray for us:
That we too, who partake of one bread and one chalice, may come only in the union of peace and in the bond of charity to the sacrament of peace and love; that all of us may say and think the same thing, and so, with one mind and one mouth, may honour and glorify God and our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our peace, making both one. ⁵

VIII.

All ye holy Martyrs, who have offered up the sacrifice of your body and blood to Christ, the King of martyrs, who himself has offered his own Body and Blood for us on the altar of the cross, and of communion, Pray for me:
That I, by a spiritual martyrdom, may mortify my members, which are upon the earth, and, when going to [offer up] receive the holy mysteries, may first offer myself to God a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, a sacrifice of justice, for an odour of sweetness.
All ye holy Bishops and Confessors, priests of the Lord, who, as ministers of Christ and faithful dispensers of the mysteries of God, have executed holily the office of the priesthood, often offered up the sacrifice of atonement for the people, and fed them with the bread of the word and of the sacrament, Pray for me:
That I too may actively execute the functions of a faithful [priest] Christian, lest perchance I be found to have despised the means of salvation offered me, or to have received the grace of God in vain.

IX.

St. Bernard, who, inflamed with faith and zeal, didst subdue a schismatical and obstinate prince, ⁶ armed, not with the sword, but with the sacred host of the Lord's body, Pray for us:
That, strong in the faith of this Sacrament, we may firmly resist the devil and his ministers, when they impugn the truth of this mystery.
St. Francis, who, knowing the purity and holiness requisite for the priesthood, through reverence abstained from it, Pray for me:
That I too may strive worthily to esteem and honour so high and holy an office.
St. Thomas of Aquin, who, by the power of thy angelic soul, and excellent doctrine, didst signally promote in the Church the worship and veneration of this most holy Sacrament, Pray for me:
That my faith, devotion, and reverence towards this holy Sacrament may grow more and more daily in my soul.
All ye holy Monks and Hermits who went out from the Egypt of this world, that is, became dead to the world, being torn from the breasts, and weaned from the milk which the world gives to drink, and no longer sighed after its flesh-pots, but, manfully trampling on the desires of the flesh, fed your souls with the food of angels, manna from heaven, the living bread, until you came to the Land of Promise, flowing with milk and honey, Pray for me:
That I may loathe the wretched meats of Egypt; despise, I mean, the pleasures of the world, through desire of this heavenly food, and, when the bread of children is given me to eat, may never be delighted with the husks of swine.
All ye holy Virgins and Widows, who, with a more than manly courage, have, with firm purpose of continence and chastity, offered your bodies a living sacrifice to your spouse, the living God, the immortal King of ages; and so now celebrate chaste and perpetual nuptials with your spouse, Pray for me:
That, through the wine that springs forth virgins, I may imbibe a zeal for chastity, and hold continually, with the love of a pure heart, indissoluble wedlock with your spouse, and with my whole heart and strength kiss and embrace him truly present in this Sacrament.

X.

St. Mary Magdalen, who, together with your sister, didst receive Christ into your house, but neglecting to serve, and sitting at the Lord's feet, didst hear his word; and again, at the Pharisee's feast, didst wash the Lord's feet with thy streaming tears, and wipe them with thy hair, thus openly displaying thy love to the Lord, and thy sorrow for thy sins; and lastly, didst keep close to him when hanging on the cross, and, inflamed with strong love, soughtest him at the sepulchre, Pray for me:
That I too may withdraw my heart from the cares of the world, and seek before all things in holy leisure to devote myself to God; and when going to approach my Lord in this Sacrament, may first offer to my God the tears of a contrite heart, and cheerfully adhere to him crucified, not seeking to glory, save in the cross of my Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷
All ye Saints and Elect of God, who, with face revealed, in your home, now with blest vision behold and fully eat of that Bread, which we still see in a glass, in a dark manner, and receive veiled under the appearance of another thing, for you happily possess the harbour to which, alas! we are steering: oh, amid how many storms and perils do we need a viaticum, that we may overcome! Our viaticum is Christ; for he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and the only consolation of our pilgrimage: Pray for us:
That we may be supported by him on the way, until at last we, together with you, shall be satisfied with the plenty of the house of God, and drink of the torrent of his pleasure in our home.

Let us pray.

O God, who, in this wonderful sacrament, hast left us a memorial of thy Passion; grant us, we beseech thee, so to venerate the sacred mysteries of thy Body and Blood, that we may ever feel within us the fruit of thy redemption; who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

1. As testified by the holy Fathers Chrysostom and Gregory the Great.
2. Rom. xii. 1.
3. 2 Cor. xii. 2.
4. Cant. viii. 5.
5. Eph. ii. 14.
6. Duke William of Aquitaine, Life of St. Bernard, lib. ii. c. 6.
7. Gal. vi. 14.