The Litany of Jesus Christ

O holy Jesus.

O gentle Friend.

O morning Star.

O midday bejewelled Sun.

O brilliant Flame of the upright and of uprightness, of everlasting life and of eternity.

O Fountain ever new and everlasting.

O Heart’s Desire of the fathers.

O Longed-for of the prophets.

O Master of the apostles and disciples.

O Giver of the law.

O Prince of the new covenant.

O Judge of the last Judgement.

O Son of the merciful father, but without a heavenly Mother.

O Son of the True Virgin, but without father on earth.

O true and loving Brother.

O benign and loving One.

In your kindliness, in your affection,

in your love, and in your mercy,

hear the prayer of this poor tormented soul,

and accept this sacrifice on behalf of Christian churches,

and on my own behalf.

Through the intercession of your merciful Father

from whom you came to us on earth.

Through the intercession of the pure and holy body

which you took from the womb of the Virgin Mary.

Through the intercession of the seven-fold Spirit,

which co-ordained this body with you and the Father.

Because of the holy womb which, without loss of

virginity, gave birth to you.

For the comfort of the holy root and lineage

from which you took flesh,

from the body of Adam to that of Mary.

For the sake of the seven things foretold of you on earth,

namely, your conception, your birth, your baptism,

your crucifixion, your burial,

your resurrection, your ascension,

your sitting at the right hand of the Father in Heaven,

your return in judgment.

Through the holy tree on which your body was stretched.

Through your kin-loving blood

that was poured out for us on that tree.

Through the intercession of your own Body and Blood

offered on the holy altars of the world’s Christian churches.

Because of the writings which set out your Gospel.

Because of all truths underlining your resurrection.

Through your love, the head and culmination of all commandments,

as is said, “charity surpasses all.”

Because of your kingdom with all its rewards,

precious stones and music.

Through your mercy, your forgiveness,

your kindness, and your goodness greater than

any wealth, may I have forgiveness and the annulment

of all my past sins, of which I have been guilty till now,

following the words of David:

“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven

and whose sins are covered.”

Give, grant and communicate to me your holy grace and your Holy Spirit to guard and protect me against all my sins, present and future, to enkindle in me all goodness, and to stabilize me in the path of righteousness till death. Through the same Holy Spirit may God receive me into His kingdom, united with the apostles and disciples, with the angels and archangels, united with the unity of the noble and exalted Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, since I have nothing.

*From The Celtic Monk: Rules and Writings of Early Irish Monks, translated and annotated by Uinseann Ó Maidín (Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1996), 178-180.