Contents Litaniae in Quadragesima
Litany for the Lenten Season		 Quadragesimae


This litany was composed as a meditation for the Lenten season. It focuses on the penitential passages of the Old and New Testament. The Lenten season is composed of forty penitential days and originally had a very strict fast, which has only been mitigated in the last century. Thus the Scriptural passages tend to focus on both these two aspects, namely the forty day penitential period and fasting.

For private use only.

Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison. 		Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Pater sancte,
R. audi nos. 		Holy Father,
R. hear us.
Pater iuste,
R. exaudi nos. 		Just Father,
R. graciously hear us.
Pater de caelis Deus,
R. miserere nobis. 		God, the Father of Heaven,
R. have mercy on us.
Fili redemptor mundi Deus,
R. miserere nobis. 		God, the Son, the Redeemer of the world,
R. have mercy on us.
Spiritus Sancte Deus,
R. miserere nobis. 		God, the Holy Spirit,
R. have mercy on us.
Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus,
R. miserere nobis. 		Holy Trinity, one God,
R. have mercy on us.
Deus, qui non vis mortem peccatoris, sed ut magis convertatur et vivat,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who desireth not the death of the sinner, but that he convert and live,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui Moysi quadraginta diebus ieiunanti, legem in monte dedisti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who on Mt Sinai gave the law to Moses after he had fasted for forty days,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui precibus Moysis ieiunantis, populi peccata dimisisti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who by the prayers of the fasting Moses, forgave the sins of his people,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui Danielem ieiunantem in lacu leonum custodisti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who guarded the fasting Daniel in the lions' den,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui Ninivitis ieiunantibus et ad te clamantibus pepercisti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who spared the Ninivites when they fasted and cried out to Thee,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui Ninivitas in sacco, cinere, et cilicio paenitentes, a subversione urbis liberasti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who delivered the Ninivites from the destruction of their city when they repented and put on sackcloth, ashes, and hair-shirts,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui Davidis confitentis, et in cilicio paenitentis peccatum transtulisti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who forgave King David's sin when he confessed his sin, donned a hair-shirt, and repented,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui Iudith in cilicio, et cinere coram te prostratam exaudisti et confortasti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who heard and comforted Judith as she prostrated herself before Thee, wearing a hair-shirt and ashes,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui Ionam ex ventre cetis ad te clamantem salvasti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who saved Jonah when he cried out to Thee from the belly of the whale,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui Ezechiam cum populo in sacci, cinere, et ieiunio et invocantem, ab exercitu Assyriorum liberasti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who from the army of the Assyrians delivered Ezechial and Thy people as they fasted, put on sackcloth and ashes, and cried out to Thee,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui Esther ieiunantem in oculis Regis gratiam invenire fecisti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who granted Esther as she fasted that she find grace in the eyes of the king,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui Mardochaeum, in sacco et cinere, te invocantem, a patibulo liberasti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who from the gallows freed Mardoch who donned sackcloth and ashes, and cried out to Thee,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui Machabaeis ieiunantibus in sacco et cinere ad te clamantibus auxilio fuisti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who aided the Maccabees as they fasted, wore sackcloth and ashes, and cried out to Thee,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui Annae in ieiuniis et obsecrationibus perseveranti, teipsum in templo manifestasti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who manifested Thyself to Anna in the temple as she fasted and constantly prayed to Thee,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui Prophetis ieiunantibus et se affligentibus mysteria multa patefecisti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who revealed many mysteries to the Prophets as they fasted and afflicted themselves with many penances,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui Sacerdotes in ciliciis pro populo deprecantes et sacrificia offerentes exaudisti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who heard the priests of Israel as they prayed and offered sacrifice for Thy people,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui quadraginta diebus et quadraginta noctibus in deserto ieiunasti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O Lord, who fasted for forty days and nights in the desert,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui per Apostolos tuos quadragesimale ieiunium instituisti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who instituted the Lenten fast through Thine apostles,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui Paulum triduo ieiunantem et orantem illuminasti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, Thou who illuminated Paul as he prayed and fasted for three days,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui dissimulas peccata hominum propter paenitentiam,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who forgives the sins of men on account of their repentance,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui elegisti nos et excoxisti in camino humiliationis,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who chose us and tempered us in the furnace of humility,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui quasi aurum in fornace probas electos tuos,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who testeth Thy elect like gold in the furnace,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui das locum et tempus paenitentiae in peccatis,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who granteth a time and a place for repentance to sinners,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui flagellas omnem filium, quem recipis et diligis,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who chastiseth every son whom Thou receiveth and loveth,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui non vis aliquos perire, sed omnes ad paenitentiam reverti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who wisheth that no one to perish, but all to turn back and repent,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui Matthaeum in telonio sedentem, tua gratia praevenisti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who by Thy grace came before Matthew sitting in the toll-booth,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui publicanum pectus percutientem, iustificatum abire fecisti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, Thou who justified the repentant tax-collector,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui filium prodigum ad te revertentem paterne suscepisti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who received in a fatherly fashion the prodigal son returning to Thee,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui mulieri Samaritanae fontem aquae vivae manare fecisti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who made the spring of living water flow for the Samaritan woman,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui publicanos et peccatores recepisti et cum eis manducasti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who received tax-collectors and sinners, and ate with them,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui Mariae Magdalenae multum diligenti, peccata multa dimisisti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who loved Mary Magdalene greatly and forgave her many sins,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui Petrum ter te negantem, benigne respexisti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who looked upon Peter who denied Thee three times,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui latronem paenitentem in paradisum suscepisti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who received the penitent thief into Paradise,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui aufers iniquitatem et scelera atque peccata nostra,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who taketh away our iniquities, wickedness and sins,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui pro aversione furoris tui nos plangere, ciliciis accingere et cinere conspergere iussisti,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who bids us to put on ashes, gird our hair-shirts, and lament our sins to avert Thy wrath,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui omnium in ieiunio, fletu, et planctu se ad te convertentium misereris,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who hath mercy on all who turn to Thee in fasting, weeping, and contrition,
R. have mercy on us.
Qui post paenitentiam omnium peccatorum nostrorum non recordaris amplius,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who forgeteth all our sins after we repent,
R. have mercy on us.
Deus misericors et praestabilis super malitia,
R. miserere nobis. 		O God, who art merciful and ready to forgive,
R. have mercy on us.
Propitius esto,
R. parce nobis, Domine. 		Be merciful,
R. spare us, O Lord.
Propitius esto,
R. exaudisti nos, Domine. 		Be merciful.
R. graciously hear us, O Lord.
Ab omni malo,
R. libera nos, Domine. 		From all evil,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Ab omni peccato,
R. libera nos, Domine. 		From all sin,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Ab omni periculo mentis et corporis,
R. libera nos, Domine. 		From every mental and bodily danger,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Ab omni malitia et indignatione,
R. libera nos, Domine. 		From all ill will and anger,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Ab omni crapula et comissatione,
R. libera nos, Domine. 		From all drunkenness,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Ab omni impudicitia et turpitudine,
R. libera nos, Domine. 		From every impurity and shame,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Ab ira, rixa, et omni contentione,
R. libera nos, Domine. 		From anger, quarrels, and disputes,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Ab omni negligentia et socordia,
R. libera nos, Domine. 		From all carelessness and sloth,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Ab omni impaenitentia et duritia cordis,
R. libera nos, Domine. 		From all stubbornness and hardness of heart,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
A subitanea et improvisa mala morte,
R. libera nos, Domine. 		From a sudden and unexpected death,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
A damnatione perpetua,
R. libera nos, Domine. 		From perpetual damnation,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Per baptismum et sanctum ieiunium tuum,
R. libera nos, Domine. 		Through Thy Baptism and Thy fast,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Per trinam tentationem tuam,
R. libera nos, Domine. 		Through Thy three temptations,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Per sitim et esuriem tuam,
R. libera nos, Domine. 		Through Thy thirst and hunger,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Per labores et dolores tuos,
R. libera nos, Domine. 		Through Thy labors and sorrows,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Per trinam contra te prolatam mortis sententiam,
R. libera nos, Domine. 		Through the sentence of death trice brought against Thee,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Per tremendum et cruentum in cruce sacrificium tuum,
R. libera nos, Domine. 		Through Thy terrible and cruel sacrifice upon the Cross,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
In die irae calamitatis, R. Libera nos, Domine. On judgement day,
R. deliver us, O Lord.
Peccatores,
R. te rogamus audi nos. 		We sinners,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
Ut nobis indulgeas,
R. te rogamus audi nos. 		That Thou wouldst be merciful to us,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
Ut ad veram paenitentiam nos perducere digneris,
R. te rogamus audi nos. 		That Thou wouldst lead us to true repentance,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
Ut dignos paenitentiae fructus facere possumus,
R. te rogamus audi nos. 		That we may bear worthy fruits of repentance,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
Ut peccata nostra digne flere et gratiam tuam consequi mereamur,
R. te rogamus audi nos. 		That we may weep for our sins and to seek after Thy grace,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
Ut Ecclesiam tuam hoc sacro ieiunio purificare et ab omni nequitia liberare digneris,
R. te rogamus audi nos. 		That Thou wouldst purify Thy Church with this holy Lent and free her from all wickedness,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
Ut corpora nostra hostiam viventem sanctam tibique placentem semper exhibeamus,
R. te rogamus audi nos. 		That we may always present ourselves as a living, holy, and pleasing sacrifice to Thee,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
Ut indulgentiam et remissionem omnium peccatorum nostrorum nobis tribuere digneris,
R. te rogamus audi nos. 		That Thou wouldst grant us forgiveness and remission of all our sins,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
Ut per tribulationes huius temporis ad futuram gloriam nos introire concedas,
R. te rogamus audi nos. 		That through the tribulations of this season Thou wouldst grant us to enter into future glory,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
Ut nos exaudire digneris,
R. te rogamus audi nos. 		That Thou wouldst graciously hear us,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
Fili Dei,
R. te rogamus audi nos. 		Son of God,
R. we ask Thee, hear us.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
R. Parce nobis, Domine. 		Lamb of God, Thou who taketh away the sins of the world,
R. spare us, O Lord.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
R. Exaudi nos, Domine. 		Lamb of God, Thou who taketh away the sins of the world,
R. hear us, O Lord.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
R. miserere nobis. 		Lamb of God, Thou who taketh away the sins of the world,
R. have mercy on us.
Christe, audi nos. Christ, hear us.
Christe, exaudi nos. Christ, graciously hear us.
Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Pater noster. .. Our Father ...
Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
V. Inter vestibulum et altare plorabunt Sacerdotes ministri Domini.
R. Parce Domine, parce populo tuo. 		V. Between the porch and the altar the priests the Lord's ministers shall weep.
R. Spare, O Lord, spare thy people. (Joel 2:17)
V. Domine non secundum peccata nostra facias nobis,
R. Neque secundum iniquitates nostras retribuas nobis. 		V. O Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins,
R. Nor reward with us as our iniquities deserve. (Ps 102:11)
V. Domine, ne memineris iniquitatum nostrarum antiquarum,
R. Neque vindictam sumas de peccatis nostris. 		V. O Lord, do not remember our iniquities of old,
R. Nor take vengeance upon our sins.
V. Adiuva nos, Deus salutaris noster,
R. Et propter gloriam nominis tui, Domine, libera nos. 		V. Help us, O God our Savior,
R. And on account of the glory of Thy name, O Lord, free us.
V. Propitius esto Domine peccatis nostris,
R. Propter nomen sanctum tuum. 		V. Be merciful to our sins, O Lord,
R. On account of Thy Holy Name.
V. Domine, exaudi orationem meam,
R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat. 		V. O Lord, hear my prayer,
R. And let my cry come to Thee.
Oremus Let us pray
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, parce paenitentibus, propitiare supplicantibus, et largire nobis beneficia misericordiae tuae, ut haec ieiunia sint omnibus nomen tuum invocantibus, et ante conspectum clementiae tuae facinora sua1 deplorantibus, remedium mentis et corporis, ut quicumque te pro remissione peccatorum suorum invocaverint, corporis et animae sanitatem percipiant, et praemia tibi fideliter servientibus promissa, in aeterna beatitudine consequantur. O almighty and everlasting God, spare the repentant, be merciful to those who implore Thee, and grant us the favor of Thy mercy so that this Lent may be a wholesome remedy of mind and body to all who humbly implore Thy holy Name and who deplore their crimes before Thy divine mercy. Grant that whosoever calls upon Thee for the remission of their sins, may receive health of body and soul, and the reward promised to those faithfully serving Thee, eternal blessedness.
Deus, qui hominem mirabiliter creasti, et mirabilius redemisti, da nobis contra oblectamenta peccati, mentis ratione persistere, et maiestati tuae sincero corde servire. O God, who hast wonderfully created man, and more wonderfully redeemed him, grant us, we beseech Thee, such strength of mind and reason against the allurements of sin that we may serve Thy majesty with a sincere heart.
Preces populi tui, quaesumus Domine, clementer exaudi, ut qui iuste pro peccatis nostris affligimur, pro tui nominis gloria misericorditer liberemur. Graciously hear the prayers of Thy people, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that we who are justly afflicted for our sins may mercifully be freed for the glory of Thy Name.
Familiam tuam quaesumus, Domine, continua pietate custodi, ut a cunctis adversitatibus te protegente sit libera et in bonis actibus tuo nomini sit devota. We beseech Thee, O Lord, with Thy loving-kindness ever guard Thy household, that with Thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and in good deeds may be devoted to Thy name.
Deus qui non mortem, sed paenitentiam desideras peccatorum, fragilitatem conditionis humanae benignissime respice et conatus nostros benigna pietate prosequere, ut per magnam misericordiam tuam peccatorum nostrorum veniam; in tuo servitio constantiam; et tandem praemia perseverantibus promissa, feliciter consequamur. Per Dominum nostrum. O God, who desirest not the death but the repentance of sinners, look down most kindly upon the frailty of our human nature, and aid our efforts with Thy goodness, so that through Thy great mercy we may obtain pardon for our sins, steadfastness in Thy service, and arrive finally at the promised reward for those who persevere in Thy service.
V. Domine, exaudi orationem meam,
R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat. 		V. O Lord, hear my prayer,
R. And let my cry come to Thee.
V. Benedicamus Domino.
R. Deo gratias. 		V. Let us bless the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.
V. Et fidelium animae per misericordiam Dei requiescant in pace.
R. Amen. 		V. And may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
R. Amen.
Latin from "Fasciculus Sacrarum Orationum et Litaniarum ad usum quotidianum Christiani hominis, ex sanctis Scripturis et Patribus collectus", 1618. Tr MWM.
1 The original has "tua", which is a rather amusing typo.


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