Approved for public recitation

Thirty-three invocations, one for each year of Our Lord’s life.

This is one of only six litanies approved for public use in the Church. It is prayed in June, the month of the Sacred Heart, on First Fridays, and at Benediction. Its thirty-three invocations are traditionally counted as one for each year Christ lived on earth.

The Litany

Lord, have mercy. — Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. — Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. — Lord, have mercy.
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.

To each of the following invocations, respond: have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father,
Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mother,
Heart of Jesus, substantially united to the Word of God,
Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty,
Heart of Jesus, sacred temple of God,
Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High,
Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven,
Heart of Jesus, burning furnace of charity,
Heart of Jesus, vessel of justice and love,
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love,
Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues,
Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise,
Heart of Jesus, King and centre of all hearts,
Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,
Heart of Jesus, in whom dwells the fullness of divinity,
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father was well pleased,
Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received,
Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills,
Heart of Jesus, patient and most merciful,
Heart of Jesus, enriching all who invoke You,
Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness,
Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins,
Heart of Jesus, loaded down with opprobrium,
Heart of Jesus, bruised for our offences,
Heart of Jesus, obedient unto death,
Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance,
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation,
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection,
Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation,
Heart of Jesus, victim for our sins,
Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who trust in You,
Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in You,
Heart of Jesus, delight of all the saints.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, — spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, — graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, — have mercy on us.

V. Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
R. Make our hearts like unto Thine.

The Closing Prayer

Almighty and eternal God,
look upon the Heart of Your most beloved Son
and upon the praise and satisfaction He offers You
in the name of sinners;
and to those who implore Your mercy,
in Your great goodness grant forgiveness
in the name of the same Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You forever and ever. Amen.

About This Litany

The litany was approved for public use by Pope Leo XIII in 1899, the year he consecrated the whole human race to the Sacred Heart. Its invocations move deliberately: from the Heart’s divinity, through its virtues, to its wounds — and end with the saints’ delight. It is a portrait of one Heart seen from thirty-three angles.