Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
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.
Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mother, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, substantially united to the Word of God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, sacred temple of God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, burning furnace of charity, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, abode of justice and love, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom dwells the fullness of divinity, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well pleased, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, patient and most merciful, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, enriching all who invoke thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, loaded down with opprobrium, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, bruised for our offenses, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, obedient unto death, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, victim for our sins, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who trust in thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, delight of all the Saints, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
Make our hearts like unto thine.
Let us pray:
Almighty and eternal God,
look upon the heart of thy most beloved Son
and upon the praise and satisfaction
which he offers thee in the name of sinners;
and to those who implore thy mercy,
in thy great goodness,
grant forgiveness in the name of the same Jesus Christ,
thy Son, who livest and reignest with thee,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
world without end.
Amen.
The Litany of the Sacred Heart
Also known as Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
About this prayer
The Litany of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic prayer addressed to the heart of Jesus as a symbol of his love for humanity. Devotion to the Sacred Heart developed significantly in the 17th century through the visions of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690 AD), a French nun who reported that Christ appeared to her and asked for reparation for sins and the establishment of a feast in his honor. The Litany as a formal prayer was composed from traditional devotional language and approved by Pope Leo XIII in 1899 AD. It follows the traditional litany form: a series of invocations addressing Christ under various titles related to his heart, each followed by the response 'Have mercy on us.' The Sacred Heart feast is celebrated on the Friday after Corpus Christi.
When it's said
The Litany of the Sacred Heart is said during the month of June, which is dedicated to the Sacred Heart in the Catholic Church, and on the feast of the Sacred Heart itself. It is used in parish devotions, in the Apostleship of Prayer, and in private devotion. It may be said as a complete prayer or with individual invocations used as meditation points.
Notes on the text
The invocations draw on scriptural titles and theological descriptions of Christ's relationship to God and humanity. 'Desire of the everlasting hills' is a phrase from Genesis 49:26. 'Loaded down with opprobrium' means burdened with contempt and insult, referring to the Passion. The litany is considerably longer than most daily prayers and is typically said as a communal devotion rather than a private one.
Approved by Pope Leo XIII, 1899 AD. Text from F.X. Lasance, The Blessed Sacrament Book, 1913. Public domain.
Last reviewed: May 2026 against primary source.