Litany to Our Mother of Perpetual Help

The Litany of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a very powerful prayer invoking Mary’s aid in spiritual and worldly struggles, pleading for mercy and protection.

Litany to Our Mother of Perpetual Help

For Private Use Only

Invocation

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

Supplications to God

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.

Invocations to Mary

 

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Holy Mother of God, pray for us.

Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.

Mother of Christ, pray for us.

Queen conceived without the stain of Original Sin, pray for us.

Queen the most Holy Rosary, pray for us.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us.

Petitions for Aid

 

That I may love God with all my heart,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

That I may in all things conform my will to that of thy Divine Son,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

That I may always shun sin, the only real evil,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

That I may always remember my last end,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

That I may often and devoutly receive the Sacraments,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

That I may avoid every proximate occasion of sin,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

That I may never neglect prayer,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

That I may ever remember to invoke thee, particularly in time of temptation,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

That I may always be victorious in the hour of temptation,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

That I may generously pardon my enemies,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

That I may arise quickly, should I have the misfortune of falling into mortal sin,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

That I may courageously resist the seductions of evil companions,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

That I may be strong against my own inconstancy,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

That I may not delay my conversion from day to day,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

That I may labor zealously to eradicate my evil habits,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

That I may ever love to serve thee,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

That I may lead others to love and serve thee,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

That I may live and die in the friendship of God,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

In all necessities of body and soul,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

In sickness and pain,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

In poverty and distress,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

In persecution and abandonment,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

In grief and dereliction of mind,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

In time of war, famine, and contagion,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

In every danger of sin,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

When assailed by the evil spirits,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

When tempted by the allurements of a deceitful world,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

When struggling against the inclinations of my corrupt nature,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

When tempted against the holy virtue of purity,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

When death is nigh,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

When the loss of my senses shall warn me that my earthly career is at an end,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

When the thought of my approaching dissolution shall fill me with fear and terror,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

When at the decisive hour of death, the evil spirit will endeavor to plunge my soul into despair,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

When the priest of God shall give me Extreme Unction,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

When my friends and relations, surrounding my bed, moved with compassion, shall invoke thy clemency on my behalf,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

When the world will vanish from my sight, and my heart will cease to beat,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

When I shall yield my soul into the hands of its Creator,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

When my soul will appear before its Sovereign Judge,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

When the irrevocable sentence will be pronounced,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

When I will be suffering in Purgatory, and sighing for the vision of God,
come to my aid, O loving Mother.

Concluding Prayers

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. Pray for us, our powerful Mediatrix.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

 

Let us pray

 

O Almighty and merciful God, Who, in order to succor the human race, hast willed the Blessed Virgin Mary to become the Mother of Thy only-begotten Son, grant, we beseech Thee, that by her intercession we may avoid the contagion of sin and serve Thee with a pure heart, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

About the Icon

The Mother of God is shown facing forward, holding the Child with her left hand while her right hand points to him, offering support. The Child is aware of his future suffering, pain, and death, shown by the Archangels Michael and Gabriel who display the instruments of his Passion. The Child and his Mother hold each other with a human gesture, showing his complete connection to our humanity, including our weaknesses and fears. This fear is symbolized by the loose sandal on his left foot. In Greek art, there is often a quote that says, “The one who first told the Virgin now shows the symbols of the Passion; Christ, in a human body, fears his destiny.”

The Child wears a red mantle with golden rays to show he is eternal Wisdom. He also wears a greenish tunic, which symbolizes the Holy Spirit that he would give to those who are saved through his suffering. The halo around his head has the Greek initials of God’s name from the Bible: “I Am Who I Am.”

Brief History

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, also known as Our Mother of Perpetual Help, is a title attributed to the Virgin Mary in association with a renowned Byzantine icon dating back to the 15th century. Originally from Crete, this revered icon was brought to Rome in 1499. It gained prominence when the Redemptorists built a church near its location in 1866 and were entrusted with its care. The icon is celebrated for depicting Mary’s compassion and maternal assistance, deeply venerated in Christian communities worldwide.

Miraculous History

Our Lady of Perpetual Help is credited with numerous miracles, particularly those involving healing and protection. Among the most celebrated miracles is the story of a merchant in the 15th century who, despite facing severe threats, managed to smuggle the icon from Crete to Rome, believing that the Virgin Mary directed him to save it from the invading Turks. After his death, the icon miraculously healed his daughter, leading to its veneration. Another notable miracle involves the cessation of a plague in Rome after public processions and prayers invoking the icon’s intervention. These events greatly contributed to the icon’s reputation for divine assistance and protection.