The Litany of St. Anthony is a traditional prayer of invocations honoring St. Anthony of Padua (1195–1231), the Franciscan preacher and Doctor of the Church, under titles such as “lily of virginity,” “keeper of the Scriptures,” “performer of miracles” and “finder of lost things,” each answered with “pray for us.” It is often prayed during the Tuesday devotions to St. Anthony, during the novena before his feast on June 13, or when asking his help to find something lost. Below is the complete litany with its closing prayer, as printed in a Catholic book of 1898, and how to pray it.
How to pray the Litany of St. Anthony
One person (the leader) reads the first part of each line and everyone answers with the words in italics: “have mercy on us,” “pray for us,” “deliver us, O Lord,” or “we beseech Thee, hear us.” When praying alone, simply say each line with its response. The litany ends with a versicle and response and a closing prayer. Like most litanies of individual saints, it was printed “for private devotion,” that is, for personal and family prayer rather than the liturgy.
The Litany of St. Anthony
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 Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us.
St. Anthony of Padua, pray for us.
St. Anthony, glory of the Brothers Minor, pray for us.
St. Anthony, lily of virginity, pray for us.
St. Anthony, gem of poverty, pray for us.
St. Anthony, example of obedience, pray for us.
St. Anthony, mirror of abstinence, pray for us.
St. Anthony, vessel of purity, pray for us.
St. Anthony, star of sanctity, pray for us.
St. Anthony, model of conduct, pray for us.
St. Anthony, beauty of paradise, pray for us.
St. Anthony, ark of the testament, pray for us.
St. Anthony, keeper of the Scriptures, pray for us.
St. Anthony, teacher of truth, pray for us.
St. Anthony, preacher of grace, pray for us.
St. Anthony, exterminator of vices, pray for us.
St. Anthony, planter of virtues, pray for us.
St. Anthony, conqueror of heretics, pray for us.
St. Anthony, terror of the infidels, pray for us.
St. Anthony, consoler of the afflicted, pray for us.
St. Anthony, searcher of consciences, pray for us.
St. Anthony, martyr in desire, pray for us.
St. Anthony, terror of the devils, pray for us.
St. Anthony, horror of hell, pray for us.
St. Anthony, performer of miracles, pray for us.
St. Anthony, finder of lost things, pray for us.
St. Anthony, helper of all who invoke thee, pray for us.
Be merciful, spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful, hear us, O Lord.
From all evil, deliver us, O Lord.
From all sin, deliver us, O Lord.
From the snares of the devil, deliver us, O Lord.
From pestilence, famine, and war, deliver us, O Lord.
From eternal death, deliver us, O Lord.
Through the merits of St. Anthony, deliver us, O Lord.
Through his ardent charity, deliver us, O Lord.
Through his zealous preaching, deliver us, O Lord.
Through his desire of martyrdom, deliver us, O Lord.
Through his strict observance of obedience, poverty, and chastity, deliver us, O Lord.
On the day of judgment, deliver us, O Lord.
We sinners, beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou vouchsafe to lead us to true penitence, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou vouchsafe to inflame us with divine love, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou vouchsafe to let us ever enjoy the protection of St. Anthony, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou vouchsafe to give us, by the merits of St. Anthony, the gift of true contrition, humility, and contemplation, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou vouchsafe us the grace, through the intercession of St. Anthony, to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou vouchsafe the assistance of St. Anthony to all who invoke him in their necessities, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou vouchsafe graciously to hear us, we beseech Thee, hear us.
Son of God, we beseech Thee, hear 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, hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
V. Pray for us, O blessed Anthony.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Closing prayer
Let us pray.
Almighty and eternal God, who didst glorify Thy faithful confessor Anthony with the perpetual gift of working miracles, graciously grant that what we confidently seek through his merits we may surely receive through his intercession. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Who was St. Anthony of Padua?
Anthony was born in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1195 and became an Augustinian canon. Moved by the martyrdom of five Franciscans in Morocco, he joined the Franciscans and set out as a missionary, but illness forced him back and a storm drove his ship to Italy. His gifts as a preacher were discovered almost by accident, and he became one of the most famous preachers of his time in Italy and France. He died near Padua on June 13, 1231, at thirty-six, and was canonized less than a year later. Pope Pius XII declared him a Doctor of the Church in 1946. He is the patron of lost things, the poor and travelers. See the St. Anthony prayer.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Litany of St. Anthony prayed?
On Tuesdays, the day traditionally dedicated to St. Anthony; during the novena before his feast on June 13; and whenever you need his help.
Why is St. Anthony the patron of lost things?
According to a story from his life, a novice took his book of psalms, and after Anthony prayed, the novice brought it back. See the patron saint of lost things.
What is the difference between this litany and the Responsory of St. Anthony?
The litany is a long series of invocations; the Responsory (“Si quaeris miracula,” “If then you ask for miracles”) is a short hymn listing his miracles. Both are traditional.
More prayers to St. Anthony
- St. Anthony prayer
- St. Anthony novena
- Patron saint of lost things
- Litany of the Saints
- Litany of St. Joseph
- What is a litany?
Texts and sources
- Thomas F. Ward, Saint Anthony, the Saint of the Whole World (New York: Benziger Brothers, 1898), “Litany of St. Anthony,” pp. 107–110, public domain (archive.org). The responses printed in the margin are written out after each line.