Litany of the Holy Angels: Full Text, Closing Prayer and How to Pray It

The Litany of the Holy Angels is a traditional prayer that calls on the three archangels named in the Bible, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, on the nine choirs of angels from the Seraphim to the Angels, on all the angels who have served God’s people in Scripture, and finally on our own guardian angel, asking them to pray for us and asking God to deliver us from danger through their help. It is especially fitting for the Feast of the Archangels on September 29, the feast of the Guardian Angels on October 2, and October, the month of the angels. Below is the complete litany with its closing prayer, as printed in St. Vincent’s Manual (1856), and how to pray it.

How to pray the Litany of the Holy Angels

A leader reads each invocation and everyone answers with the response in italics; when praying alone, say each line with its response. The litany ends with a versicle and response and a closing prayer to God, who has given us the angels as our guardians. Like other litanies of the saints and angels, it was printed for private devotion, that is, for personal, family and group prayer.

The Litany of the Holy Angels

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, queen of Angels, pray for us.
St. Michael, who always wast the defender of the people of God, pray for us.
St. Gabriel, who wast appointed to announce the incarnation of the eternal Word, pray for us.
St. Raphael, the conductor of Tobias, pray for us.
Holy Seraphim, pray for us.
Holy Cherubim, pray for us.
Holy Thrones, pray for us.
Holy Dominations, pray for us.
Holy Virtues, pray for us.
Holy Powers, pray for us.
Holy Principalities, pray for us.
Holy Archangels, pray for us.
Holy Angels, pray for us.
O ye, who stand around the throne of the most High God, pray for us.
O ye, who always see the face of the heavenly Father, pray for us.
O ye, to whom God has committed the care and guardianship of mankind, pray for us.
O ye, who brought forth Lot and his family from the midst of the wicked, pray for us.
O ye, who ministered to Christ in the desert, when he had put the tempter to flight, pray for us.
O ye, who carried Lazarus into Abraham’s bosom, pray for us.
O ye, who often delivered the servants of God from prison and dangers, pray for us.
O ye, who often comforted the holy martyrs in the midst of torments, pray for us.
O ye who carry up, and offer to God the prayers of his servants, pray for us.
O ye, who have joy in heaven upon one sinner’s doing penance, pray for us.
O ye, who have been set over nations, kingdoms and provinces, pray for us.
O ye, who will attend upon Jesus Christ, when he comes to judge the world, pray for us.
O ye, ministering Spirits, sent to minister for those who shall receive the inheritance of salvation, pray for us.
O ye, Angels of the Lord, who are mighty in strength, and execute his word, hearkening to the voice of his orders, pray for us.
O ye, the hosts of the Lord, his ministers, who do his will, pray for us.
O thou, holy Angel, my faithful guardian, pray for us.
Holy Angel, my guide and my friend, pray for us.
Holy Angel, my counsellor and powerful intercessor, pray for us.
Holy Angel, my protector and comforter, pray for us.
All ye orders of blessed Spirits, pray for us.

Be merciful unto us, spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful unto us, hear us, O Lord.

From all dangers, by thy holy Angels, O Lord, deliver us.
From the snares of the devil, by thy holy Angels, O Lord, deliver us.
From all sin, by thy holy Angels, O Lord, deliver us.
From a sudden and unprovided death, by thy holy Angels, O Lord, deliver us.

We sinners do beseech thee to hear us.
Through the intercession of thy holy Angels, we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou spare us, we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou pardon us, we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to preserve and govern thy holy Church, we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to grant peace and unity to all Christian people, we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to give eternal rest to all the faithful departed, we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe to send thy holy Angels to us at the hour of our death, we beseech thee, hear us.
That thou vouchsafe, after our death, to receive our souls, through the hands of the Angels, into eternal bliss, 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, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

V. All ye holy orders of blessed Spirits, pray for us.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Closing prayer

Let us pray.

O God, who, in thy wonderful providence, hast been pleased to appoint thy holy Angels for our guardians; mercifully hear our prayers, and grant that we may rest secure under their protection, and enjoy their fellowship in heaven for ever: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The nine choirs of angels

The litany names the nine choirs of angels in the order handed down by Christian tradition, especially by the writings attributed to St. Dionysius the Areopagite: Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones; Dominations, Virtues and Powers; Principalities, Archangels and Angels. The names come from Scripture: the Seraphim in Isaias 6, the Cherubim in Genesis and Ezechiel, and the others in the letters of St. Paul (Colossians 1:16 and Ephesians 1:21).

The angels in Scripture

Many lines of the litany recall what the angels do in the Bible: they rescued Lot from Sodom, served Jesus in the desert after his temptation, carried Lazarus to Abraham’s bosom, freed St. Peter from prison, rejoice over every sinner who repents, and offer the prayers of the saints before God’s throne. Psalm 90:11 (Douay-Rheims):

For he hath given his angels charge over thee; to keep thee in all thy ways.

Frequently asked questions

Who are the three archangels?

St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael, the only angels named in the Bible. Their feast is September 29.

Can I pray the Litany of the Holy Angels every day?

Yes. Many people pray it on Mondays, the day traditionally dedicated to the angels, or during October.

What is the difference between this litany and the Litany of St. Michael?

The Litany of St. Michael is addressed above all to St. Michael; this litany calls on all the angels, including your own guardian angel.

More prayers to the angels

Texts and sources

  • St. Vincent’s Manual (Baltimore, 1856), “The Litany of the Holy Angels,” public domain (Wikisource). Responses printed once per group are written out after each line.
  • Psalm 90:11 (Douay-Rheims).