A LITANY...

LITANY TO THE LAMB OF GOD IN TIME OF WAR
(For private use only.)

V. The Lord give you peace;
R. Peace and good will.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who didst say to Thy Apostles, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you," look not upon my sins, but upon the faith of Thy Church, and vouchsafe to her that peace and unity which is agreeable to Thy will, Who livest and reignest, God forever and ever. R. Amen.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Jesus hear us.
Jesus, graciously hear us.

By the hymn of the angels at Thy birth,
Grant us peace.
By Thy salutation to the Apostles,
Grant us peace.
By Thy voice to the waves of Galilee, etc.
By Thy blessing to the sinner,
By Thy prayers for unity among Thy disciples,
By the love that was to mark Thy followers,
By the great peace offering of the Cross,
By Thy parting promise, "My peace I leave you,"

From the ambition of empire,
Deliver us, O Lord.
From the greed for territory,
Deliver us, O Lord.
From the blindness that is injustice, etc.
From the selfishness that is theft,
From the liberty which is license,
From the love of money which is idolatry,
From the hate that is murder,
From the hardness that will not pardon,
From the pride that will not ask pardon,

By the helpless cry of orphans,

We beseech Thee, hear us.

By the anguished tears of widows,

We beseech Thee, hear us.

By the groans of the dying, etc.

By the dead in unblessed graves,

That Thou wouldst make all nations to dwell as one,

That the hearts of rulers may be as wax in Thy hands,

That having learned in affliction, we may turn to Thee,

That wars may cease from the earth,

By Thy title, "Prince of Peace,"

Lord God of Armies,

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

Grant us peace.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

Grant us peace.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

Grant us peace.

V. I am the Salvation of the people, saith the Lord;

R. In whatever tribulation they shall cry to Me, I will hear them.

Let Us Pray

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, teach us, who have sinned against Heaven and before Thee, the saving grace of a true humility, that we and all the peoples of this world may acknowledge and bewail that spirit of materialism and self-seeking and lust for power and vengeance which has plunged the family of nations into war, until in Thy just wrath the world suffers that punishment which, by turning from Thee, it has brought upon itself. In humility and penance, may we lessen the guilt and hasten true peace, without victory, save the victory of union with Thee. R. Amen.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,

Have mercy on us.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,

Have mercy on us.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,

Have mercy on us.

Give peace, O Lord, in our days,

For there is none other that fighteth for us, but only Thou, Our God.

V. Let there be peace in Thy strength, O Lord,

R. And plenty in Thy strong places.

Let Us Pray

O God, from Whom proceed all holy desires, all right counsels and all just works, grant unto us Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be devoted to Thy service, and that being delivered from the fear of our enemies, we may pass our time in peace under Thy protection, through Christ Our Lord. R. Amen.

Immaculate Queen of Peace,

Pray for us.

(The body of this litany to the Lamb of God was written about 1915 by or under the auspices of Pope Benedict XV (1914-1922) during World War I.)