A NIGHT LITANY
FOR A BIG CITY

This Night Litany for a Big City comes from a Eucharistic Vigil Prayer Guide published over 20 years ago. Although some of the language and terms used here might strike one as somewhat outdated, the substance of this vigil’s petitions, prayers for God’s mercy upon a sinful unnamed metropolis, certainly is not!

If anything we need to make these pleas now more than ever when all sense of sin has seemingly vanished in far too many of our major cities these days, with larceny and chaos occurring far too frequently with all its accompanying misery and spiritual desolation.

God asks us not to give up hope in trusting in His Divine Providence even when things seem to be at their worst. Thus we offer this litany here that these prayers might offer those reciting it individually or in a group setting of some sort the time tested hope that “where sin abounds, grace can abound that much more”!

Oh God, our Father hear us

We plead before you, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, for all who tonight in this great city stand in most need of your merciful love and protection.

On souls beset by temptation, have mercy.

On those who have fallen into sin, have mercy.

On those who are given up to worldliness and forgetful of you, have mercy.

On those who are at this moment in danger of losing You forever, have mercy.

By your agony, save them, Jesus.

On those who are carrying on wicked trades and profit by sin, have mercy.

On the victims of sin, have mercy

On those indulging in sinful amusements, have mercy.

On all who are imperiling their souls by self-indulgence and luxury, have mercy.

By Your scourging, save them, Jesus.

On all who are out tonight, the homeless, the weary, the starving, those tempted to suicide, the intemperate, have mercy.

On those who are out for sin, have mercy.

To those who are out to rescue others, grant help and protection.

For those who work at night, the police, railwaymen, firemen, those engaged on the stage, soldiers and sailors, sentinels on duty, editors and journalists, let Your Presence be with them, Jesus.

For the sick and suffering and all who are enduring any agony of mind and body, comfort them, Jesus.

For all undergoing operations, strengthen them, Jesus and help them in body and soul.

For the sleepless and lonely, be near them.

For those in anxiety, nervous or mental distress, calm them.

For the mentally ill, keep them under your protection.

For those who attend the mentally ill, make them tender-hearted and compassionate.

For night nurses, give faithfulness and sympathy.

For priests and doctors called out this night, reward them.

By Your crown of thorns, deliver them, Jesus.

For those who this night must suffer bereavement, visit and sustain them.

For those for whom this will be their last night on earth, deepen their contrition and receive their souls.

For those whom sudden death summons before Your Judgment, have mercy.

For those dying alone without priest or sacrament, have mercy.

For those dying rejecting the ministry of Holy Church, have mercy.

On those dying unconscious, have mercy.

On those dying blind to their sin, have mercy.

On the souls of unbelievers who are near death, have mercy.

On those who are trying to turn to You even in their last hour, have mercy.

For those who are afraid to die, turn their heaviness into joy.

For dying priests and religious have mercy on them and receive them to Yourself.

For the faithful departed, grant them light and peace.

For ourselves and our last hour, grant the pardon of our sins, our negligences, and our ignorance.

By Your holy death, deliver us all, O Jesus.

On behalf of those who have said no prayers today, let us say:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

On behalf of those who neglect to praise God and thank him, let us say:

Blessed be God. Blessed be His Holy Name.

On behalf of those who would blaspheme and neglect the Blessed Sacrament, let us say:

Blessed, praised, worshipped, and adored by Jesus Christ on His Throne of Glory and in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen.

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