All the Saints

Happy Feast of All Saints! This is the day where we celebrate all the saints, known and unknown. In the old days, they were referred to as the Church Triumphant.

I’m just back from Mass, and I find myself questioning the wisdom of those who thought that since All Saints falls on a Monday, it should not be a Holy Day of obligation this year. Did they think this would be too difficult for us?

I mean, it’s been a feast since the sixth or seventh century, and it was fixed on November 1 in the Roman calendar by Pope Gregory III in the mid 8th century. You’d think after almost 1300 years, we’d have the hang of it.

There have been occasions where I can feel the almost physical presence of the Saints close around me, particularly during the Sanctus of the Mass. Today was one of those occasions. It doesn’t happen particularly often, but when it does, it’s a real consolation to me.

Although not an official part of the liturgy for this day, it is traditional in many places in the world to sing or chant the Litany of the Saints on this day. This is one of my favourite chants.

There are about a zillion versions of this, but I’ll post just two. The first is in English (with the beginning cut off by an introduction and in the end for no good reason).

The second is the same (more or less) in the original Latin.

Latin and Greek (original)	Englished
V. Kyrie, eléison.	V. Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Kyrie, eléison.	R. Lord, have mercy upon us.
V. Christe, eléison.	V. Christ, have mercy upon us.
R. Christe, eléison.	R. Christ, have mercy upon us.
V. Kyrie, eléison.	V. Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Kyrie, eléison.	R. Lord, have mercy upon us.
V. Pater de cælis, Deus.	V. O God the Father of heaven.
R. Miserére nobis.	R. Have mercy upon us.
V. Fili, Redémptor mundi, Deus.	V. O God the Son, Redeemer of the world.
R. Miserére nobis.	R. Have mercy upon us.
V. Spíritus Sancte, Deus.	V. O God the Holy Spirit.
R. Miserére nobis.	R. Have mercy upon us.
V. Sancta Trínitas, unus Deus.	V. O Holy Trinity, one God.
R. Miserére nobis.	R. Have mercy upon us.
V. Sancta María.	V. Holy Mary.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancta Dei Génetrix.	V. Holy Mother of God.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancta Virgo vírginum.	V. Holy Virgin of virgins.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancti Michael, Gabriel, et Raphaël.	V. Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
R. Orate pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Omnes sancti Angeli.	V. All ye holy Angels.
R. Orate pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancte Abraham.	V. Saint Abraham.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancte Ioánnes Baptista.	V. Saint John the Baptist.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancte Iosephe.	V. Saint Joseph.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Omnes sancti Patriárchæ et Prophetæ.	V. All ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets.
R. Orate pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancti Petre et Paule.	V. Saints Peter and Paul.
R. Orate pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancte Andrea.	V. Saint Andrew.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancti Ioánnes et Iacobe.	V. Saints John and James.
R. Orate pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancte Matthæe.	V. Saint Matthew.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Omnes sancti Apóstoli.	V. All ye holy Apostles.
R. Orate pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancte Marce.	V. Saint Mark.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancte María Magdalena.	V. Saint Mary Magdalene.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Omnes sancti Discípuli Dómini.	V. All ye holy Disciples of the Lord.
R. Orate pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancte Stephane.	V. Saint Stephen.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancte Ignati.	V. Saint Ignatius of Antioch.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancte Polycarpe.	V. Saint Polycarp.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancte Iustine.	V. Saint Justin Martyr.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancte Laurénti.	V. Saint Lawrence.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancta Agnes.	V. Saint Agnes.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Omnes sancti Mártyres.	V. All ye holy Martyrs.
R. Orate pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancti Leo et Gregóri.	V. Saints Leo and Gregory.
R. Orate pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancte Ambrósi.	V. Saint Ambrose.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancte Augustine.	V. Saint Augustine.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancti Basili et Gregóri.	V. Saints Basil and Gregory Nazienzen.
R. Orate pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancte Benedicte.	V. Saint Benedict.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancte Ioánnes María.	V. Saint John Mary Vianney.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancte Terésia.	V. Saint Teresa of Avila.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Sancte Elísabeth.	V. Saint Elizabeth of Hungary.
R. Ora pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Omnes Sancti et Sanctæ Dei.	V. All ye Holy, Righteous, and Elect of God.
R. Orate pro nobis.	R. Pray for us.
V. Propitius esto.	V. Be thou merciful.
R. Líbera nos, Dómine.	R. Good Lord, deliver us.
V. Ab omni malo.	V. From all evil.
R. Líbera nos, Dómine.	R. Good Lord, deliver us.
V. A morte perpetua.	V. From everlasting damnation.
R. Líbera nos, Dómine.	R. Good Lord, deliver us.
V. Per Incarnatiónis tuæ.	V. By thy Holy Incarnation.
R. Líbera nos, Dómine.	R. Good Lord, deliver us.
V. Per sanctam resurrectiónem tuam.	V. By thy holy Resurrection.
R. Líbera nos, Dómine.	R. Good Lord, deliver us.
V. Per refusionem Spíritus Sancti.	V. By the coming of the Holy Spirit.
R. Líbera nos, Dómine.	R. Good Lord, deliver us.
V. Christe Fili Dei vivi.	V. Christ, Son the living God.
R. Miserére nobis.	R. Have mercy upon us.
V. Qui in hunc mundum venísti.	V. He who was to come into this world.
R. Miserére nobis.	R. Have mercy upon us.
V. Qui in mortem propter nos accepísti.	V. He who chose to die for us.
R. Miserére nobis.	R. Have mercy upon us.
V. Qui a mortuis resurresxísti.	V. He who rose from the dead.
R. Miserére nobis.	R. Have mercy upon us.
V. Qui Spíritum Sanctum in Apostolos misisti.	V. He who sent the Holy Spirit to the Apostles.
R. Miserére nobis.	R. Have mercy upon us.
V. Qui ventúrus es iúdicare vivos et mortuos.	V. He who will come again to judge the living and the dead.
R. Miserére nobis.	R. Have mercy upon us.
V. Ut nobis parcas.	V. That it may please thee to spare us.
R. Te rogamus, audi nos.	R. We beseech thee to hear us, Lord.
V. Ut nobis indulgeas.	V. That it may please thee to pity and pardon us.
R. Te rogamus, audi nos.	R. We beseech thee to hear us, Lord.
V. Ut Ecclésiam tuam sanctam regere et conservare dignéris.	V. That it may please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church.
R. Te rogamus, audi nos.	R. We beseech thee to hear us, Lord.
V. Ut omnes homines ad Evangelíi lumen perdúcere dignéris.	V. That it may please thee to bring all people into the light of the Gospel.
R. Te rogamus, audi nos.	R. We beseech thee to hear us, Lord.
V. Christe, audi nos.	V. O Christ, hear us.
R. Christe, audi nos.	R. O Christ, hear us.
V. Christe, exáudi nos.	V. O Christ, graciously hear us.
R. Christe, exáudi nos.	R. O Christ, graciously hear us.
V. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi.	V. Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world.
R. Miserére nobis.	R. Have mercy upon us.
V. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi.	V. Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world.
R. Miserére nobis.	R. Have mercy upon us.
V. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi.	V. Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world.
R. Miserére nobis.	R. Have mercy upon us.
V. Christe, audi nos.	V. O Christ, hear us.
R. Christe, audi nos.	R. O Christ, hear us.
V. Christe, exáudi nos.	V. O Christ, graciously hear us.
R. Christe, exáudi nos.	R. O Christ, graciously hear us.
V. Kyrie, eléison.	V. Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Christe, eléison. Kyrie, eléison.	R. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.