The Litany of the Holy Rosary, formally known as the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary or the Litany of Loreto, remains one of the most cherished and ancient forms of Marian devotion in the Catholic Church. As of the current date, December 10, 2025, the most significant and recent update to this historic prayer is the addition of three new invocations by Pope Francis, officially announced in 2020. This change reflects the Church's ongoing commitment to address the spiritual and material needs of the modern world, grounding a centuries-old tradition in contemporary reality.
This article provides an in-depth look at the complete, updated structure of the Litany, focusing on the profound theological and pastoral reasons behind the three new titles. Understanding these additions is crucial for anyone seeking to deepen their prayer life, as they re-contextualize the role of the Virgin Mary as a universal Mother of Mercy, Hope, and Solace for the world's most vulnerable.
The Three New Invocations: A 21st-Century Update by Pope Francis
In a move that brought a centuries-old prayer into sharp focus for the modern age, Pope Francis approved the addition of three new invocations to the Litany of Loreto. This instruction was conveyed through the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on June 20, 2020. This was not a minor tweak; it was a powerful statement on the Church's priorities in a time of global crisis and displacement.
The three new titles are:
- Mater misericordiae (Mother of Mercy)
- Mater spei (Mother of Hope)
- Solacium migrantium (Solace of Migrants)
These titles are strategically placed within the traditional sequence of the Litany, connecting Mary's historical titles with her contemporary role as Mother of the Church and Mother of God. The addition of "Mother of Mercy" and "Mother of Hope" speaks directly to the spiritual needs of a world grappling with uncertainty and suffering, while "Solace of Migrants" addresses one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time.
Solacium Migrantium: Mary as the Solace of Migrants
The invocation Solacium migrantium, or "Solace of Migrants," is arguably the most significant and timely addition, directly reflecting the pastoral concerns of Pope Francis. It is a powerful liturgical recognition of the global phenomenon of migration and displacement.
Theologically, this title connects the Virgin Mary's own experience with the plight of migrants. Mary and Joseph were forced to flee with the Child Jesus to Egypt to escape the persecution of Herod, making the Holy Family, in a sense, a family of refugees.
By invoking Mary under this title, the Church calls upon her intercession for all those who are forced to leave their homes due to poverty, war, persecution, or environmental disaster. It places the spiritual and physical comfort of migrants, refugees, and displaced persons at the heart of Marian devotion, making the Litany a prayer for social justice and human dignity.
The new titles are placed as follows:
- Mater misericordiae is placed after Mater Ecclesiae (Mother of the Church).
- Mater spei is placed after Mater divinae gratiae (Mother of Divine Grace).
- Solacium migrantium is placed after Consolatrix afflictorum (Comforter of the Afflicted).
The Complete, Updated Litany of Loreto (Letanía del Santo Rosario)
The Litany of Loreto, which is traditionally recited at the conclusion of the Holy Rosary, is a series of invocations that praise the Virgin Mary under various titles. The following list includes the complete, official English text with the three new invocations introduced by Pope Francis, ensuring you are praying with the most current text.
Initial Invocations
- Lord, have mercy. (Christ, have mercy.)
- Christ, have mercy. (Lord, have mercy.)
- Lord, have mercy. (Christ, hear us.)
- Christ, graciously hear us. (God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.)
- God the Father of Heaven, (Have mercy on us.)
- God the Son, Redeemer of the world, (Have mercy on us.)
- God the Holy Spirit, (Have mercy on us.)
- Holy Trinity, one God, (Have mercy on us.)
Marian Titles (The response to each is: *Pray for us.*)
- Holy Mary,
- Holy Mother of God,
- Holy Virgin of virgins,
- Mother of Christ,
- Mother of the Church,
- Mother of Mercy (Mater misericordiae),
- Mother of Divine Grace,
- Mother of Hope (Mater spei),
- Mother most pure,
- Mother most chaste,
- Mother inviolate,
- Mother undefiled,
- Mother most amiable,
- Mother most admirable,
- Mother of good counsel,
- Mother of our Creator,
- Mother of our Savior,
- Virgin most prudent,
- Virgin most venerable,
- Virgin most renowned,
- Virgin most powerful,
- Virgin most merciful,
- Virgin most faithful,
- Mirror of justice,
- Seat of wisdom,
- Cause of our joy,
- Spiritual Vessel,
- Vessel of honor,
- Singular Vessel of devotion,
- Mystical Rose,
- Tower of David,
- Tower of ivory,
- House of gold,
- Ark of the covenant,
- Gate of heaven,
- Morning Star,
- Health of the sick,
- Refuge of sinners,
- Comforter of the afflicted,
- Solace of Migrants (Solacium migrantium),
- Help of Christians,
- Queen of Angels,
- Queen of Patriarchs,
- Queen of Prophets,
- Queen of Apostles,
- Queen of Martyrs,
- Queen of Confessors,
- Queen of Virgins,
- Queen of all Saints,
- Queen conceived without original sin,
- Queen assumed into Heaven,
- Queen of the Most Holy Rosary,
- Queen of Peace.
Concluding Invocations
- Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, (Spare us, O Lord.)
- Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, (Graciously hear us, O Lord.)
- Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, (Have mercy on us.)
The Enduring Legacy of the Litany of Loreto
To appreciate the significance of the 2020 additions, one must understand the deep roots of the Litany. It is formally known as the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but it gained its popular title, the Litany of Loreto (*Litaniae lauretanae*), because of its use at the Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto in Italy.
Historical Context: From Loreto to Global Devotion
The Litany's origins trace back to the 16th century, though the practice of litany-style prayer—a series of petitions followed by a fixed response—is much older, with roots in the Old Testament (e.g., Psalm 136). The Loreto version was formally approved by Pope Sixtus V in 1587, who mandated its use and restricted the addition of new titles without explicit papal permission. This is why the 2020 additions are so noteworthy; they represent a rare and deliberate intervention in a long-established liturgical form.
The Litany serves as a poetic compendium of Marian theology. It organizes Mary's titles into distinct categories:
- Theological Titles: Titles reflecting her relationship with God (e.g., Mother of God, Mother of Christ).
- Virtue Titles: Titles reflecting her holiness and character (e.g., Virgin most pure, Mother most amiable).
- Symbolic Titles: Titles using metaphors from nature and architecture (e.g., Mystical Rose, Tower of David, Ark of the covenant).
- Regal Titles: Titles recognizing her place in heaven (e.g., Queen of Angels, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, Queen of Peace).
Integrating the Litany into the Holy Rosary
While the Litany of Loreto is a stand-alone devotion, it has become inextricably linked with the Holy Rosary. The Rosary itself is a meditation on the Mysteries of Christ's life—Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous—recited with the aid of prayer beads. The Litany traditionally follows the final decade of the Rosary and the prayer Salve Regina (Hail, Holy Queen).
The Litany acts as a powerful conclusion, transitioning from the meditative focus on the Mysteries of Christ to a direct, supplicatory appeal to the Mother of God. It is a final, comprehensive act of praise and petition, gathering all the graces implored during the Rosary and placing them under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, now explicitly invoked as Mother of Mercy, Mother of Hope, and Solace for the displaced of the world. The integration of these new titles ensures that the prayer remains a dynamic and living expression of faith, continually adapting to the needs of the faithful in the 21st century.
