The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, named for the shrine of Loreto where it was in use. Of uncertain origin in the late fifteenth or early sixteenth century, it was for the first time definitely approved by the Church under Sixtus V in 1587.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Holy Mary, pray for us. Holy Mother of God, pray for us. Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us. Mother of Christ, pray for us. Mother of divine grace… 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, Comfort of the afflicted, Help of Christians… Queen of Angels, Queen of Peace, pray for us.
The dated sources the library holds, oldest first — in their own words.
The litany is composed in the closing years of the fifteenth or the early years of the sixteenth century and comes into use at the Marian shrine of Loreto, from which it takes its name; the earliest surviving printed copy dates from Dillingen, Germany, 1558.
Pope Sixtus V, devoted to Loreto, gives the litany its first formal approval by the Bull "Reddituri" of 11 July 1587, and recommends its use to preachers everywhere.
The Church continues to add invocations to the litany down the centuries — among later additions, "Queen conceived without original sin," "Queen of the most holy Rosary," and "Queen of Peace" — so that the prayer grows with the Church's devotion.
“Sixtus V, who had entertained a singular devotion for Loreto, by the Bull "Reddituri" of 11 July, 1587, gave formal approval to it, as to the litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, and recommended preachers everywhere to propagate its use among the faithful.”