Litany of the Saints - Procession of the Conclave (2005)

The Litany of the Saints (Latin, Litania Sanctorum) is a sacred prayer of the Roman Catholic Church, the Western Rites of the Orthodox Church, and some Anglican Churches. It is a prayer of invocation to the Triune God, and prayers for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Angels and all the martyrs and saints. It is most prominently sung during the Paschal Vigil at the beginning of Sacraments of Initiation for those to be received that night into the Church, in other celebrations of the Sacrament of Baptism (the first of the Sacraments of Initiation,) and in the liturgy for Holy Orders.  The Litany and procession above is from the Conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005.

The names of the Saints to be invoked appear in the Church's Martyrology.

The order in which people are invoked is as follows:

(1) Our Lady, the Virgin Mary (2) The Angels (3) Patriarchs and Prophets including St John the Baptist, and always concluding with Our Lady's spouse, Saint Joseph) (4) The Apostles and Disciples of the Lord (5) Martyrs (6) Bishops and Doctors of the Church (7) Priests and Religious (8) Laity

In the Latin language version of the Litany, the names of one or more saints are chanted by a cantor or choir, and the congregants reply with either, Ora pro nobis (if one saint is addressed) or Orate pro nobis the plural imperative of the verb, (if more than one saint is addressed). Both responses translate to "Pray for us." However, it is permissible to personalize the Litany of Saints for a funeral rite or other Mass for the dead, and this was famously done during the funeral of Pope John Paul II, the response was Ora[te] pro eo, or "Pray for him."

Following the invocation of the saints, the Litany concludes with a series of supplications to God to hear the prayers of the worshipers.

Solemnity of All Saints

The "Litany of the Saints" in the video above was prayed at the 2008 Youth Rally, celebrated in New York, in which Pope Benedict XVI met with the youth and seminarians at Saint Joseph Seminary.

The prayer is led by cantor Christi Chiapetti.

The Church gives us on this day a wonderful vision of heaven, showing us a great multitude which no one can count, of every nation and tribe, of every people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and with palms in their hands. Christ, His Blessed Mother, the blessed battalions distributed in nine choirs, the apostles and prophets, the martyrs crimsoned in their blood, the confessors adorned in white garments and the chaste choir of virgins form the majestic court. It is composed of all those who here below were detached from worldly riches, gentle, suffering, just, merciful, pure, peaceful and persecuted for the name of Jesus. "Rejoice, the Master had foretold them, for a great reward is prepared for you in heaven." Among those millions of the just are several of our own family, relations, friends now enjoying the fruit of their faithfulness adoring the Lord, the King of kings, and obtaining for us the abundance of His mercies.