The Litany Project: Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, Part 15

Jesus, teacher of Evangelists, have mercy on us.

Evangelists are those who preach the Gospel, those who spread the Good News that God became Man in Jesus Christ, that Jesus died for our sins and rose again, and that He loves us and desires our love in return. We might think of the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, who wrote the Gospels, or perhaps we might think of Paul and his missionary companions or the great preachers, theologians, and saints of times past or even of today.

Yet we are all called to be evangelists. We are all called to preach the Gospel in our words and actions. Perhaps we may protest that we don’t know how to do this. It’s a good thing, then, that we have the very best Teacher to inspire us with what to say and do. Our job is to listen and obey.  

Jesus, strength of Martyrs, have mercy on us.

What would we do if we faced the choice between death and compromise with regard to our Christian faith? Most of us will likely never know, but many people throughout the centuries have experienced the dilemma, and those who drew their strength from Jesus went to their deaths willingly, even joyfully, knowing that God would sustain them and reward them.  

Martyrdom does not always have to be about death, however. We are all called to little martyrdoms, little self-sacrifices, every day. While they don’t involve the ultimate choice, they can still be difficult moments when we have to decide between what is right and what is sin, between God’s will and our own will. Jesus gives us the strength to make the correct choices even in these smaller, non-bloody instances of martyrdom, so we must turn to Him constantly that we may be His witnesses at all times.

Jesus, light of Confessors, have mercy on us.

The word “confessors” here does not mean priests who hear and absolve sins in the sacrament of Confession. Rather, a confessor, in this sense, is a person who confesses the Christian faith, a person who speaks the truth whether it is easy or difficult, welcome or unwelcome. When we are willing to do that, Jesus enlightens us. He tells us what to say and shows us what to do. We must allow Him to work and cooperate as He does so that His light can shine through us.