Have you ever felt like your prayers were just words — that trusting God was something you were supposed to feel but couldn’t quite reach? That’s exactly where this prayer begins.
The litany of trust prayer is one of the most honest, human, and spiritually grounding Catholic prayers written in modern times. In 2026, as anxiety levels in the US remain at historic highs, more and more people — Catholic and non-Catholic alike — are discovering it as a daily anchor. It doesn’t ask you to pretend you have it all together. It meets you exactly where the fear lives.
I’ve prayed this litany during some of my hardest seasons — when the future felt uncontrollable and doubt crept in quietly. What I found wasn’t magic. It was something better: a reorientation. A slow, daily turning of the heart back toward the One who holds it.
The Litany of Trust is a contemporary Catholic prayer composed by Sr. Faustina Maria Pia, S.V. of the Sisters of Life, designed to help the faithful surrender fear and place active trust in Jesus Christ.
What Is the Litany of Trust Prayer?
The Litany of Trust prayer is a two-part Catholic litany written by Sr. Faustina Maria Pia of the Sisters of Life. The first part asks Jesus to “deliver” us from specific fears and interior barriers — things like the fear of being unlovable, anxiety about the future, or the belief that God’s love must be earned. The second part makes bold declarations of trust: “Jesus, I trust in You.” It takes about 10–15 minutes to pray aloud.
What sets it apart from older, more formal litanies is its emotional directness. It doesn’t speak in abstract theological language. It speaks your interior monologue back to you — and then hands it to Jesus.
According to research cited by mental health practitioners who study contemplative prayer, repetitive petition-response formats like this one actively interrupt anxiety loops by replacing rumination with focused invocation. You’re not just reciting words — you’re training your attention toward trust, one petition at a time.
The Full Text of the Litany of Trust
The Litany of Trust prayer text below is reproduced with attribution to the Sisters of Life, who wrote it and grant permission for personal and parish use when cited properly.
Begin with: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Part One — Deliverance Petitions (After each line, respond: “Deliver me, Jesus.”)
From the belief that I have to earn Your love From the fear that I am unlovable From the false security that I have what it takes From the fear that trusting You will leave me more destitute From all suspicion of Your words and promises From the rebellion against childlike dependency on You From refusals and reluctances in accepting Your will From anxiety about the future From resentment or excessive preoccupation with the past From restless self-seeking in the present moment From disbelief in Your love and presence From the fear of being asked to give more than I have From the belief that my life has no meaning or worth From the fear of what love demands From discouragement
Part Two — Trust Affirmations (After each line, respond: “Jesus, I trust in You.”)
That You are continually holding me, sustaining me, loving me That Your love goes deeper than my sins and failings and transforms me That not knowing what tomorrow brings is an invitation to lean on You That You are with me in my suffering That my suffering, united to Your own, will bear fruit in this life and the next That You will not leave me orphan, that You are present in Your Church That Your plan is better than anything else That You always hear me and in Your goodness always respond to me That You give me the grace to accept forgiveness and to forgive others That You give me all the strength I need for what is asked That my life is a gift That You will teach me to trust You That You are my Lord and my God That I am Your beloved one
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Written by Sr. Faustina Maria Pia, S.V. — Sisters of Life (sistersoflife.org)
For a printable version, the Sisters of Life offer free permission to reprint this prayer for personal and parish use. Simply cite: “Written by the Sisters of Life (sistersoflife.org).”
Who Wrote It and Where It Came From
Sr. Faustina Maria Pia wrote the Litany of Trust prayer while living in the Bronx, New York, as a member of the Sisters of Life. She wasn’t trying to write a famous prayer. She was in the middle of her own spiritual struggle — a season where she couldn’t see what God was doing and felt pressure to have all the answers.
She knelt before the crucifix and asked a simple question: What does it mean to trust? The lines of the litany came to her, she said, less as words and more as a movement of the heart. She picked up her journal and wrote them down.
The name she took as a sister — Sr. Faustina — honors St. Faustina Kowalska, the Polish mystic to whom Jesus revealed the Divine Mercy Chaplet in the 1930s. That connection is not coincidental. Both prayers center on the same truth: trust is the vessel that receives God’s mercy. St. Faustina Kowalska wrote in her diary, “The graces of My mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, and that is trust.”
The litany was formatted intentionally after the Litany of Humility, a classic prayer attributed to Cardinal Merry del Val. Both prayers use the same petition-response structure to uproot specific interior wounds — pride in the Litany of Humility, and fear in the Litany of Trust.
Trust isn’t a feeling you find — it’s a choice you practice, one petition at a time.
Understanding the Petitions: What Each Line Really Means
The 15 deliverance petitions are not random. They fall into three clear interior wounds that block trust:
| Wound Category | Petitions Targeting It | Core Lie Being Addressed |
| Fear of unworthiness | “earn Your love,” “unlovable,” “life has no meaning” | God’s love is conditional on my performance |
| Fear of losing control | “false security,” “trusting leaves me destitute,” “suspicion of promises” | Surrendering to God is dangerous |
| Fear of the future / past | “anxiety about the future,” “preoccupation with the past,” “restless self-seeking,” “discouragement” | My past disqualifies me; my future is unsafe |
Once you see these categories, the prayer becomes a diagnostic tool, not just a recitation. Which petition makes you pause? That’s where Jesus wants to meet you.
But here’s the thing — the second half of the prayer doesn’t just cancel out the fear. It replaces it with specific truths. Not vague comfort. Real theological statements: “Your plan is better than anything else.” “My suffering will bear fruit.” “I am Your beloved one.” These aren’t aspirational phrases. They are claims about who God actually is.
From my own experience praying this: the line “That I am Your beloved one” was the hardest one for me to say with conviction for months. Not because I doubted God theoretically. But because I didn’t feel like it was true for me, specifically. Praying it anyway — even on the days it felt hollow — was how I began to believe it.
How to Pray the Litany of Trust Step by Step
Praying the Litany of Trust is simple. Here’s exactly how to do it:
- Make the Sign of the Cross. Begin with “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
- Settle into stillness. Take one slow breath. You don’t need a church or candles — just an honest heart.
- Read each deliverance petition aloud. After each one, respond: “Deliver me, Jesus.” Don’t rush. If a line hits close, stay there a moment.
- Move into the trust affirmations. After each one, respond: “Jesus, I trust in You.” Say these as an act of the will — even if you don’t feel them yet.
- Close with the Sign of the Cross.
If you’re new to structured prayer and want to explore more devotional options alongside this litany, the collection of holy blessing prayers at BlessingLite offers a wide range of prayers for every moment of your day — from morning to bedtime.
How long does it take?
Prayed at a calm pace, about 10–15 minutes.
Can you pray it silently?
Yes. But praying aloud engages your whole person — voice, breath, attention — which deepens the effect, especially if anxiety is high.
Can I pray it every day?
Absolutely. Many Catholics pray it as a morning offering or use it as a 9-day novena when facing a major decision or difficult season.
If you’re new to litany-style prayer, you might also explore the holy blessing prayers on BlessingLite — a collection of devotional prayers that pair well with this practice for daily spiritual nourishment.
When Should You Pray It? Practical Moments That Call for This Prayer
The Litany of Trust prayer is especially powerful in moments when trust doesn’t come naturally — which, honestly, is most moments.
Some people argue this prayer is too intense for everyday use — that it’s better saved for crisis moments. The other side of this is that trust, like any spiritual muscle, only grows through daily practice. The prayer is short enough for a morning routine and deep enough for a dark night.
Here are the moments where it lands hardest:
- During a panic attack or anxious spiral — the rhythm of petition and response interrupts the rumination loop
- Before a major decision you can’t control the outcome of
- After a loss or disappointment — specifically the line “from resentment or excessive preoccupation with the past”
- When you feel spiritually dry and can’t find words of your own
- As a novena — nine days of continuous praying for a specific intention
- When someone you love is suffering and you feel powerless to help
For moments of quiet spiritual reflection beyond this prayer, the right hand blessings and reflections at BlessingLite offer another gentle entry point into intentional prayer.
If this prayer has resonated with you, bookmark this page so you can return to the full text anytime — no app required, no sign-up needed. Just the prayer, ready when you are.
Praying It as a Family or With Children
Can children pray the Litany of Trust? Yes — with some guidance. Children as young as 7 or 8 can understand the basic structure (leader says a petition, everyone responds), even if they don’t fully grasp every line.
A few ways to make it work for families:
- Simplify the responses. Young children can simply say “Help me trust You, Jesus” instead of the full “Deliver me, Jesus” if the formal phrasing feels stiff.
- Pick two or three petitions that resonate with your family’s current season. You don’t have to pray all 15 at once.
- Use it at bedtime. Children intuitively understand the fear of the dark and the unknown — the lines about anxiety and discouragement connect naturally at night.
- Talk about one petition per week as a family faith discussion. “From anxiety about the future — what does that mean for us right now?”
In US Catholic homes and schools, this prayer is increasingly used in faith formation programs. It’s not just a devotional for adults in crisis — it’s a formation tool that teaches children that prayer is how we process fear, not just how we list requests.
Is This Prayer Approved by the Catholic Church?
The Litany of Trust is a contemporary prayer, not one formally approved through the official litany approval process (which covers only six litanies for public liturgical use). But that doesn’t diminish it.
It is widely promoted by bishops, dioceses, retreat houses, and religious orders across the United States and beyond. According to the Sisters of Life, it has been distributed globally and translated into multiple languages. It is used in RCIA programs, retreat weekends, and hospital chaplaincy across US parishes.
The Catholic Church distinguishes between official liturgical prayers and private devotional prayers — and the Litany of Trust falls squarely in the second category, alongside beloved prayers like the Memorare, the Anima Christi, and the Litany of Humility. None of those require formal Vatican approval to be authentically Catholic and spiritually fruitful.
You can learn more about the history of Catholic litanies and their role in private devotion on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ prayer resource page (opens in new tab).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote the Litany of Trust prayer?
The Litany of Trust was written by Sr. Faustina Maria Pia, S.V., a member of the Sisters of Life, while she was living in the Bronx, New York. She wrote it during a personal period of spiritual struggle with surrender.
How do I pray the Litany of Trust — what do I say?
For each petition in Part One, respond “Deliver me, Jesus.” For each affirmation in Part Two, respond “Jesus, I trust in You.” Begin and end with the Sign of the Cross. It takes about 10–15 minutes.
Is there a Litany of Trust PDF I can download or print?
Yes. The Sisters of Life grant free permission to reprint the prayer for personal and parish use. Cite: “Written by the Sisters of Life (sistersoflife.org).” You can find the official card at sistersoflife.org.
How often should I pray the litany of trust prayer?
Many Catholics pray it daily, especially as a morning offering. It can also be used as a 9-day novena. There’s no wrong frequency — the more you pray it, the more the words become your own.
Is the Litany of Trust the same as the Divine Mercy Chaplet?
No, they’re different prayers. But they share the same spiritual DNA — both root in St. Faustina Kowalska’s message that trust is how we receive God’s mercy. Many people pray both together.
What is the difference between the Litany of Trust and the Litany of Humility?
The Litany of Humility targets pride and the desire for worldly recognition. The Litany of Trust targets fear and the desire for control. Both use the same petition-response structure and are excellent companion prayers.
Can I use the Litany of Trust for anxiety?
Yes. The prayer directly addresses anxious interior states — fear of the future, restless self-seeking, discouragement. Praying it doesn’t eliminate anxiety, but it redirects attention from the anxiety loop to a specific act of trust, which many find grounding.
Conclusion
The litany of trust prayer doesn’t promise that your fears will disappear. What it offers is something more honest — a daily practice of choosing trust over control, one petition at a time. If you’ve never prayed it before, start today. Read through the full text once, slowly. Let the lines you resist be your guide.
Nova is a devoted faith-based writer and spiritual content creator with over 4 years of experience in crafting prayers, blessings, and uplifting inspirations. At BlessingLite.com, she combines her deep love for spirituality with a gift for heartfelt writing to help readers connect with their faith on a deeper level. Her work is rooted in the belief that simple, sincere words carry the power to heal, uplift, and transform lives. Whether you’re seeking morning blessings, prayers for difficult times, or words to share with someone you love, Nova’s writing is designed to touch your heart and strengthen your spirit.