I often find myself uncertain as to whom I should address a particular prayer. I am very curious what the origin of this litany is, and whether all of the addressees above Lamb of God also refer to our Lord Jesus. St Benedict is addressed above, but I wonder if/where the list returns to our Lord Jesus.
I am certain that you know CCC 2634 says Jesus is the one intercessor for all men, then adds that the Holy Spirit also intercedes. CCC 2156 says intercession of Patron Saints is assured. And CCC 769 begins discussion of our Holy Mother as Mediatrix, perhaps with special emphasis or focus on Salvation or Redemption or Justification.
The Lamb of God portion, modified from the Liturgical form for the litany is always referring to the One Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Lamb of God and Great High Priest.
The litany, like most litanies end with a threefold petition to the Lamb of God who is the True Mediator between God and Man, being God and Man, He is the ultimate Door to the Father, all our prayers are heard through Christ.
The litany, like most litanies, makes use of vague devotional language relating to biblical terms of importance in salvation history. The idea is that Christ the Archetype of Perfection acts through His Saints. So many of the titles could apply to Christ but apply to the Saint who Christ worked through because God glorifies those who serve Him and love Him.
Holy Father, Saint Benedict, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict being referred to for all of the subsequent "pray for us"
Father most reverend, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict is pious
Father most renowned, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict is virtuous
Father most compassionate, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict is merciful
Man of great fortitude, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict had mighty constitution
Man of venerable life, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict lived a life that is venerable in itself
Man of the most holy conversation, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict left life in the city and began to live as a hermit, praying and fasting and mortifying his passions
True servant of God, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict was protected by God's providence and the sign of the Cross
Light of devotion, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict revealed Christ's Light to the world, letting Christ shine through Him
Light of prayer, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict was renowned for his dedication to deep and pure prayer, even to the point of clairvoyance and levitation
Light of contemplation, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict was given a vision of the world through the eyes of God, seeing all things as God saw them
Star of the world, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict was a light bringing people to Jesus like the Star which lead the Magi to Jesus
Best master of an austere life, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict required lenten style penance year round and strict rules of mortification which lead to some of his disciples rebelling and trying to poison him, unsuccessfully by the grace of God and the sign of the Cross
Leader of the holy warfare, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict was a strong spiritual warrior, fighting against demons alone like the great ascetics who went before him and creating a spiritual army of monks like a holy rank of blessed spiritual soldiers of Christ
Leader and chief of monks, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict as Proto-Abbot lead a Christ like life and is a perfect icon of monasticism
Master of those who die to the world, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict wore black and had his monks wear black because they had to die to the world
Protector of those who cry to thee, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict is a great intercessor against spiritual forces of evil
Wonderful worker of miracles, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict worked many miracles
Revealer of the secrets of the human heart, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict was given the power to know the hearts of men through the Holy Spirit's gift of insight
Master of spiritual discipline, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict was a great ascetic and master of prayer
Companion of the patriarchs, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict established numerous monasteries, which operated like fully functioning churches and established numerous schools for the education of children
Equal of the prophets, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict was capable of visions, foreknowledge and miracles, making him equal to the prophets in the Spirit of God
Follower of the Apostles, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict continued the Apostolic Way by establishing monastic practice in the west
Teacher of Martyrs, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict's faith has inspired many subsequent benedictine martyrs
Father of many pontiffs, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict has been the spiritual Father of many popes
Gem of abbots, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict is the prized treasure of all abbots
Glory of Confessors, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict is someone who was persecuted for his strict practice of the faith is a glorious example for Confessors
Imitator of anchorites, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict living in single areas at a time, imitated the anchoritic practice of only inhabiting a small area such as a cell or peace of land
Associate of virgins, Pray for us.
^Saint Benedict promoted chastity and lead many people to accept holy virginity through his monastic order
Colleague of all the Saints, Pray for us."
^Saint Benedict is a coworker with even the greatest Saints
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