Litany of Humility

I have been including this prayer lately (because I stand in such need of greater humility!) in my morning prayer time, and wanted to share it because it has been so fruitful.  Not so much in terms of me being all of a sudden perfectly and at all times humble, although I do see gradual progress, but because it is teaching me what true humility actually is.

Note: For those who have never prayed a litany, every time you see an ellipses, repeat the previous bolded phrase.  It's as easy as that!

Litany of Humility

Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val; (1865-1930) Secretary of State for Pope Saint Pius X

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, hear me. 
          From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus.          

From the desire of being loved...
          From the desire of being extolled ...
          From the desire of being honored ...
          From the desire of being praised ...
          From the desire of being preferred to others...
          From the desire of being consulted ...
          From the desire of being approved ...

          From the fear of being humiliated ...
          From the fear of being despised...
          From the fear of suffering rebukes ...
          From the fear of being calumniated ...
          From the fear of being forgotten ...
          From the fear of being ridiculed ...
          From the fear of being wronged ...
          From the fear of being suspected ...

That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

          That others may be esteemed more than I ...
          That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease ...
          That others may be chosen and I set aside ...
          That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...
          That others may be preferred to me in everything...
          That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…

Amen.

At first, it scared me to pray this prayer.  I thought it was asking me to never be loved, praised, or consulted, and to want to be humiliated, despised, and ridiculed.  But then I realized that it was instead asking me to just let go of the desire to be loved, praised, or consulted, and to not fear being humiliated, despised, and ridiculed.  A big difference!  How freeing it would be to no longer be enslaved by my desires and fears, although I trust that I will indeed continue to be loved by some, and unnoticed by others.

In fact, I found it especially powerful this morning, when I prayed this prayer, to rephrase it like this:

I am loved, I am extolled, I am honored, etc.  Thank you for this gift, but help me not to need it.

I have been, and will be again, humiliated.  I have been, and will be again, despised, etc.  Help me not to fear it.

Others are esteemed more than I, others are chosen while I am set aside, etc. Help me to be glad for them and not envious.

I pray that this will help others as much as it is helping me!  Thank God for the communion of saints (meaning Cardinal Merry del Val, not me)!

Comments

[Jessica]

This is such a wonderful prayer!! I don't pray it nearly enough... You have inspired me. I'm going to start now :)

[Trina]

I also love this litany. I will never forget the first time I read it at a retreat...it just hit me like a ton of bricks, "You mean I am supposed to pray not to fear being unnoticed, ridiculed, reviled? YIKES!" Now I am reading "Come Be My Light" about the life of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, and seeing a very beautiful example of someone who lived her life in just that way and the fruit she gained for Christ's Kingdom. Amazing

[Blair]

Beautiful prayer, thanks for the reminder!
Also, I thought you would be a good prayer warrior for another online friend whose adoption just fell through after she'd met the baby boy. Her name is Miranda...thanks!

[Malini]

Hi Heather,
I just thought of you for some reason today and took a look at your blog. This is a prayer that I feel I need also, but like you it scares me too. Thank you for your insight about the reality that we are given all these gifts (love, praise etc.) but we are asked to let go of the desire, and let everything come from God. Hope all is well w/ you and your family. Peace
Malini Paye

[sam]

One of the most powerful prayers I have prayed...never can say it too much!!! +JMJ+Sam

[Champs Ulysses Cabiatan]

Wow, thank you for the explanation. I love this prayer and just have an afterthought sometimes, glad you explain it here... There's a song by Danielle Rose about the said prayer and I love listening on it. :D