Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you (James 4:10).

I’d like to share a simple and important prayer called the Litany of Humility.

It was written by Cardinal Merry del Val, the Secretary of State for Saint Pius X.

The cardinal was known to recite the litany daily after the celebration of Mass.

I’ve been praying it every day for several months, and it’s been an interesting and eye-opening experience!

I intend to keep praying this litany and hope you’ll consider praying it too.

May the Lord increase humility in our souls each day and make our hearts like His.

He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way (Psalms 25:9).

Litany of Humility

(for private devotion only)

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, Deliver me, Jesus. 
From the desire of being praised, Deliver me, Jesus. 
From the desire of being preferred, Deliver me, Jesus. 
From the desire of being consulted, Deliver me, Jesus. 
From the desire of being approved, Deliver me, Jesus. 

From the fear of being humiliated, Deliver me, Jesus. 
From the fear of being despised, Deliver me, Jesus. 
From the fear of suffering rebukes, Deliver me, Jesus. 
From the fear of being calumniated, Deliver me, Jesus. 
From the fear of being forgotten, Deliver me, Jesus. 
From the fear of being ridiculed, Deliver me, Jesus. 
From the fear of being wronged, Deliver me, Jesus. 
From the fear of being suspected, Deliver me, Jesus. 

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