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Prayer

Litany of Humility

Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val · c. 1890

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

Read slowly

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 to others, 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.

About this prayer

The Litany of Humility is a devotional form that asks the Lord for specific virtues of humility and self-emptying. It reflects the Catholic spiritual tradition of prayer for interior transformation, especially in relation to repentance and conversion.

When to pray
When you notice pride, harshness, or spiritual self-reliance, especially during Lenten penance.
After you read
After each petition, choose one concrete behavior today to practice humility (e.g., listening, admitting fault, or refusing unnecessary conflict).
Listed under
Contrition & mercyPeace & charity

Contrition & mercy. Humility is closely connected to repentance because it acknowledges dependence on God and rejects self-exaltation that leads to sin.

Peace & charity. Humility fosters peace by replacing defensiveness and pride with patience, gentleness, and trust in God.

Liturgical season
Lent
"Enter into the ark, and be at rest in His promise"

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