Litany of Humility

The Litany of Humility is a simple prayer that reminds us of the need to be humble of heart like Jesus.

This prayer was composed by Cardinal Merry del Val, a close friend of Pope Saint Pius X.

Let us pray together:

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart: hear us.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart: hear us.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart: make our hearts like Yours.

From the desire to be esteemed, deliver me, Jesus!
From the desire to be loved, deliver me, Jesus!
From the desire to be sought, deliver me, Jesus!
From the desire to be praised, deliver me, Jesus!
From the desire to be honored, deliver me, Jesus!
From the desire to be preferred, deliver me, Jesus!
From the desire to be consulted, deliver me, Jesus!
From the desire to be approved, deliver me, Jesus!
From the desire to be flattered, 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 being rejected, deliver me, Jesus!
From the fear of being slandered, 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 mocked, deliver me, Jesus!
From the fear of being insulted, deliver me, Jesus!

May others be loved more than I am – O Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it!
May others be more esteemed than I am – O Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it!
That others may increase in the opinion of the world, and that I may decrease – O Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it!
May others be granted more confidence in their work and may I be left aside – O Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it!
May others be praised and I forgotten – O Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it!
May others be preferred to me in everything – O Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it!
May others be holier than I, provided I at least become holy as I can – O Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it!

O Mary, Mother of the humble, pray for us!
Saint Joseph, protector of humble souls, pray for us!
Saint Michael, who were the first to fight against pride and the first to bring it down, pray for us!
O all the righteous, sanctified by the spirit of humility, pray for us!