Litany of Humility

Pray it slowly, one line at a time, and expect some lines to sting. The text is in the public domain, and you can print it from the free PDF.

Download the Litany of Humility PDF (free, one page)

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.

It’s usually credited to Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val (1865–1930), secretary of state to Pope Pius X; C. S. Lewis thanked a friend for “the Litany composed by Cardinal Merry” in 1948. But a nearly identical litany was printed in 1880, and an older one in 1867. The 1867 version ended with this short prayer.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

O sweet Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine, and give me the grace of final perseverance. Amen.

If the whole litany is too much today, put one line on a card. Most people find the last section the hardest to mean.

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

Jesus, I can say “deliver me from the desire of being praised,” but I’m not sure I want it yet. I still like being chosen. I still notice who gets credit. Start with the line I can’t pray honestly, and make it true in me, a little at a time. You decreased for me. Help me not be afraid to decrease for You. Amen.

One line, before the day’s comparisons start.

Good morning, Jesus. Before I open my messages and start measuring myself against everyone else, I pray one line: from the desire of being approved, deliver me. Let me do today’s work well, and let me be fine if no one notices. Amen.