The Litany of Humility was composed by Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val, who served as secretary of state to Pope Saint Pius X. This Catholic prayer is designed to help us cultivate humility by asking Jesus to free the heart from pride, fear, and self-centered desires, and encourages believers to desire the good of others above self-centered interests and to surrender to God’s will in all things.
The Litany is interior and personal, focusing on purifying the heart, rather than outward gestures. It encourages self-emptying, emulating Christ’s humility and fostering surrender to God. It is particularly beneficial during Lent or anytime one seeks growth in humility, patience and spiritual freedom. Regular prayer of this Litany is said to lead to a true spirit of humility, greater gratitude and a heart transformed by God’s mercy.
The Litany is divided into two main sections: Deliverance from Pride and Fear and the Grace to desire the good of others. In the first section, each line petitions Jesus for freedom from desires, such as being esteemed, praised or preferred to others and from fears of humiliation, being despised or suffering rebukes. In the second section the petitioner asks to willingly accept being overlooked, to see others increase while self decreases and to rejoice in others’ holiness, reflecting true humility and alignment with God’s will.
The prayer concludes with a reflection on charity, the greatest virtue, emphasizing love that is patient, kind, free from envy and pride and ready to renounce anything rather than offend God.
Praying the Litany of Humility daily is more than reciting words, it is a commitment to orienting your heart towards God and the service of others. Small but consistent efforts in reflection, prayer and service cultivate humility that flows naturally into all areas of life, enriching relationships and all spiritual growth.
It is my belief that by regularly engaging with the Litany of Humility, we invite God to transform our desires, actions and thoughts toward genuine meekness, patience and detachment from pride, allowing his grace to shape our daily lives.
Humility is not about thinking less of yourself, rather, it is about thinking of yourself less …
LITANY OF HUMILITY
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being praised, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being despised, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected, Deliver me, O 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 go 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.
Charity
Charity is patient, is kind; charity does not envy, is not pretentious, is not puffed up, is not ambitious, is not self-seeking, is not provoked; thinks no evil, does not rejoice over wickedness, but rejoices with the truth, bears with all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Cor. 13:4-7).
To have Charity is to love God above all things for Himself and be ready to renounce all created things rather than offend Him by serious sin. (Matt. 22:36-40)
