Litany of Humility

Cardinal Merry del Val's tomb in the Vatican - St Peter's Basilica.

The Litany of Humility is a beautiful prayer. It was one of the prayers in my old missal. Sadly, I see that it is unfortunately no longer included in my new missal. Pity. The prayer was composed by Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val, who was the Cardinal Secretary of State of the Holy See under Pope Saint Pius X.

A cause for Rafael Merry del Val’s canonisation was opened on 26 February 1953, under the pontificate of Pius XII. Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val therefore has the honorific title of Servant of God. 


Here is the prayer for those who do not know it:

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 honoured: 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.