How does one combat the sin of pride?

[Chrystal]

Pride is something I am trying to fight also. Everyday I feel terrible when I think about how I’ve sinned, and it always seems like I’ve been proud about something, and I really hate that about myself. For example, I work at a medical facility, and I always try to be nice, but every now and again, there are people who come in who are just so mean and disrespectful, and it just makes it so easy to get frustrated sometimes. I’ve never got into an arguement or anything like that with a patient, but I find that I’ll rant about what happened, or who was mean. Afterward I feel awful a good Catholic would be forgiving and not get irritated, but it’s hard sometimes when people treat you like that. I often pray to God for the gift of humility because I don’t want to be a bad person.

 

[Chrystal]

I started going to a monthly evening of recollection for Regnum Christi women. They pray the Litany of Humility Benediction each month. The first time I read it I couldn’t help myself from feeling terribly ashamed because I found it difficult to “honestly” say the words. I took the prayer home and tried to read it again. This time in private I was able to let myself sob through the prayer. It is the most difficult prayer to pray “honestly”. I have worked on it now for a few months and it has helped me with my prideful ways.

 Litany of Humility

Jesus, meek and humble of heart …Hear me!
From the desire of being esteemed…Lord Jesus, free me!
From the desire of being loved…" "
From the desire of being acclaimed…" "
From the desire of being honored…" "
From the desire of being praised…" "
From the desire of being preferred…" "
From the desire of being consulted…" "
From the desire of being approved…" "
From the desire of being valued…" "
From the desire of being humbled…" "
From the fear of being despised… " "
From the fear of being dismissed…" "
From the fear of being rejected…" "
From the fear of being defamed…" "
From the fear of being forgotten…" "
From the fear of being ridiculed…" "
From the fear of being wronged…" "
From the fear of being suspected…" "
From the fear that my opinion
is not followed…" "

That others:

Will be loved more than I…Lord Jesus, make this
my prayer!
Will be esteemed more than I…" "
Will increase in the opinion of the world while I diminish…" "
Will be chosen while I am set aside…" "
Will be praised while I am overlooked…" "
Will be preferred to me in everything…" "

Let us pray: Lord, Jesus though you were God, you humbled yourself to the extreme of dying on a cross, to set an enduring example to the shame of my arrogance and vanity. Help me to learn your example and put it into practice so that, by humbling myself in accordance with my lowliness here on earth, you can lift me up to rejoice in you forever in heaven. Amen

What a great prayer! I definitely need this one to help me be more humble.

 

[Margaret33]

Found these yesterday when looking for prayers on another topic…

Prayer to Saint Anthony of Padua, Example of Humility

Dear Saint Anthony, after all these years in the school of Christ, I still haven't learned the lesson of true humility. My feelings are easily ruffled. Quick to take offense, I am slow to forgive. Saint Anthony, Example of Humility, teach me the importance and necessity of this Christian virtue. In the presence of Jesus, who humbled Himself and whom the Father exalted, remember also these special intentions of mine. [name them]

[Franciscan](http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/pst01716.htm) Mission Associates

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Prayer for Humility

Lord Jesus Christ, I pray that you may fortify me with the grace of your Holy Spirit, and give your peace to my soul, that I may be free from all nedless anxiety and worry. Help me to desire always that which is pleasing and acceptable to you, so that your will may be my will.

Grant that I may be free from unholy desires, and that , for your love, I may remain obscure and unknown in this world, to be known only to you.

Do not permit me to attribute to myself the good that you perform in me and through me, but rather, referring all honor to you, may I admit only to my infirmities, so that renouncing sincerely all vainglory which comes from the world, I may aspire to that true and lasting glory that comes from you. Amen

St. Frances Cabrini

 

[blessedstar]

try going face to face and when you are tempted to defend yourself or your actions just humbly keep silent and truly reflect on what the confessor has said.

This is good advice, thank you.

 

[jules11]

Thankyou everyone! Thankyou so much. I haven’t much time at the moment, but I will go back and re read each post carefully. You all have such wonderful advice! It is so great to be able to lean on my brothers and sisters in Christ with these things… it makes me feel, well… it’s just so incredible that I don’t know any of you but you can help me from over the other side of the world and have an impact… Isn’t that amazing? I LOVE the Catholic Church!!!

 

[Margaret33]

bump!