F
fin
Guest
Has anyone prayed the Litany of Humility and experienced the petitions in the prayer, such as not desiring being praised, or not fearing being forgotten anymore?
- Status
I
Irishmom2
Guest
For those unfamiliar with it:
Litany of Humility
(by Merry Cardinal del Val, secretary of state to Pope Saint Pius X
from the prayer book for Jesuits, 1963)
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)
Litany of Humility
(by Merry Cardinal del Val, secretary of state to Pope Saint Pius X
from the prayer book for Jesuits, 1963)
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)
S
Samuel_Mary
Guest
How weird, I just prayed the Litany of Humility for the first time this morning (UK time, i.e. about 30 minutes ago) before coming across this thread. I intend to pray it more often to help free myself not only from the negative ego traits referred to in the petitions, but really from all sense of ego altogether, to stop ‘‘telling myself the story of myself’’ in my mind and trying to live according to that, but to just live for Christ instead, with no pretensions.
I’ll let you know how it works out for me
I’ll let you know how it works out for me
L
Lea101
Guest
I haven’t, but a catholic acquaintance once mentioned that she considered it as a dangerous prayer, since in her experience, God’s solution was to face her fears.
She got acne, had a falling out with her close friends and boyfriend, and flunked her tests.
she is humble now, though. a little traumatized, but humble.
She got acne, had a falling out with her close friends and boyfriend, and flunked her tests.
she is humble now, though. a little traumatized, but humble.
I
Irishmom2
Guest
Well, I would say yes then, it works.I haven’t, but a catholic acquaintance once mentioned that she considered it as a dangerous prayer, since in her experience, God’s solution was to face her fears.
She got acne, had a falling out with her close friends and boyfriend, and flunked her tests.
she is humble now, though. a little traumatized, but humble.
P
PelagiathePenit
Guest
Reasons why I avoid that prayer. The book of Job is another I run away from.I haven’t, but a catholic acquaintance once mentioned that she considered it as a dangerous prayer, since in her experience, God’s solution was to face her fears.
She got acne, had a falling out with her close friends and boyfriend, and flunked her tests.
she is humble now, though. a little traumatized, but humble.
E
EmeraldOak
Guest
My only experience with it is that I prayed it once and have never prayed it again. At the conclusion I felt more unsettled than any prayer had ever made me feel before. I personally am not comfortable with certain sentiments expressed in it.I haven’t, but a catholic acquaintance once mentioned that she considered it as a dangerous prayer, since in her experience, God’s solution was to face her fears.
She got acne, had a falling out with her close friends and boyfriend, and flunked her tests.
she is humble now, though. a little traumatized, but humble.
D
Della
Guest
I would say that the Litany of Humility isn’t for everyone. It’s a devotion, after all, not doctrine or dogma. Some of us simply aren’t suited to practice what it asks of us, for various reasons that have nothing to do with our own holiness or lack of it. Each of us is on his own faith journey. Some have barely started out, but this devotion might be the very thing for them. Others may be quite far along, but it’s too challenging for them at this point in their life. So, like any devotion, it might be helpful for some but not so much for others.
Accepting total surrender to God takes time, prayer, discernment and courage. God gives all those things to some people in an instant, but most of us struggle with them most, if not all, of our lives. Each one of us can gain a great deal from the devotions offered through the Church, but if anyone of them doesn’t aid us in our faith life, then it’s simply not for us.
As for how it’s affected me–it’s a challenge for me–but one I believe I need in my life. Praying it has made me aware of my failings–where I need improvement–the virtues I need to work on more. It’s “red meat and strong beer” as C. S. Lewis would put it. But for those who thrive on such a diet, it’s very good indeed.
Accepting total surrender to God takes time, prayer, discernment and courage. God gives all those things to some people in an instant, but most of us struggle with them most, if not all, of our lives. Each one of us can gain a great deal from the devotions offered through the Church, but if anyone of them doesn’t aid us in our faith life, then it’s simply not for us.
As for how it’s affected me–it’s a challenge for me–but one I believe I need in my life. Praying it has made me aware of my failings–where I need improvement–the virtues I need to work on more. It’s “red meat and strong beer” as C. S. Lewis would put it. But for those who thrive on such a diet, it’s very good indeed.
L
Lea101
Guest
Same here. I am already set aside and all that fun stuff…i really don’t want to have a desire for it.
I’m not sure if I don’t have the strength for this, or if the prayer is just a bad idea for some people
L
Lea101
Guest
my old parish priest used to joke about how if you want God to finally say yes to a prayer, pray for humility. “you’ll definitely know when He answers it”
D
Della
Guest
LOL! So true!!!
P
PelagiathePenit
Guest
perhaps if we had more humility we wouldn’t pray for other things.
P
PelagiathePenit
Guest
Humility sounds like such a scary thing. To humiliate yourself. I guess it is good to not be too attached to earthly sins.I haven’t, but a catholic acquaintance once mentioned that she considered it as a dangerous prayer, since in her experience, God’s solution was to face her fears.
She got acne, had a falling out with her close friends and boyfriend, and flunked her tests.
she is humble now, though. a little traumatized, but humble.
G
Gertabelle
Guest
The first time I heard the prayer (on EWTN, back when we had cable), I felt a physical repulsion to it. Not desiring to be loved? Not desiring to be approved? Are you kidding me?!
But I knew that I needed this prayer – and that was God’s grace in action.
The litany helps me remember my priorities.
Look, I am a goofy, fun-loving, energetic elementary school teacher. I have good friends and a loving (albeit small) family. I’m not some somber sourpuss who enjoys pain and anguish.
The graces from this litany have given me such freedom.
It’s difficult to explain. I just love this prayer.
But I knew that I needed this prayer – and that was God’s grace in action.
The litany helps me remember my priorities.
Look, I am a goofy, fun-loving, energetic elementary school teacher. I have good friends and a loving (albeit small) family. I’m not some somber sourpuss who enjoys pain and anguish.
The graces from this litany have given me such freedom.
It’s difficult to explain. I just love this prayer.
D
Della
Guest
It’s important, I think, to keep the wording in mind with this prayer.
For those who misunderstand him, the cardinal isn’t asking to be unloved, but for the grace to not desire to be loved.Many people now days, especially, it seems, want everyone to love them, which is one reason why, for instance, even godly people can be cowardly regarding morals when they should, rather stand up, lovingly, for good morals.
The cardinal is praying for the desire to gain indifference as to how he is treated by others, which frees us from the onus of trying to make everyone like us/approve of our words and actions.
This litany needs to be meditated upon with good understanding of the Scriptures and Church teaching, as well as prayed. It’s the meat of the Gospel not merely the milk, which means we need to grow the strong teeth of love of God and trust in him in order to desire the things the cardinal prayed for.
G
Gertabelle
Guest
You explained this so beautifully. That is exactly my experience, and probably why I find the prayer to have offered me such freedom.It’s important, I think, to keep the wording in mind with this prayer.
Many people now days, especially, it seems, want everyone to love them, which is one reason why, for instance, even godly people can be cowardly regarding morals when they should, rather stand up, lovingly, for good morals.
The cardinal is praying for the desire to gain indifference as to how he is treated by others, which frees us from the onus of trying to make everyone like us/approve of our words and actions.
This litany needs to be meditated upon with good understanding of the Scriptures and Church teaching, as well as prayed. It’s the meat of the Gospel not merely the milk, which means we need to grow the strong teeth of love of God and trust in him in order to desire the things the cardinal prayed for.
Thank you!
D
Della
Guest
You’re welcome, but I can’t take credit for this understanding, but of the great saints who have written the same thing.
A little story as illustration, a young man consulted an aged, wise monk about his feeling the need to be loved and how miserable he was that no one seemed to appreciate him. The monk sat in the monastery’s garden and listened patiently to the young man’s dilemma. Finally the monk said, “You see that statue of St. Joseph?” The young man replied that he did. The monk told him, “Go and slap the statue across the face.” The young man objected, not wanting to profane an image of the great saint. But the monk insisted, so the young man did as he was told, giving the statue a strong slap. He turned to the monk for an explanation for this action. The monk said, “When you care no more than that statue if others dislike or abuse you, then you will achieve the peace you are seeking.”
I’ve often thought of that little story and reminded myself that I am to love, even if I am not loved or others don’t appreciate me or like me, etc. Disinterest in how others treat me lets me love them as God loves them, not as I would love them. To gain this is to gain freedom, and peace of mind and heart.
P
PelagiathePenit
Guest
Letting go of wanting to be approved of. This is wonderful. I’ll try the prayer. I hope I don’t wake up with acne or perhaps run into my ex with a new girl. I don’t trust the Lord enough.It’s important, I think, to keep the wording in mind with this prayer.
Many people now days, especially, it seems, want everyone to love them, which is one reason why, for instance, even godly people can be cowardly regarding morals when they should, rather stand up, lovingly, for good morals.
The cardinal is praying for the desire to gain indifference as to how he is treated by others, which frees us from the onus of trying to make everyone like us/approve of our words and actions.
This litany needs to be meditated upon with good understanding of the Script4ures and Church teaching, as well as prayed. It’s the meat of the Gospel not merely the milk, which means we need to grow the strong teeth of love of God and trust in him in order to desire the things the cardinal prayed for.
G
Gertabelle
Guest
There’s this myth out there that if you pray for humility, you’re going to suffer immensely.
My experience was quite the opposite.
I didn’t develop acne.
I didn’t gain 20 pounds overnight.
My ex didn’t show up with a new girl.
I didn’t get reprimanded at work.
And my past was suddenly revealed to all my friends.
Life went on as usual, no more or less anxiety-producing than any other day.
I was just aware of opportunities to stop worrying about what people thought of me.
- Status