What is the right way to interpret Litany of Humility?

[Elena321]

The Litany of Humility says for example:

From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, 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 being ridiculed, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, Deliver me, Jesus.
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.

Sometimes I think I’m humble (if you can say this yourself?) because im not really interested in accolades or being esteemed but other things I’m not so sure about,so I don’t know if it’s that I’m not humble or if it’s rather that I’m misinterpreting.

For example,the desire to be loved.I do desire that because I though that’s what human relationships are built on.
I don’t fear humiliation but if I trip over or something I do think OMG,how embarrassing.
I don’t fear being wronged if the definition of wrong is hurt,but I don’t like being wronged(hurt) either.
I find it hard to want other may be chosen instead of me because just say for example like with Olympic athletes,they train very hard so why would they want someone else to be chosen over them for the team etc?
Or just say you go for a dance job-you want to get the job not someone else.

Can anyone assist?

 

[Della]

It seems to me that the good Cardinal meant for us to focus on those areas of our lives in which we put ourselves before others, not that we can’t wish to be loved, for instance. Rather, I’d say that he means that we shouldn’t look to others to be loved over looking to God for that. Not everyone is going to love us. Trying to get others to love us takes energy away from simply loving them. If they love us in return, that’s fine, but if they don’t we should let it go, realizing that it’s not always possible for everyone to love everyone on their own. It takes the grace of God to love the unlovable in our lives. At least, that’s how I see it.

 

[St_Francis]

I pray this frequently. . . Now I find myself noticing when I have a desire for my boss to think I am the best worker, when I desire my family to compliment me on the state of something I cleaned, etc.

When I avoid doing something I ought to do because I am afraid I will embarrass myself because I’m not good at doing it, when I shade the truth to avoid a rebuke, when I do not speak up for Christ for fear of being ridiculed. . .

Sure, someone who has worked hard to be able to join the Olympic team wants to be chosen, the problem is when they want that *too much. *When they want it enough to take steroids, when they want it enough to lie, etc.

From the desire of being loved: how many fall for the illusion of love through porn or pre-marital sex to fill that desire?

Not all of these will apply to each person; each person has their own difficulties, right? In fact, I sometimes add things, from the desire or being thought efficient, for example. (I am seriously disorganized.)

 

[fladreamer]

It seems to me that the good Cardinal meant for us to focus on those areas of our lives in which we put ourselves before others, not that we can’t wish to be loved, for instance. Rather, I’d say that he means that we shouldn’t look to others to be loved over looking to God for that. Not everyone is going to love us. Trying to get others to love us takes energy away from simply loving them. If they love us in return, that’s fine, but if they don’t we should let it go, realizing that it’s not always possible for everyone to love everyone on their own. It takes the grace of God to love the unlovable in our lives. At least, that’s how I see it.

Then why doesn’t he say in intelligible words what he means? Why does it have to be ‘‘He said thus and so, but actually he meant something different’’.? What if he meant what he said? The prayer calls for the annihilation of our self, nothing less. ‘‘While others flourish, prosper, grow, have good friends who love and support them, let me dwindle to nothing. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.’’

 

[Della]

Then why doesn’t he say in intelligible words what he means? Why does it have to be ‘‘He said thus and so, but actually he meant something different’’.? What if he meant what he said? The prayer calls for the annihilation of our self, nothing less. ‘‘While others flourish, prosper, grow, have good friends who love and support them, let me dwindle to nothing. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.’’

Humility is not self-annihilation, it’s simply knowing who we are in relation to God and others. It means what St. John the Baptist meant when he said, “He must increase and I must decrease.” Putting God and others before ourselves is at the heart of humility.

After all, many of Jesus’ admonitions sound just as hard to do as this, such as:

“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple” Lk. 14:26.

It needs a bit of explanation to be fully understood, as well.

Hard sayings are hard sayings because they challenge us to give our all to God. Most of us are afraid to do that, so many reject them. But we do that to our own detriment because we, in our fallen state need constant reminding that we are not the center of everything–that we owe our love and service to God first and to others second and then to ourselves.

 

[LiamQ]

For example,the desire to be loved.I do desire that because I though that’s what human relationships are built on.

Humility has to do with conforming yourself to truth and to reality, in not striving for an excellence beyond your state in life, and in not judging yourself greater than you really are.

Each of the petitions in this litany, IMO, should be understood in light of the above.

So, in the case of love: we shouldn’t desire a love that is not based on truth, i.e., a blind form of simply being “adored” or “worshiped” for some nonexistent excellence that isn’t really ours, or that we desire to have out of vainglory. “Being loved” in the sense of what a prima donna expects of their audience.

In the case of the fear of humiliation: not wanting the mask of our pride to fall, and to be considered lower than what the persona we’re trying to project suggests.

In terms of not being chosen: yes, especially in the sense of “striving for an excellence beyond your state in life,” of always wanting to be first because you consider yourself some sort of peasant royalty, so on and so forth.

As with most things, the virtue of humility needs to be taken in its proper context, especially the context of the other virtues.

 

[Emme781]

Then why doesn’t he say in intelligible words what he means? Why does it have to be ‘‘He said thus and so, but actually he meant something different’’.? What if he meant what he said? **The prayer calls for the annihilation of our self, nothing less. **’‘While others flourish, prosper, grow, have good friends who love and support them, let me dwindle to nothing. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.’’

I respectfully disagree that it calls for the annihilation of one’s self. If you follow the entire litany (ewtn.com/Devotionals/Litanies/humility.htm) it’s about finding joy in putting others above ourselves. Not that you dwindle to nothing, but strive be the best person you can be without seeking to be noticed for it - except by God who sees everything.

This litany has been been very helpful to me in my spiritual growth and I say it frequently, learning and growing closer to God each time.

 

[LiamQ]

Then why doesn’t he say in intelligible words what he means?

Ah! Because not everything that is written assumes someone can understand it without ANY background knowledge of the subject.

For example, the litany mentions fear a lot. What is fear? In theological language, it is a vice that is an unmoderated passion arising from the perception of future evil. But this doesn’t mean that a moderated reaction to the perception of a future evil, such as calumny, is not virtuous. Such a moderation is called caution, and caution is a virtue. It seeks to avoid evil based on experience, and it’s actually a subvirtue of prudence. We should strive to cultivate caution, and avoid the vices of presumption or audacity.

So yes, there’s a lot more here than meets the eye, and the litany in general goes far beyond simply having to do with humility.

 

[Elena321]

Thanks for the answers,they help a lot.

“So yes, there’s a lot more here than meets the eye, and the litany in general goes far beyond simply having to do with humility.”- could you please elaborate?

To me,it seems the Litany is irony because wouldn’t someone have to already have some measure of humility to want to pray it?
For example,I think most people I meet are pretty humble but the people I can think of as bring really un humble are some politicians (such as American Donald Trump),some doctors who desire the “accolades” of other doctors at awards/conferences,models & some actors so wouldn’t they be too blinded by their pride or arrogance to even want to pray something like this?

Is it also useful though to get "noticed"sometimes?
I mean in the sense of just say you had a boss who thought you were incapable or other such quality,wouldn’t it be good to commit to “proving” to them that you could be capable (providing you actually were)?

 

[Della]

No one should be trying to be the best at their occupation merely to gain points with the boss. That is not humility. Rather, humility is doing the best you can but recognizing that you are a fallible human being prone to sin. Humility is meant to be a watch dog on our attitude and inner disposition. Being humble is not the same thing as being an obsequious toady. It’s working at one’s career, home life, vocation with quiet trust in God, while serving him and one’s neighbor. It’s not complicated, but it’s not easy to do, either. It takes taming our ego, letting others shine when appropriate, and being helpful to others even if it’s an inconvenience. It’s God first, others second, me last. We aren’t to think less of ourselves, but merely of ourselves less.

 

[St_Francis]

I have been praying this prayer off and on for almost 20 years. When I pray it daily/several times a week, it starts to sink in and I understand what it means in relation to me in a way that is like copying how someone sinks a basketball to improve my game–it’s not something I *think *about, more like I start noticing when I am doing things for the wrong reason, or when I am overly sensitive to things.

For example, I can be very sensitive to anything that could possibly be taken as criticism. So my husband says “Bad hair day?” jokingly because my hair looks really good, and I will be miffed and say I worked on it for hours! The litany helps me to see that my fear of being criticized is what caused the problem and my misery, not the “criticism” itself.

 

[St_Francis]

I have been praying this prayer off and on for almost 20 years. When I pray it daily/several times a week, it starts to sink in and I understand what it means in relation to me in a way that is like copying how someone sinks a basketball to improve my game–it’s not something I *think *about, more like I start noticing when I am doing things for the wrong reason, or when I am overly sensitive to things.

For example, I can be very sensitive to anything that could possibly be taken as criticism. So my husband says “Bad hair day?” jokingly because my hair looks really good, and I will be miffed and say I worked on it for hours! The litany helps me to see that my fear of being criticized is what caused the problem and my misery, not the “criticism” itself.

 

[BobCatholic]

I want to be loved by God, but that litany says I’m not humble because I do.

I want to have God to choose me and not set me aside, but that litany says Im not humble.

 

[Della]

I want to be loved by God, but that litany says I’m not humble because I do.

I want to have God to choose me and not set me aside, but that litany says Im not humble.

I have to disagree. It’s not wrong to want to be loved by God, of course we want that, and we should want that. Too many people reject being loved by God, which is why they cannot have true happiness.

No, Cardinal Merry de Val is saying that we shouldn’t seek to be loved by others–other human beings–as our first desire. All our first desires have to be in Christ–to seek to be loved by Christ is to seek to love others because loving God means loving others, as St. John told us in his Epistles. God is always choosing us–we are the ones who aren’t always choosing him–by putting ourselves and our wants before his, and those of others to whom we own our help, both spiritual and temporal.

 

[JMartyr73340]

Can anyone assist?

I think the Cardinal meant “loved” in a “celebrity” type way. I interpret the line to mean “From the desire to be famous, Jesus deliver me”. But I could be wrong.

It cannot be a prohibition on love in general, since that would include the love of Jesus; which would make no sense.

 

[Elena321]

No one should be trying to be the best at their occupation merely to gain points with the boss. That is not humility. Rather, humility is doing the best you can but recognizing that you are a fallible human being prone to sin. Humility is meant to be a watch dog on our attitude and inner disposition. Being humble is not the same thing as being an obsequious toady. It’s working at one’s career, home life, vocation with quiet trust in God, while serving him and one’s neighbor. It’s not complicated, but it’s not easy to do, either. It takes taming our ego, letting others shine when appropriate, and being helpful to others even if it’s an inconvenience. It’s God first, others second, me last. We aren’t to think less of ourselves, but merely of ourselves less.

I probably didn’t explain it very well.
I meant more to inspire confidence in them about you/your work,not to gain points.

Also,does Humility have to mean being that stereotype of certain who “always puts her children and husband first” and then often complains how she has no time for herself etc?
I probably shouldn’t but sometimes I get annoyed abit at those types of women as it seems a bit like acting like “martyrs”

 

[Elena321]

I think the Cardinal meant “loved” in a “celebrity” type way. I interpret the line to mean “From the desire to be famous, Jesus deliver me”. But I could be wrong.

It cannot be a prohibition on love in general, since that would include the love of Jesus; which would make no sense.

Thanks.That would make sense.

 

[Elena321]

I have other example. My sister,who I consider more humble or at least loving/following Jesus more than myself once had a certain high level job where she was offered a promotion.
She declined because there was another girl being considered for it too & this other girl had been there much longer and was also friends/social with the boss.
Although my sister knew she was the better of the two for the job (she had stronger work ethic etc) she knew the other girl would be mad/upset as she had been there longer.
She also felt that as a Christian she should “esteem the other girl before herself” so she said no to the promotion.
I told her if she objectively thought she was better for the job she should accept.
She didn’t listen to me though due to the above reasons.
Anyway,when the other girl got asked next,that girl accepted without a moments hesitation & she generally had a bit of a “me me” attitude.
My sister felt hurt and I think it was a hard lesson learnt for my sister,as I think she internally secretly though that if you do something selfless for another person that they would return the act/act selfless too but life doesn’t work that way

Was the only think she did wrong was expecting someone else to do the same as her?
Should she have accepted the job or would this have been not humble?

 

[BobCatholic]

God is always choosing us–we are the ones who aren’t always choosing him–by putting ourselves and our wants before his, and those of others to whom we own our help, both spiritual and temporal.

I wish God would choose me. But there’s always a catch. God never gives unconditionally, every gift has a price to pay.

 

[Della]

I wish God would choose me. But there’s always a catch. God never gives unconditionally, every gift has a price to pay.

God wants all of us–ungrudgingly given to him. Jesus said we are to consider the cost of serving him. If we can’t serve him unstintingly, then we will not serve him but only resent what he asks of us. It’s up to you to decide if you will let God have your life or if you won’t, my friend.