Humility

"True humility isn't in thinking less of our selves, but in thinking of ourselves less."

Humility is elusive. As soon as you think you have it, you have lost it by the vice of pride. Pride is my stumbling block to humility, so if I can overcome pride, then I can be humble. Right? I wish it were that simple. According to St. Augustine, there are three virtues that are indispensable for one to be moved by the Holy Spirit, to be filled with His power, and to be enkindled with the fire of His love. These three virtues are humility, humility, and humility.

In the Bible, only three persons are named as to possessing the virtue of humility: Moses, the Virgin Mary, and Jesus. Of all the virtues, humility must be the most difficult to achieve, but by being in possession of this one virtue, the rest must naturally follow. How can one become humble when pride makes us think so highly of ourselves and our own achievements? God wants the most perfect people to do His work, but until He can find them, he uses us. I need to remember that quote to help me overcome my stumbling block to humility.

LITANY OF HUMILITY

(accustomed to be said after celebration of Mass,
by Merry Cardinal del Val, secretary of state to
Pope Saint Pius X)

(for private use only)

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.