Despite being called to imitate Christ’s Humility, I stumble daily. I complete the tasks that I think are important, and I spend time seeking recognition, rather than serving others. I know the better path is to pause and truly listen to what I’ve been called to do, and to focus my energy as He would. Each day I pray that I’ll do better than the day before, and on the days when I knowingly fall prey to my earthly desires, I say this prayer to change my heart. I hope it changes yours as well.
Prayer of Humility
O Jesus! Meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved…
From the desire of being extolled …
From the desire of being honored …
From the desire of being praised …
From the desire of being preferred to others…
From the desire of being consulted …
From the desire of being approved …
From the fear of being humiliated …
From the fear of being despised…
From the fear of suffering rebukes …
From the fear of being calumniated …
From the fear of being forgotten …
From the fear of being ridiculed …
From the fear of being wronged …
From the fear of being suspected …
That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I …
That, in the opinion of the world,
others may increase and I may decrease …
That others may be chosen and I set aside …
That others may be praised and I unnoticed …
That others may be preferred to me in everything…
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…
-Rafael Cardinal Merry Del Val (1865-1930),Secretary of State for Pope Saint Pius X
