A
PRIVATE LITANY OF HUMILITY
From the desire of
being praised, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire
of being honoured, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of
being preferred, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire
of being consulted, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire
of being approved, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of
comfort and ease, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of
being humiliated, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of
being criticized, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of
being passed over, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of
being forgotten, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of
being lonely, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of
being hurt, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of
suffering, deliver me, Jesus.
That others may be
loved more than I,
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 unnoticed,
Jesus, grant
me the grace to desire it.
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
make my heart like yours.
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
strengthen me with your Spirit.
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
teach me your ways.
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
help me put my self importance
aside
to learn the kind of cooperation
with others
that makes possible the presence
of your Abba's household.
Adapted
from a prayer by Rafael, Cardinal Merry Del Val,
from
the prayer book, For Jesuits, 1963, Loyola University Press.
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