Litany of Humility: Full Text & Why Catholics Pray It Daily
From fear of being humiliated to desire to be forgotten — the Litany of Humility names the hidden pride that blocks holiness. It has spread rapidly among American Catholics seeking authenticity.
The Litany of Humility is a Catholic prayer attributed to Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val that asks Jesus to free the soul from vanity and fear of others' opinions. Catholics pray it privately or in groups, responding "Deliver me, Jesus" or "Grant me the grace to desire it, Jesus" to each petition.
Who Was Cardinal Merry del Val?
Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val (1865–1930) served as Secretary of State under Pope St. Pius X. Known for diplomatic skill and personal austerity, he was remembered for treating everyone — from popes to servants — with equal courtesy. Biographers describe him as fiercely devoted to Christ's meekness; the Litany of Humility fits that portrait, even though historians cannot prove with certainty that he composed every line. American Catholics encounter his name through this prayer more often than through Vatican history textbooks.
Litany of Humility — Full Text
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being praised, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, 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 suffering rebukes, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected, Deliver me, 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 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.
Amen.
How to Pray the Litany of Humility
- Begin with the Sign of the Cross. You may kneel or sit quietly; posture matters less than sincerity.
- Pray the opening invocation aloud: "O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me."
- For each "Deliver me" petition, pause and respond: "Deliver me, Jesus." Some Catholics add a Hail Mary between sections during Lent.
- For each "Grant me the grace" petition, respond: "Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it."
- End with Amen and a moment of silence, offering one concrete act of humility for the day — letting someone else speak first, accepting correction without defending yourself, or fasting from social media comparison.
What the Petitions Mean (Catholic Teaching)
The first half names disordered desires — wanting praise, honor, and approval as if they were necessities. The Catechism teaches that pride is the root of many sins because it turns the heart away from God toward self (CCC 1866, 2559). The second half asks for supernatural desires: not natural self-loathing, but the grace to prefer others and to rejoice when they are honored.
Humility is not pretending you have no gifts. St. Teresa of Ávila called humility "walking in the truth" — acknowledging that every good comes from God. The litany therefore targets attachment to reputation, not legitimate self-respect. A surgeon should know she is skilled; a parent should love his children well. The sin is needing the crowd's applause to feel worth.
Why American Catholics Pray It Today
Parishes from Boston to Los Angeles report young adults praying the Litany of Humility in small groups, before Eucharistic adoration, and during Lenten penance services. The prayer names struggles that older devotional books sometimes skipped: fear of being canceled, overlooked on group chats, or compared on Instagram. It gives language for confession without vague guilt. Many U.S. Catholic bookstores stock wallet cards; the prayer also appears in the Pieta prayer book and various Magnificat companion volumes.
When to Pray It — Practical Suggestions
- Lent and Holy Week — alongside fasting from vanity and speech.
- Before Confession — to examine motives for sin honestly.
- After public failure or criticism — when humiliation tempts bitterness.
- Monthly holy hour — as a examination of conscience on pride.
- With teenagers preparing for Confirmation — peer pressure makes these petitions concrete.
Humility vs. Low Self-Esteem
Catholic spirituality rejects both pride and despair. If the litany feels crushing, speak with a priest or Catholic counselor — scrupulosity and clinical anxiety are not the same as humility. The goal is freedom to love God and neighbor, not endless self-accusation. St. Thérèse of Lisieux showed humility through confident trust in God's mercy, not through hiding her light.