# Prayer - give me humility
*2008-06-21*

> In this 100th episode, Bill Young reflects on the danger of pride and prays the Litany of Humility and the novena to St. Maximilian Kolbe.

## The temptation of success

Welcome to the 100th episode of Catholic Podcast Ministries' Prayer and Lunch. Normally, reaching a milestone like a 100th episode is something people feel proud of; it can make you feel successful or more important. However, I found a prayer for June 21st called the Litany of Humility that is very appropriate for today. To be honest, I realized I was doing the opposite of what this prayer desires. You may think you have humility, but in my case, I've realized I really don't. That is why I know I need this prayer, and perhaps some of you do as well.

## The litany of humility

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me. From a desire of being esteemed, deliver me, Jesus. From a desire of being loved, deliver me, Jesus. From a desire of being excelled, deliver me, Jesus. From a desire of being honored, deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being raised, deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being preferred to others, deliver me, Jesus. From a desire of being consulted, deliver me, Jesus. From a 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 raised 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 become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

An awareness and love of my nothingness, grant me, O Jesus. The perpetual memory of my sinfulness, grant me, O Jesus. The conviction of my weakness, grant me, O Jesus. The abhorrence of every vanity, grant me, O Jesus. The pure intention of serving God, grant me, O Jesus. The perfect submission to the will of God, grant me, O Jesus. The true spirit of repentance, grant me, O Jesus. Obedience without reserve to my superiors, grant me, O Jesus. A holy hate of all evil and jealousy, grant me, O Jesus. A readiness to forgive all offenses I receive, grant me, O Jesus. The prudence to say nothing about the affairs of others, grant me, O Jesus. Charity and love towards everyone, grant me, O Jesus. An inherent longing for scorn and humiliation, to be treated like You, the grace to accept this holy manner, grant me, O Jesus.

O Mary, my queen, mother, teacher of humility, pray for me. All the righteous souls, sanctified particularly for your spirit of humility, pray for me. Let us pray: O God, who resists the proud and gives grace to the humble, grant us the virtue of true humility, which only Your Son has exemplified to the faithful by His very life, so Your indignation may never be provoked by exulting ourselves with pride, but rather grant that by living in humble obedience to You, we may receive the gifts of Your grace. Amen.

## Novena to St. Maximilian Kolbe

We continue with Day 6 of the novena prayer to St. Maximilian Kolbe. O Jesus Christ, who said, "Greater love than this no man has, to lay down his life for his friends," through the intercession of St. Maximilian Kolbe, whose life illustrated such a love, we beseech You to grant our petitions. My petition today is for John and Roseanne, for their health and spiritual needs.

Through the Knights of the Immaculate Conception movement, which Maximilian founded, he spread fervent devotion to Our Lady throughout the world. He gave up his life for a total stranger and loved his persecutors, giving us an example of an unselfish love for all men—a love which was inspired by a true devotion to Mary. Lord Jesus, that we too may give ourselves entirely and without reserve to love and serve our heavenly queen in order to better love and serve our neighbor, we pray in the imitation of Your humble servant, Maximilian. Amen.

*True success is found not in being esteemed by the world, but in the grace of humility and unselfish love for others.*