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Father Arthur Shares a Litany of Humility

26th Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A

In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus speaks of the son who says, “I will not [work in your vineyard]” to his father, but then changes his mind and works in his father’s vineyard. This could refer to the prostitutes and tax collectors who, through their apparent and evidently sinful lives say “no” to God’s will, but upon further reflection and their encounter with Christ, decide to leave their sinful ways behind and follow Him. The second, son, on the other hand, says “Yes, Sir” to the father but then does not help him in the vineyard resembles the Pharisees—to whom Jesus addresses the parable—because they outwardly appear to follow God’s law, but in the end, they reject Jesus Christ.

The reality is that, in each of us, there is something of the prostitutes and tax collectors and something of the scribes and Pharisees. In certain instances, we choose to follow Christ, and in other moments we fall and reject Jesus through sin. What is most important to remember in these moments is that the Lord is merciful and is ready to forgive those who approach him with humility. As the Psalm 25 recalls, “Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, and teaches the humble his way.”

Humility is the key to God’s heart. Whenever we acknowledge the truth about ourselves before God and admit our sins, God responds with love and generous mercy. One prayer that I find very helpful to grow in an awareness of myself and to attract God’s love is the following Litany of Humility:

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.

To download and print this Litany of Humility prayer, clickhere.

I would like to invite you to pray this prayer each day in order to grow in greater humility and to open your hearts to the treasure of God’s love, which will equip you to choose Him and say “Yes” to His will like Our Lady.

Yours in Christ,
Father Arthur

Readings for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Lectionary 136