Litany of Humility
The Litany of Humility is a Catholic prayer asking Jesus to free the heart from pride, fear, and the need for human praise. Its petitions ask for freedom from the desire to be esteemed, preferred, or approved, and for the grace to rejoice when others are honored. The full prayer appears below, followed by its meaning, guidance on how to pray it, and a printable PDF for personal devotion.
The words “meek and humble of heart” also point the faithful toward devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, where the humility, mercy, and love of Christ are contemplated more deeply.
Litany for Humility — Full Prayer
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.
Let Us Pray
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, grant me the grace to desire it. Through the merits of Thy Sacred Heart, endow me with all the virtues of humility and so repress the evil stirrings of pride which are continually assaulting me. Amen.
What Is the Litany for Humility?
The Litany for Humility is a Catholic prayer that asks Jesus to free the heart from pride, self-importance, and the desire to be praised, preferred, or admired. Its petitions bring hidden attachments into the light, including the fear of being ignored, criticized, forgotten, or treated unfairly. These desires and fears can quietly shape a person’s choices and weaken the freedom needed to follow Christ.
The prayer does not ask a person to believe that he has no worth. True humility means seeing oneself honestly before God, with gratitude for every gift and trust in His mercy. By praying the Litany for Humility, the faithful ask for the grace to think less about themselves, rejoice in the good of others, and accept God’s will with greater peace.
The litany follows the example of Jesus, who said, “Learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart” (Matthew 11:29, Douay-Rheims). It is a prayer for inner freedom, so that love of God and neighbor may take the place of pride, comparison, and the need for human approval.
This litany belongs to the Church’s rich tradition of Catholic litanies, prayers built around repeated petitions and responses that help the faithful remain focused in prayer.
How to Pray the Litany for Humility
The Litany may be prayed slowly as a personal devotion or with others. Begin with the opening invocation, then pray each petition and its response. In the first part of the litany, the response is “Deliver me, Jesus.” In the final petitions, the response is “Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.” A person may pray the whole litany in one sitting or pause over a petition that speaks to a present spiritual struggle.
No fixed schedule is required. Some Catholics pray the litany daily, during Lent, after Mass, or whenever pride, comparison, fear of rejection, or the need for approval begins to disturb the heart. The purpose is not to seek humiliation for its own sake, but to ask Christ for freedom from disordered self-concern and for the grace to love God and neighbor with a humble heart.
The prayer should be offered with trust in Christ and with a true understanding of Christian humility. Humility does not deny a person’s God-given dignity, nor does it require anyone to accept abuse or injustice. It teaches the soul to place its worth in God rather than in praise, status, or the changing opinions of others.
Meaning of the Litany for Humility
The meaning of the Litany of Humility is found in its call to become free from self-centered desires and fears. The prayer asks Jesus to deliver the soul from the desire to be praised, honored, preferred, consulted, or approved. It also asks for freedom from the fear of being humiliated, forgotten, criticized, or treated unfairly.
These petitions reveal how strongly pride can influence thoughts, words, and actions. A person may seek attention, compare himself with others, or become troubled when he does not receive the recognition he expected. The litany brings these hidden attachments before Christ and asks Him to replace them with trust, peace, and love.
The final petitions go even further by asking for the grace to rejoice when others are esteemed, chosen, praised, or advanced in holiness. This does not mean that a person should desire harm or neglect for himself. It means that he should place his worth in God rather than in the opinions of others. The Litany of Humility teaches the soul to follow the example of Jesus, who “emptied himself, taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7, Douay-Rheims), and to seek God’s glory above personal honor.
Opening Invocation: “O Jesus, Meek and Humble of Heart”
The opening invocation, “O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,” turns the prayer directly toward Christ and places Him before the soul as the perfect example of humility. These words come from His invitation in the Gospel: “Learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart” (Matthew 11:29, Douay-Rheims). The litany begins by looking to Jesus, because true humility cannot be formed by human effort alone.
The meekness of Christ is not weakness. It is strength held under perfect control, joined with patience, mercy, and obedience to the Father. His humility is seen in the hidden life of Nazareth, His service to others, His acceptance of suffering, and His sacrifice upon the Cross.
By repeating this invocation, the faithful ask Jesus to shape their hearts after His own. It prepares the soul to pray the petitions that follow with honesty and trust, seeking freedom from pride and the grace to accept God’s will with peace.
Deliverance from the Fear of Humiliation and Rejection
The Litany of Humility asks Jesus to deliver the soul from the fear of being humiliated, despised, rejected, criticized, or forgotten. These fears can become so strong that a person begins to shape his words and choices around the approval of others. He may avoid doing what is right because he fears ridicule, exclusion, or the loss of respect.
This petition does not ask a person to become careless about truth, reputation, or just treatment. It asks for freedom from the need to control how others see him. Humility gives the soul courage to remain faithful to Christ even when others misunderstand, dismiss, or oppose him.
Jesus Himself endured rejection, mockery, false accusation, and public shame. By placing these fears before Him, the faithful learn to trust that their worth rests in God’s love rather than in human praise. This freedom brings peace and helps the soul accept suffering without bitterness or resentment.
Deliverance from the Desire for Esteem, Praise, and Approval
The Litany of Humility asks Jesus to deliver the soul from the desire to be esteemed, praised, preferred, consulted, and approved by others. These desires are not always sinful in themselves, but they become harmful when a person depends on them for peace, worth, or confidence. The need for recognition can quietly lead to pride, comparison, resentment, and disappointment.
This petition teaches the faithful to seek God’s approval before human praise. A humble person may receive thanks or honor with gratitude, yet he does not make them the measure of his value. He recognizes that every good gift comes from God and should be used for His glory rather than personal attention.
Freedom from the desire for praise allows a person to serve without needing to be noticed. It helps the soul remain faithful when good works are overlooked and peaceful when another person receives the credit. As Jesus taught, “Thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee” (Matthew 6:4, Douay-Rheims). True humility finds its reward in pleasing God.
The Grace to Accept Being Overlooked or Set Aside
The Litany of Humility asks for the grace to accept being overlooked, forgotten, or set aside without giving way to anger or self-pity. Such moments can reveal how deeply the heart desires attention, influence, or recognition. When another person is chosen, praised, or given a place one hoped to receive, pride may respond with jealousy or resentment.
Humility teaches the soul to remain peaceful when it is not noticed. This does not mean believing that one has no value or allowing others to act unjustly. It means trusting that personal worth comes from God and faithfully carrying out one’s duties even when no praise follows.
This grace allows a person to serve quietly, rejoice in the good done by others, and accept that God may use hidden sacrifices for purposes known only to Him. The words of Saint John the Baptist express this humble freedom: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30, Douay-Rheims). The heart becomes less concerned with being seen and more concerned with giving glory to Christ.
The Grace to Desire the Good and Holiness of Others
The Litany of Humility asks for the grace to desire that others may grow in goodness, virtue, and holiness, even when they receive greater praise or recognition. This prayer confronts jealousy and the habit of comparing one person’s gifts with another’s. Humility allows the heart to rejoice when another soul draws closer to God.
To desire the holiness of others is an act of charity. It means wanting them to become faithful, loving, and pleasing to God without feeling threatened by their growth. Their progress does not lessen another person’s worth or calling, because every grace comes from God and is given for the good of the whole Church.
This petition teaches the faithful to pray for the success of others, encourage their gifts, and give thanks when God works through them. As Saint Paul writes, charity “envieth not” and “seeketh not her own” (1 Corinthians 13:4–5, Douay-Rheims). The humble soul finds joy not only in personal growth, but also in seeing others become holy.
Final Petition: Becoming as Holy as God Desires
The final petition asks that others may become holier than oneself, provided that each person becomes as holy as God desires. This request brings the Humility Litany to its fullest expression. The soul no longer seeks to be first, appear better, or advance beyond others, but desires only to fulfill God’s will faithfully.
This petition does not ask a person to neglect his own spiritual growth. Every soul is called to holiness and must respond to the graces, duties, and trials God permits. Humility accepts that God leads each person by a different path and gives each one the grace needed to complete his own calling.
A humble soul can rejoice when others grow in holiness without feeling threatened or left behind. He does not measure his spiritual life against theirs but keeps his eyes fixed upon Christ. The final petition teaches the faithful to desire holiness without pride, trusting that becoming the person God desires is far more important than appearing greater than anyone else.
The Catholic Meaning of True Humility
True humility, in Catholic teaching, is the virtue of seeing oneself honestly before God. It does not mean denying personal worth, hiding God-given gifts, or believing that one is without value. Every person has dignity because he is created in the image of God and redeemed by Christ. Humility receives this truth with gratitude rather than pride.
A humble person recognizes that every talent, grace, and good work comes from God. He gives thanks for these gifts and uses them in the service of God and neighbor without seeking personal glory. He also admits his sins, weaknesses, and need for mercy, knowing that he cannot grow in holiness without God’s grace.
True humility follows the example of Jesus, who was obedient to the Father and came among His people as one who serves. It allows the soul to accept praise without becoming proud, correction without bitterness, and hidden service without resentment. As Saint Peter teaches, “Be you humbled therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in the time of visitation” (1 Peter 5:6, Douay-Rheims). Catholic humility is not self-hatred but peaceful surrender to the truth of who a person is before God.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote the Litany of Humility?
The Litany of Humility traditionally associated with Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val, who served as Secretary of State to Pope Saint Pius X. Similar forms of the prayer appeared in print before his time as cardinal, so its exact authorship is uncertain. Cardinal Merry del Val became closely linked with the litany and helped make this form of the prayer widely known in Catholic devotion.
Is It Wrong to Want to Be Loved or Appreciated?
No. The desire to be loved and appreciated is a natural part of human life. It becomes harmful only when a person depends on praise or approval for his worth and peace. The Litany of Humility asks for freedom from this attachment so that love of God may come first.
Does Humility Mean Thinking Badly of Oneself?
No. Humility does not mean thinking badly of oneself or denying one’s God-given worth. True humility means seeing oneself honestly before God, giving thanks for His gifts, admitting personal weaknesses, and depending upon His grace.
Does Humility Mean Accepting Mistreatment or Injustice?
No. Humility does not require a person to accept abuse, mistreatment, or injustice without seeking help. A humble person may forgive while still setting proper boundaries, speaking the truth, protecting others, and appealing to lawful authority.
How Often Should the Humility Litany Be Prayed?
There is no required schedule for praying the Litany for Humility. It may be prayed daily, during times of pride or discouragement, or whenever a person feels troubled by the desire for praise, approval, or recognition.
Is the Humility Litany an Official Liturgical Prayer?
No. The Humility Litany is a private devotional prayer rather than part of the Church’s official liturgy, such as the Mass or the Liturgy of the Hours. Catholics may pray it privately or with others as a means of seeking freedom from pride and growth in the humility of Christ.
Related Litany Resources
Catholic Litany Prayers
Charles Rogers is a resident of South Carolina and a retired computer programmer by trade. Raised in various Christian denominations, he came to faith in Jesus Christ early in life. In 2012, he began experiencing authentic spiritual encounters with the Blessed Virgin Mary, which led him on a seven-year journey at her hands, that included alcohol addiction, a widow maker heart attack and death and conversion to the Catholic Faith. He is the exclusive author and owner of Two Percent Survival, a website dedicated to and created in honor of the Holy Mother. Feel free to email Charles at twopercentsurvival@gmail.com.
May Our Lady of the Rosary lead you deeper into the grace you have been given. Pray always, and trust the mercy of God while the door remains open.
— Two Percent Survival