Litany of Humility

Earlier this week, we had catechesis at my parish. We’ve been meeting for the last few months and we’re currently working our way through the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

During our discussion, Father Michael said that this week is “Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee” but it really should be “Sunday of Zacchaeus”. He explained that, because Easter is so early this year, the pre-Lent celebrations take precedence. To this I commented, “Poor Zacchaeus, missing out again, only this time it’s because time is too short…”. This was met with various sighs and groans from those in the class, all sure signs that everyone missed me while I was back in England for Christmas.

Anyway…as I said, this Sunday is “Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee”, a reference to Luke 18:9-14, where Jesus tells a story which contrasts the attitude of two different men as they come before God in prayer…

I was told by my former Spiritual Director that the Church purposefully places this Gospel passage in the run-up to the beginning of Lent in order to prepare us for the Great Fast. During Lent, we will are called to increased attentiveness to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. I was told that this passage is read to us to call us to humility, lest we too readily start patting ourselves on the back for all our good works. Ultimately, we all have to stand before God saying “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner”.

I find nothing knocks me off my high horse quicker than by praying the Litany of Humility. Here’s that prayer set to music by Danielle Rose:

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being loved…
From the desire of being extolled …
From the desire of being honored …
From the desire of being praised …
From the desire of being preferred to others…
From the desire of being consulted …
From the desire of being approved …
From the fear of being humiliated …
From the fear of being despised…
From the fear of suffering rebukes …
From the fear of being calumniated …
From the fear of being forgotten …
From the fear of being ridiculed …
From the fear of being wronged …
From the fear of being suspected …

That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I …
That, in the opinion of the world,
others may increase and I may decrease …
That others may be chosen and I set aside …
That others may be praised and I unnoticed …
That others may be preferred to me in everything…
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…