Cardinal Merry del Val (1865–1930). A profound prayer to conquer pride.

The Litany of Humility was composed by Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val (1865–1930), Secretary of State to Pope St Pius X. It is one of the most challenging Catholic prayers, asking God to free us not just from obvious pride, but from the subtle desire to be esteemed, praised, and preferred over others.

The 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 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 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.

About This Prayer

Cardinal Merry del Val reportedly prayed this litany daily. It targets the root of all sin: pride. St. Augustine called pride ‘the beginning of all sin’ (Ecclesiasticus 10:15). This litany methodically dismantles the ego’s attachments — to praise, honour, preference — and replaces them with the desire for self-forgetfulness and love of others.