This litany is traditionally attributed to Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val, who served as Secretary of State to Pope Saint Pius X. It asks Christ, meek and humble of heart, to free the soul from disordered desires for praise, preference, and approval. It also asks for grace to accept being overlooked when charity and God’s glory require it. Catholics pray it during personal prayer, retreats, Eucharistic adoration, and seasons of penance. Its petitions echo Christ’s invitation to learn from His meekness and humility in Matthew 11:29. The litany seeks freedom from pride so that love of God and neighbor may govern the heart.
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.
When to pray it: Pray this litany during personal prayer, retreats, Eucharistic adoration, or whenever seeking freedom from pride and human respect.
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