One of the most important virtues in conquering the devil is the virtue of humility.
When it comes to achieving a virtue, no human effort is enough and we should always resort to prayer.
Benedict XVI said in 2012 that the central attitude of the Christian must be to constantly learn from the humility of Christ, “without coveting power and human importance, but putting oneself at the service of others.”
Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val (1865-1930) knew this well when he composed the popular Litany of Humility.
Cardinal Merry del Val recited it daily after the celebration of Mass.
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, 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, 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.
You can also pray the litany in the video below:
Click here if you cannot see the video above.
Who was Cardinal Merry del Val?
Rafael María José Pedro Francisco de Borja Domingo Gerardo de la Santísima Trinidad Merry del Val y Zulueta, or better known as Rafael Merry del Val y Zulueta, was born in 1865 in London, England, into a family of Irish descent.
His father, Rafael Merry del Val, was a career diplomat and held many positions as ambassador in Spain, a country where he lived with his wife Sofía Josefa de Zulueta y Wilcox and their children.
Rafael Merry del Val y Zulueta was ordained a priest in 1888, and at the age of 38, he was named cardinal, a surprise to many due to his young age.
The cardinal was Secretary of State of the Holy See from 1903 to 1914 during the pontificate of Pope Pius X. He was appointed secretary of the Congregation of the Holy Office by Pope Benedict XV, a position he held for 16 years. He died on Feb. 26, 1930 in Rome.
He is now a “Servant of God” in the Catholic Church.