Catholic Humility Prayers

Humility is a modest view of one's own importance -- a kind of humbleness. St. Alphonsus Marie Liguori, an Italian Catholic bishop who was canonized in 1839, has been attributed as saying that humility is regarded by the saints as the basis and guardian of all virtues. Catholics who wish to focus their private devotions on achieving humility have a wealth of prayers from which to choose, all of which can help cast away the nagging doubts, anxiety or anger that goes along with selfishness and too much self-regard.

Most humble Jesus, give me a share of your humility. Take from my heart everything that displeases you; convert it totally to you, so that I may no longer will or desire anything other than what you will. Amen.

O God, who resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble: grant us the virtue of true humility, where of Your Only-begotten son showed in Himself a pattern for Your faithful; that we may never by our pride provoke Your anger, but rather by our meekness receive the riches of Your grace. Amen.

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. Amen.

O my Savior! whom am I that Thou shouldst invite me to receive Thee for the food of my soul? Is it possible that Thou, the God of infinite purity, shouldst come and dwell in my heart, which has been so long the abode of Thine enemy, and the sink of so much sin? Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean. Say but the word and my soul shall be healed. I come then, O my amiable Savior, to receive Thee this morning, but I come covered with shame and confusion at the sight of my sins, but full of confidence in Thy mercy, and in the love which Thou dost bear to me. Amen.

O Divine Lord, how shall I dare to approach You, I who have so often offended You? No, Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof; but speak only the word and my soul shall be healed. Amen.