Ways to Practice Humility

Clearly, the message of the week is humility. I recently blogged about Chasing Humility and then I was reading my diocesan magazine, The Catholic Mirror, and came across an article by Sheri Wohlfert on practicing the virtue of humility.

She offered the following suggestions for growing in humility:

1) Talk about yourself as little as possible. If we believe God truly knows us and the desires of our heart and our focus is to please him, rather than those here on earth, this makes perfect sense.

2) Choose the most difficult or less appealing jobs. There is great humility in doing the task nobody else wants to do.

3) Don't worry about other people's business and don't even be curious about things that don't concern you. 

4) Recognize your talents, gifts and graces, then promptly thank God for them and move along. We should use them well, but the ambition to be the best or to be recognized is not going to build our humility.

How to be Humble

Do you want to be humble? If we’re being honest, many of us would say “No” to that question. Others of us might pay it lip service, but deep down feel uncomfortable with the idea. Humility seems to be so in conflict with all the things that our modern society holds dear. How could anyone living in our modern world actually strive for humility? The answer is that if we are seeking holiness, humility is a big part of that equation. 

As someone who confesses to pride every single time I go to confession, humility is something I clearly need. This is why I eagerly starting reading Chasing Humility: 8 Ways to Shape a Christian Heart by Joel Stepanek as soon as it arrived in my mailbox. 

Stepanek uses the Litany of Humility as the basis of the book:

Lord 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.

Simply reading through, one realizes just how difficult it is to pray this prayer and mean it. Stepanek acknowledges that it took him quite a while to come to terms with understanding and desiring humility. He had a false view of humility, thinking that “you were either successful in the eyes of the world or you were humble and destitute but you got to be a disciple of Jesus.” In time, he came to realize that G.K. Chesterton’s definition is much more accurate: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” In fact, the only way to be truly successful is to embrace humility.

Stepanek divides the petitions in the Litany of Humility into eight main themes: being authentic, growing confidence, being grateful for today, loving others, giving praise, empowering those around me, becoming the mentor, and breaking boundaries. He explores each of these themes, offering concrete ways to work on each area. He also shares anecdotes from his own life to illustrate that he is right there with us, struggling to develop humility. Like most things on our spiritual journey, cultivating humility is a life-long process. 

As an interesting side note, the author of the Litany of Humility is unknown. His prayer for humility was answered. God will answer our prayers for humility as well, if only we are brave enough to trust in God and pray for it. 

Chasing Humility offers so much food for thought. This is a hard topic and one many will reject without a passing glance, but if you are serious about becoming closer to God, this is one book you will want to pick up.