In my last post, I wrote of the seeming-obscurity that haunts some of us rural pastors.

I think that one of the ways we work through that insecurity-obscurity is through good, old-fashioned, self-emptying, Christ-like, Philippians 2-type humility: a topic I’ll write more about in future posts.

Beside the door of Professor Reinhard Huetter here at Duke you see displayed the “Litany of Humility” found below. It epitomizes the kind of humble self-abnegation that leads to true freedom in ministry.

Be careful in praying this prayer. It may result in severe injury to the human ego.

“Litany of Humility”
Rafael Cardinal Memy de Val (1865-1930)
Secretary of State to Pope Pius X

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, 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 become as holy as I should,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.