Post by steveheun on May 1, 2023 0:40:36 GMT
Reading St. Benedict’s 12 Degree’s of Humility, where do think you are on this spectrum and what spiritual process are you following to move up the scale (if you think you need to)?
This week I spent a lot of time contemplating humility. It came up in the Spiritual Writers study materials as well as in the CCC prayer paragraphs and Servant Leadership materials. I personally believe I am probably at the second degree of humility level. Just getting to the third degree will be a challenge as our human nature struggles with obedience. Our culture drives us in the direction opposite of humility. We are taught from early on to win and strive to be number one. Self-sufficiency and independence are drilled into our heads. We are required to be transformed and re-wire our brains (and our hearts) if we are to imitate the Lord (3rd degree) or go further. As noted in John 3:30, John the Baptist noted that “He must increase, I must decrease”. That is a short, but excellent example of humility in action. If I could only be that way. This is the journey I am on.
My process for working on my humility progression is through prayer. Specifically, through daily reading and reflection using the Litany of Humility. I have listed it below. I can check the box, as it were, on a number of these phrases/themes, but not as many as I would like and it is an on-going challenge to maintain those that I think I have already conquered. As I review those areas where I fall short, this provides great opportunities to spend time in contemplative prayer discerning how to address my shortcomings. This is hugely important as noted in CCC 2725 “We pray as we live, because we live as we pray”. I believe improvement in these areas are the foundation for development and transformation on St.Benedict’s humility spectrum.
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, O 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, O 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.
This week I spent a lot of time contemplating humility. It came up in the Spiritual Writers study materials as well as in the CCC prayer paragraphs and Servant Leadership materials. I personally believe I am probably at the second degree of humility level. Just getting to the third degree will be a challenge as our human nature struggles with obedience. Our culture drives us in the direction opposite of humility. We are taught from early on to win and strive to be number one. Self-sufficiency and independence are drilled into our heads. We are required to be transformed and re-wire our brains (and our hearts) if we are to imitate the Lord (3rd degree) or go further. As noted in John 3:30, John the Baptist noted that “He must increase, I must decrease”. That is a short, but excellent example of humility in action. If I could only be that way. This is the journey I am on.
My process for working on my humility progression is through prayer. Specifically, through daily reading and reflection using the Litany of Humility. I have listed it below. I can check the box, as it were, on a number of these phrases/themes, but not as many as I would like and it is an on-going challenge to maintain those that I think I have already conquered. As I review those areas where I fall short, this provides great opportunities to spend time in contemplative prayer discerning how to address my shortcomings. This is hugely important as noted in CCC 2725 “We pray as we live, because we live as we pray”. I believe improvement in these areas are the foundation for development and transformation on St.Benedict’s humility spectrum.
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, O 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, O 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.