I have found that
the most “dangerous” prayer to pray is the Litany of Humility
because God seems to respond instantly. You very soon realize that
you just liked the idea of the virtue, not the actual humiliation.
It’s been said
that pride is the root of all sin, so it makes sense that humility is
dear to Jesus’ Heart. It’s a virtue that seems elusive, because
even with all the nice intentions, worldly desires and temptations
war against it and sometimes win without us even realizing it.
Through reading the Diary of St. Faustina, I have come to change my
view of humility: from it being a seemingly unobtainable, distant
virtue that you pray for quickly so God won’t really hear you, to a
beautiful and necessary gift that gives you a thousand and one
opportunities to grow and remind you that you are living for Someone
else.
I love how St.
Faustina describes humility:
you. Is it because you
are so beautiful and at the same time so difficult to attain? O yes,
it is both the one and the other. Even God takes great pleasure in
her. The floodgates of heaven are open to a humble soul, and a sea
of graces flows down upon her. O how beautiful is a humble soul!
From her heart, as from a censer, rises a varied and most pleasing
fragrance which breaks through the skies and reaches God Himself,
filling His Most Sacred Heart with joy. God refuses nothing to such
a soul; she is all-powerful and influences the destiny of the whole
world. God raises such a soul up to His very throne, and the more
she humbles herself, the more God stoops down to her, pursuing her
with His graces and accompanying her at every moment with His
omnipotence. Such a soul is most deeply united with God. O
humility, strike deep roots in my whole being. O Virgin most pure,
but also most humble, help me to attain deep humility. Now I
understand why there are so few saints; it is because so few souls
are deeply humble.
As I was first
reading her diary, I noticed the countless times St. Faustina goes on
about how she is the worst of sinners, most wretched, etc.
And when I read this
I would think, “Really Faustina? Really?”
I would roll my eyes
and shake my head and think she was being ridiculous or overly
sensitive.
But then Jesus would
say to her, “You see what you are of yourself, but do not be
frightened at this. If I were to reveal to you the whole misery that
you are, you would die of terror. However, be aware of what you
are.” (718)
And I would look at
myself and think, “…Well, this isn’t good…”
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Making room for
humility leaves less space for pride and jealousy – two very
destructive vices (and really, when compared with the perfection of
God, and realizing our complete dependence on Him, what do we have to
be prideful of?). Humility gives you freedom to love completely,
because your focus has turned outward to the rest of the world
instead of inward on yourself. Humility allows for more trust in God
and His plans, without fear keeping you from stepping out into the
unknown.
Yes, on some
stressful weeks, praying the Litany of Humility still sometimes make
me hesitate, thinking, “It’s a rough time right now, put off
praying that, so nothing else will go wrong right now.”
Ridiculous, I know.
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That others
become holier than I, provided that I might become as holy as I
should, Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.