His Lessons, in His Time

The Good Lord has taken me on an undesired path – a lesson in humility for my dear little girls. I do not hesitate to teach my children of His radical call for us but I gravely dislike when the lesson must come from outside the home, before I believe they are ready. Yes, I realize that this is a lack of humility on my behalf. In fact, I think my girls were more of the teacher than I was this past weekend.  Their readiness for such a lesson exceeded my expectations.

I give thanks to the Good Lord for this opportunity for my girls (and I) to grow in humility. May He deliver them from the desire of being preferred to others and from the fear of being forgotten. May He give them the grace to desire that others may be loved more than them.

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Prayer of Humility for Children

Author unkown

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me.
Help me to look for what is good in others and forget what is bad in them.
Help me to put others first and not worry if I’m not picked or am ignored.
Help me not to seek approval and not worry about being the center of attention.
Help me not to be afraid to be afraid of not being liked or worry about being hurt or not believed.
Help me to look beyond myself, even if it’s not my turn, and to help others.
Deliver me, Jesus, from all of these and make me as holy as I should be.
Amen

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Humility Prayers

(fill in the blank with your child’s name)

· May __________ humble himself before the Lord, and be exalted. (James 4:10)

Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you. ~James 4:10

· May __________ humble himself, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt him. (1 Peter 5:6)

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you. ~1 Peter 5:6

· May God give grace to __________ as he humbles himself. (James 4:6)

But he gives more grace; therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." ~James 4:6

· Lord, lead the humble in what is right, and teach __________ Your way. (Psalm 25:9)

He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. ~ Psalm 25:9

· May __________ have unity of spirit, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. (1 Peter 3:8)

Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind. ~1 Peter 3:8

· May __________ take God’s yoke upon him, and learn from Him, for He is gentle and lowly in heart, and __________ will find rest for his soul. (Matthew 11:29)

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29

· May the LORD take pleasure in ___________, and adorn the humble with victory. (Psalm 149:4)

For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory. ~Psalm 149:4

· May __________ have all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with others in love. (Ephesians 4:2)

With all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love. ~Ephisians 4:2

· May __________ be subject to the elders. May __________ clothe himself with humility toward others, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. ” (1 Peter 5:5)

Likewise you that are younger be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." ~1 Peter 5:5

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Prayer for Humility

by St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

Fortify me with the grace of your Holy Spirit and give your peace to my soul that I may be free from all needless anxiety, solicitude and worry. Help me to desire always that which is pleasing and acceptable to you so that your Will may be my will.

Grant that I may rid myself of all unholy desires and that, for your love, I may remain obscure and unknown in this world, to be known only to you.

Do not permit me to attribute to myself the good that you perform in me and through me, but rather, referring all honor to your Majesty, may I glory only in my infirmities, so that renouncing sincerely all vainglory which comes from the world, I may aspire to that true and lasting glory which comes from you. Amen.

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‘Lord, here I am, give me what You will.’  If He gives me something, I am very pleased and I thank Him. If He gives me nothing, I still thank Him because I do not deserve anything.  And then again, I tell Him all that passes through my mind; I recount my pains and my joys and … I listen.  If you listen to Him, He will speak to you also, because with the good God it is necessary to speak and to listen.  He will always speak to you if you go to Him simply and sincerely. ~ St. Catherine Laboure

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Litany

(from Christmas to Epiphany)

….O Blessed parents of the Infant Jesus, Mary and Joseph,we humbly and earnestly implore you to beg for us, at the crib of your Infant Son, that like Him and as His true and faithful followers, we may love to live in true humility, disengagement from creatures, contempt of the world and it’s vanities, constant recollection of the holy presence of God, fervour and fidelity in all of our duties, and in the practice of the tenderest charity to all persons.  May we never blush at the humility of the crib, nor at the poverty  and simplicity of Bethlehem.  May we ever rejoice at our happy lot as children of the true Church; ever in tender charity look with a compassionate eye on those who live but for this world; and continually pray that all may come to bless, to praise and to love the Saviour, who comes to redeem them…Amen

~Excerpt from the Litany from Christmas to Epiphany, taken from the MC & LMC Prayer Book.

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Saint Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, pray that we will make a commitment to seek the presence of God in prayer the way you did. Guide us to see the graces God gives us as gifts not rewards and to respond with gratitude and humility, not pride and selfishness. Amen

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“My only ambition is to serve God in the most humble tasks.”  ~St. André Bessette

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"Little children follow and obey their father. They love their mother. They know nothing of covetousness, ill-will, bad temper, arrogance and lying. This state of mind opens the road to heaven. To imitate our Lord’s own humility, we must return to the simplicity of God’s little ones." ~ Saint Hilary of Poitiers

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Preciousness of Silence

~MC & LMC Prayer Book

…The Silence is Humility.
When there is no competition;
When you consider the other person to be better than yourself;
When you let your brothers emerge, grow and mature;
When you joyfully abandon all to the Lord;
When your actions may be misinterpreted;
When you leave to others the glory of the enterprise;
The Silence is Humility.

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“Everyday, Jesus humbles himself just as He did when He came from His heavenly throne into the Virgin’s womb; everyday He comes to us and lets us see Him in abjection, when He descends from the bosom of the Father into the hands of the priest at the altar.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi

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Prayer to the Holy Family

This prayer is taken from Prayer Book for Religious, compiled by Fr. F. X. Lasance, S.J. (Benziger Brothers, 1904)

O most loving Jesus, Who by Thy sublime and beautiful virtues of humility, obedience, poverty, modesty, charity, patience and gentleness, and by the example of Thy domestic life, didst bless with peace and happiness the family Thou didst choose on earth, in Thy clemency look down upon this household, humbly prostrate before Thee and imploring Thy mercy. Remember that this family belongs to Thee; for to Thee we have in a special way dedicated and devoted ourselves. Look upon us in Thy loving kindness; preserve us from danger; give us help in time of need, and grant us the grace to persevere to the end in the imitation of Thy Holy Family; that having revered Thee and loved Thee faithfully on earth, we may bless and praise Thee eternally in heaven.

O Mary, most sweet Mother, to thy intercession we have recourse, knowing that thy Divine Son will hear thy prayers.

And do thou, O glorious Patriarch, St. Joseph, assist us by thy powerful mediation, and offer, by the hands of Mary, our prayers to Jesus. Amen.

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Resources:

• Printable Litany of Humility ~ JOYfilledfamily
• Printable Scripture Verse on Humility ~ JOYfilledfamily
• Mother Teresa’s Humility List ~ Truth & Charity

 

**please share your humility prayers & quotes**