Homilies and Stuff

Homily for the Twenty-second in Ordinary Time

Humility.

If you've got the courage, try the Litany of Humility:

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.

Homily for the Third Sunday in Easter

Our sins aren't the biggest problem, as long as we repent of them, resolve to change, and grow in humility.

Fr. Joseph Tissot, How to Profit From Your Faults (Amazon link; however, it looks like it is not currently available. Perhaps try your friendly neighbourhood Catholic book store)

  • St. Augustine states “God prefers to look at bad actions accompanied by humility than at godly works infected with pride.”

  • St Optatus of Mileve, "Sins accompanied with humility are worth more than innocence with pride."

  • St Gregory of Nyssa, “A cartload of good works drawn by pride leads to Hell, whereas a cartload of sins drawn by humility leads to Paradise.”