"Learn of me, for I am meek and humble of heart."

They do not practice what they preach.  ~Matthew 23:3

Christ is called master, or teacher, by right of nature rather than by courtesy, for all things subsist through him. Through his incarnation and life upon earth we are taught the way to eternal life. Our reconciliation with God is dependent on the fact of his being greater than we are.

Yet, having told his disciples not to allow themselves to be called master, or to love seats of honor and things of that kind, he himself set an example and was a model of humility. It is as though he said:

Even as I do not seek my own glory (though there is One who seeks it), so neither must you love to be honored above others, or to be called master. Look at me: The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life for many.

This was said not only for the instruction of his disciples, but also of those who are teachers in the Church.

None of them must seek positions of honor; whoever wishes to be greater than the rest must first become the servant of all, as Christ himself did. If anyone wants a high office let him want the labor it entails, not the honor it will bring him.

He should desire to serve and minister to everyone, and not expect everyone to serve and minister to him. For the desire to be served comes from the supercilious attitude of the Pharisees; the desire to serve from the teaching of Christ.

Those who canvass for positions of honor are the ones who exalt themselves; and similarly it is those who of their own accord humble themselves who will be exalted by the Lord.

After specifically reserving the office of teaching to himself, Christ immediately went on to give as the rule of his teaching that whoever wants to be greatest should be the servant of all.

And he gave the same rule in other words when he said: Learn of me, for I am meek and humble of heart.

Anyone therefore who wants to be Christ’s disciple must hasten to learn the lesson he professes to teach, for a perfect disciple will be like his master. Otherwise, if he refuses to learn the master’s lesson, far from being a master himself, he will not even be a disciple.

~St. Paschasius Radbertus

Dear Jesus, meek and humble of heart, grant me the grace to be Your humble servant so that in serving others I may truly exalt You.  Amen.

Litany of Humility by Cardinal Merry del Val

This powerful prayer has been part of my spiritual survival kit for many years now. I do not find this an easy one to pray because, if I pray it honestly, it exposes the wretchedness of my heart and shows me how proud I really am. Recently I told my spiritual father that I've been praying this litany a lot lately but have a bit of trouble when I come to the last third of the prayer, which begins with "that others may be loved more than I." The reason, I explained to him, is because sometimes I don't even have the desire to be asking for the grace to desire that these things may come about. His advice to me, wise as always, was short and simple: "Keep on praying it!" And so I am – and happily so! Come, Spirit of Jesus, pray within me and make up for all that I lack as only You can do!

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 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 become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should...Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.