We begin with the sign of the cross, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Examine your conscience and feel sorry for your sins. (Take a few minutes. In silence, remember and feel sorry for your sins, and think of ways you will amend your life.)

Pray the Act of Contrition.

Humility is the first and the most important step towards a life of holiness. It is the foundation of all virtues. St Augustine said that the way to Christ is first through humility, second through humility, and third through humility. We cannot progress in our spiritual life without humility. We need humility to serve Jesus Christ. Without humility, our life is a failure, because the grace of God does not abide in us. Grace is the power of God working in us. This grace is the favour of God. It is supernatural, and it helps us to do things we are unable to do by ourselves.

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Therefore, to receive grace, humility is necessary. One might ask, how can one humble themselves? St Francis de Sales provides us the answer on how to get humility. He says that true humility lies in obedience and the most literal compliance with God’s will. Therefore, humility is obedience to the will of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us to be humble by His own example, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-8).

Pray for the grace to be humble and then receive grace in abundance as a reward for your humility. Read and meditate on the word of God and obey what you learn. Jesus, in this retreat, invites you, saying, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Mt 11:29).

Pray the Litany of Humility every day. This is a powerful prayer, and as you continue to pray this litany, you will notice that graces multiply in your life and make you humble.

The Litany of Humility

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 honoured, 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.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

To receive abundance of graces during this retreat, you can choose to do any of the following daily:

Attend the Holy Mass daily.

Pray the Rosary.

Pray the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy.

Pray and meditate on the Way of the Cross.

Pray at least 15 minutes in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

Read the bible and mediate on scripture for at least 15 minutes.

Invite others to join this retreat, as a family or as a group.

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