Of all the sins, pride is the greatest one and the hardest one to root out. Overcoming pride often takes a lifetime. But pride, like all vices, can be overcome by God's grace. Here is a list of ways to grow in humility.

1. Pray for humility. Ultimately, we can do nothing good without the help of God's grace, and that definately includes becoming more humble.

2. Pray for humiliations, and then accept them willingly. Humilations are uncomfortable and painful, but through humilations we grow in humility. As we grow in humility, humiliations will hurt less and less, and we even begin to rejoice when we are humiliated.

3. Focus on God more and on others more. As C.S. Lewis said, "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less." Humility is not about saying you're not a great person. Instead it is about taking your eyes more off of yourself and focusing them on God and others. How do you do this? Spend more time in prayer and more time serving are great ways to start.

4. Go to confession often. Confession is a beautifully humbling experience. We not only confess that we are sinners but we also name our sins. There I realize that I am a sinner so desperately in need of God's mercy - helpless without Him. In fact, if I am not going to confession regularly, it may be a sign that I need to work on my pride more - and the great news is that I can do that in confession!

The Litany of Humility is a great prayer to pray with as you seek to overcome pride:

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