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The seventh petition of the Litany of Humility uncovers a subtle but powerful temptation:
“From the desire of being consulted, deliver me, O Jesus.”
There is a deep satisfaction when others seek our advice. To be consulted makes us feel wise, important, and needed. But if we crave this, pride takes root. Christ Himself, though Wisdom incarnate, was often ignored, rejected, and dismissed: “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (Jn 1:11). He shows us that holiness does not depend on being sought out.
St. Thomas Aquinas explains:
“The sin of pride consists in a man wishing to appear above what he is.” (ST II-II, q.162, a.1)
To desire to be consulted is to crave a place of superiority, to be seen as above others. True wisdom is content to serve quietly, whether or not it is asked for.
Eastern Witness: St. Gregory Palamas
St. Gregory Palamas (14th century), archbishop of Thessalonica, was a brilliant theologian and defender of hesychasm — the tradition of stillness and prayer of the heart. He wrote profound treatises on divine light and contemplation.
Yet before he became a defender of the faith, Gregory lived in solitude, preferring silence to public recognition. Even when consulted, his heart longed not for debate or fame but for prayer. His teaching was born not from ambition but from hidden communion with God. He shows us that true wisdom flows from humility.
Western Witness: St. Catherine of Siena
St. Catherine (14th century), though a lay Dominican woman, became an adviser to popes, kings, and bishops. Her letters helped end the Avignon papacy and bring the pope back to Rome.
And yet Catherine never sought this role. She longed only to be “a humble daughter of the Church.” She once wrote: “Proclaim the truth, and do not be silent through fear.” Her counsel was powerful not because she craved to be consulted but because she spoke out of obedience to God. Catherine teaches us that God raises up the humble, even when they themselves desire nothing but obscurity.
The Freedom of Not Being Needed
Gregory and Catherine both reveal that the holiest wisdom does not seek to be heard. Gregory prayed in silence, Catherine served in obedience. Both were consulted only because they first sought God.
Aquinas helps us see the right order:
“The wise man directs all things to their due end, and that end is God.” (ST I-II, q.57, a.2)
To be delivered from the desire of being consulted is to find freedom — not needing to be important, but letting God be all in all.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, free me from the desire of being consulted. With Gregory, may I treasure silence with You more than the voices of men. With Catherine, may I speak only in obedience to Your will, not out of pride. Teach me to rejoice when others are consulted instead of me, for You alone are Wisdom.
From the desire of being consulted, deliver me, O Jesus.
