Prayer of the Cross

“I’m not coming to Mass anymore, Father”

“Why not?” I asked.
“It is just boring”.

“That’s the best reason not to come”, I said.

A long moments silent thought.
“So what you’re really saying is I should keep coming, isn’t it?”

I could be having this conversation all over Brighton. It isn’t that people do not believe, it is just that they just do not get anything out of belief. It has no “cash value”.
There is expectation that we should be entertained or at least have some feeling.
This is the reason most people lapse or even why priests and religious give up prayer. Of course it is ultimately a sin against the First Commandment, we put ourselves at the centre of the relationship with God rather than Him.
Boredom and tedium are important in the spiritual life, praying without consolation is actually a grace.

When we feel that God has deserted us then truly we pray the prayer of Christ on the Cross.

"My God, My God why have forsaken me."

St Makari, “Pray simply. Do not expect to find in your heart any remarkable gift of prayer. Consider yourself unworthy of it. Then you will find peace. Use the empty, dry coldness of your prayer as food for your humility.” h/t Amy Welbourne

Litany of Humility written by Cardinal Merry del Val

He was accustomed to recite this prayer daily after the celebration of Holy Mass.

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 become as holy as I should,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.