Prayers

God of mercy, we bless You in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who ministered to all who come to Him. Give Your strength to _____, Your servant, bound by the chains of addiction. Enfold him/her in Your love and restore him/her to the freedom of God’s children. Lord, look with compassion on all those who have lost their health and freedom. Restore to them the assurance of Your unfailing mercy and strengthen them in the work of recovery. To those who care for them, grant patient understanding and a love that perseveres. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

I humbly ask you, Lord, through the infinite merits of your painful sufferings, to give me strength and courage to destroy every evil passion and temptation which sways my heart, to bless you in my greatest afflictions, to glorify you by the exact fulfillment of my duties, supremely to hate all sin, and thus to become a saint. Amen.

(Saint Maximilian Kolbe is the patron saint for those who are struggling with addictions.)

Saint Maximilian Kolbe, turn your gaze on us who honor you and have recourse to you. Radiating with the light of Mary Immaculate, you brought countless souls to holiness and introduced them to faithful endeavors for the victory of good over evil. Your life of love and service was cut short by lethal injection, given in a prison cell in Auschwitz. Pray that God will help break the chains of addiction that hold me bound. May His grace strengthen me in resisting this dependence that prevents me from living a life of health and happiness. Guide me to the resources I need to find healing and wholeness. Amen.

(Saint Maximilian Kolbe is the patron saint for those who are struggling with addictions.)

Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe, your life of love and labor for souls was sacrificed amid the horrors of a concentration camp and hastened to its end by an injection of a deadly drug.

Look with compassion upon _____ who is now entrapped in addiction to drugs and whom we now recommend to your powerful intercession.

Having offered your own life to preserve that of a family man, we turn to you with trust, confident that you will understand and help. Obtain for us the grace never to withhold our love and understanding, nor to fail in persevering prayer that the enslaving bonds of addiction may be broken, and that full health and freedom may be restored to him/her whom we love. We will never cease to be grateful to God who has helped us and heard your prayer for us. Amen.

(A powerful intercessor in the realm of addiction is Saint Jude, known as a patron saint of desperate cases.)

God of life, You made me in Your perfect image, to live in Your love and to give You glory, honor, and praise. Open my heart to Your healing power. Come, Lord Jesus, calm my soul just as you whispered “Peace” to the stormy sea.

Saint Jude, most holy Apostle, in my need I reach out to you. I beg you to intercede for me so that I may find the strength to overcome my illness. Bless all those who struggle with addiction. Touch them, heal them, reassure them of the Father’s constant love. Remain at my side, Saint Jude, to chase away all evil temptations, fears, and doubts. May the quiet assurance of your loving presence illuminate the darkness in my heart and bring lasting peace. Amen.

Glorious Saint Mark Ji Tianxiang, holy martyr of China, you are the patron saint of drug addicts because for many years you struggled with the effects of opium addiction which affected every aspect of your life. Yet despite this, you never gave up on trying and praying, and in heaven, God has rewarded your perseverance. Dear saint, you know better than anyone the great tribulations that come with addiction; look with compassion upon all drug addicts throughout the world and deliver them from their bondages. Strengthen them in their recovery and help them resist their temptations. Obtain from God that drug addicts everywhere may receive the support and compassion they deserve and may all, through the grace of God be restored to full health. Amen.