Prayer Resources

The Alexian Brothers’ Prayer to Christ the Healer

In the comfort of your love,
I pour out to you, my Saviour,
the memories that haunt me,
the anxieties that perplex me,
the fears that stifle me,
the sickness that prevails upon me,
and the frustration of all the pain
that weaves about within me.
Lord, help me to see your peace in my turmoil,
your compassion in my sorrow,
your forgiveness in my weakness,
and your love in my need.
Touch me, O Lord, with your healing power and strength.

Pope Francis’ Prayer to Mary

O Mary,
you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.
You, Salvation of the Roman People,
know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to feasting
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings
and carried our sorrows
to lead us, through the cross,
to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.

Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God.
Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial,
but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

Pope Francis’ Prayer to St Joseph

Protect, O Holy Guardian, this our nation.
Enlighten those responsible for the common good,
so that they might know — like you do —
how to care for those entrusted to their responsibility.
Grant intelligence of knowledge to those seeking adequate means
for the health and physical well-being of their brothers and sisters.
Sustain those who are spending themselves for those in need,
even at the cost of their own safety: volunteers, nurses, doctors
who are on the front lines in curing the sick.
Bless, O St Joseph, the Church: beginning with her ministers,
make her the sign and instrument of your light and your goodness.
Accompany, O St Joseph, our families: with your prayerful silence,
create harmony between parents and their children, in a special way with the youngest.
Preserve the elderly from loneliness: grant that no one might be
left in desperation from abandonment and discouragement.
Comfort those who are the most frail, encourage those who falter, intercede for the poor.
With the Virgin Mother, beg the Lord to liberate the world from every form of pandemic.
Amen.

St. Patrick’s Breastplate (extract)

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence,
I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer. Amen.

An Act of Spiritual Communion

My Jesus,
I believe that you are present
in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love you above all things,
and I desire to receive you into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive you sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace you now
as if you were already there
and I unite myself wholly to you.
Never permit me
to be separated from you.
Amen.

Additional prayer resources from the Irish Catholic Bishops are available here.