Last weekend, after the sermon on healing prayers for the sick, we visited one of my congregants at the hospital. It was a miraculous experience since we saw God working on his health as we prayed. Later, during our midweek service, we went further and expounded on the catholic prayers for the sick.
‘O God, you gave us Your Only Son so that He can take away our suffering and teach us the virtue of patience during illness. We, therefore, beseech you to hear the prayers we give for our sick sister. May all who suffer a disease know that they are chosen saints and that you have joined them to Christ in his suffering so that they can save the world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.’ This is a meaningful catholic prayer that we can use to pray for the sick, and trust that they will be healed.
In this article, I encourage you to join me as we talk about the healing prayers for the sick. We will also get the answers to questions such as which catholic prayers are suitable for the sick, what the bible advises on praying for the sick, and what time we can pray for the sick. Read on to get these answers.
12 Prayers for the sick
Having sick relatives and friends is one of the most desperate times in anyone’s life. The best solution is to always look up to God for guidance. The Bible says when we ask something from Him, he answers us. This is why I have gathered 12 prayers that you can use for the sick.
A Prayer for a Loved One’s Healing
Eternal Father, savior of all those who believe, we are before you on behalf of thy sick Servant. We ask that with the help of your pitying mercy, you may restore his bodily health, so he may give thanks to you in your church. Through Christ, our Lord, Amen-Inspired by the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.
This is a brief prayer for any type of disease for a loved one. It is simple and straightforward.
Holy Spirit, come like a dove and protect this servant of yours whom you love.
Cover his wounds with your wings and protect them from sorrow. With your goodness, take away the pain that he struggles with. With miracle care, heal him of his sickness and lift them, so they can see the promise. In Your name, I trust, Amen-Inspired by Lord’s prayer words.
Christians are allowed to pray for their loved ones when they are sick, especially when they are too weak to do so themselves.
Prayer to Ease Pain for the Sick
Heavenly Father, you turned death into life through your Son’s resurrection, and you ask that we trust in you for salvation. Today, we pray that you increase the faith of our sick friends so that they may trust in you for healing. Grant them strength, O Lord, and offer them your grace. We pray these sick prayers in the name of the Son, the Father, and the Holy Spirit, Amen –Inspired by Kimberly Wall.
We can also pray for those struggling with pain and ask God to grant them strength.
Prayer for the sick child through St. Gerard’s Intercession
Saint Gerard, you loved children dearly and healed many from diseases and death.
Today we pray that you look down on us as we pray for the healing of our child if this is the Will of God. This favor we ask of thee, through the love that Mary and Jesus blessed your childhood, Amen-Inspired by Aleteia.
We can invoke the prayer of St Gerard Majella with this given prayer for a sick child. He is known to have performed miracles for women in childbirth and children.
Prayer of Healing through St. Padre’s Intercession
Our beloved St. Padre Pio, we know that through the stigmata you shared, especially in the suffering of Jesus Christ. We know that you loved the infirm and the sick. So today, we ask for your intercession before God’s throne, that our sick colleague may be healed in body and soul, Amen-Inspired by St. Padre intercessions.
This is a prayer to Saint Padre Pio for healing. This Saint was renowned for supernatural gift of healing and prophecy.
God, thank you for your love. Thank you for sending your Son to set us free. Loving Father, today I ask that you touch my friend with your healing hands. Cast any unwanted thing in his body, and cleanse him with Jesus’ precious blood. I ask all this in Jesus’ name, Amen-Inspired by St. Padre Intercessions.
We can ask St. Padre Pio to intercede on our behalf through prayer so that our sick friends and family can receive their healing.
Prayer to the Archangels for Healing
Thank you, Heavenly King, for giving us archangels to walk with us during our Pilgrimage on Earth. I call upon St. Michael to protect my loved one and St. Gabriel, who is the messenger of Good News, to always show me the truth. I also call unto St. Raphael to take up my prayer and request for the healing of my friend and bring it to your blessed throne. Furthermore, I trust that you will send him to bring us back the gift of recovery. Holy Angels, please pray for us, Amen-Inspired by Judy Ponio.
This prayer is dedicated to archangels who carry various roles. The Archangel Michael is the protector, and Raphael is the Archangel of good health.
Glorious Archangel St. Raphael, I thank you for your wisdom and grace. I know that
you are the medicine of God, so I beseech you to heal the infirmities of my soul. I am sick, and I ask that you heal my body of all these. I ask for your favor in my healing, so I can be prepared to be the temple of the Holy Spirit, Amen-Inspired by St. Raphael’s Intersection.
The archangels can also help in delivering our prayers for the sick when the Lord seems not to hear us.
Prayer for Terminal Illness
Father Lord, we commit our terminally ill friend before you. The doctors say she only has a few days to live, but we know that you will offer her strength to serve Jesus. Your Word says that she will not die, but she will live to do God’s works in the land of the living. May it be so, dear Lord. May your resurrection power rest in her body, Amen-Inspired by Natalie Regoli.
We should trust God for healing the sick whose conditions are chronic. Luke 4:40 shows us how Jesus healed all who went to Him despite their conditions. The Bible implies that nothing is impossible before God, so we can trust Him for healing.
Prayer for the Elderly who are Sick
All glory and honor we give you, O Father, for you have called us to serve in love.
Today, we ask that you bless those that have grown old while serving you. We also pray for our loved one who is sick and ask that You grant them strength and courage to continue to follow Jesus, your Only Son. We ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen-Inspired by Saint Pope John Paul II.
If you have an ailing elderly person, this is the best prayer for them. It is simple and can be said by anyone who cares for the sick elder.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I call unto thee to pray for our sick grandmother. By Your most bitter Passion, I beseech You to grant recovery of her health. By so doing, she will magnify Your name once more. But if it is Your will to call her out of this world, then give her strength until her last hour, and grant her everlasting life. Glory Be Thy name, Amen-Inspired by Prayers, Novenas, and Hymns.
Even elders who are sick need prayers. We can trust the prayers from our Catholic Bishops to strengthen them and intercede on their behalf.
Prayer for the Sick near Death
Blessed are You, O God of the Universe. We are before You, thanking You for the gift of life. Bless our friend who has been sick and grant them patient endurance. Remember her good deeds and give us compassion and mercy during this difficult transition. Send your holy angels to be with her both now and forever, Amen-Inspired by Sister Mary Christa Kroening.
Sometimes our loved ones who have been sick for a while are on the verge of dying. It is encouraged that we still pray for their bodies so that they go well.
What does the bible say about praying for the sick?
The Bible encourages us to pray for the sick so that God can heal them. James 5:14 implies, Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. This means that it is the province of elders to pray for healing, but we should also understand that others have also been granted the gift of healing by God (1 Corinthians 12:8-9), so we need to trust God to distribute this gift of healing for the glory of Jesus.
According to the Word, It is necessary to pray for the healing of the sick and be confident that God will hear and answer us. However, we also need to understand that if God wills, then the sick will be healed (1 John 5:14). This is why John 14:13 encourages us to pray in Jesus’ name so that He may answer us. Jesus also was a good example of praying in God’s will while in Gethsemane. He asked God to take away the cup of suffering, but only if God wills. Eventually, Jesus did not avoid his crucifixion, because it was God’s will that He suffers.
In other words, the bible implies that it is no guarantee that when the sick are prayed for, they receive healing. The book of James offers explanations on why your prayer for sickness may go unanswered. They include a lack of faith and sin. Alternatively, God may want his people to undergo hardship so that they acquire a higher level of spiritual health. According to the scriptures, God always has a bigger plan for our lives.
How many times can you pray for the sick?
There is no specific scripture in the bible that openly talks about the number of times we should pray for the sick. So many believers encourage praying for the sick as many times as possible, for God to hear them because his Word encourages Christians to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). This is why some believers continuously pray for the sick among them, understanding that God will not get bored by their prayers.
However, other Christian faiths suggest that we should apply the example of Paul in praying for healing. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, Paul mentions that he had a stake inserted in his body to make him remain humble. He, therefore, prayed to the Lord thrice, after which the Lord gave him an answer. In this context, the Christian faiths suggest that praying for the sick three times is enough before we start praying for other things like wisdom to understand why God is testing us with sickness.
The Novena also implies that we pray for the sick for nine days and trust that God has healed them afterward. These nine days of prayer are usually in preparation for an intervention that you are trusting God for.
What is the best time to pray for the sick?
The Bible does not mention a specific time to pray for the sick. The closest biblical example of someone who was probably prayed for and healed by Jesus on a day that the Pharisees condemned is found in Mark 3:1-6. The book gives a story of a man with a withered hand who was healed on the Sabbath day. Jesus found him as he entered the synagogue and was angered at how the Pharisees were so focused on the law that they did not care to save a life. So despite their laws of not performing miracles on the Sabbath, Jesus healed this man. For this reason, most Christian faiths encourage praying for the sick at any time and trusting God to heal their loved ones.
Can you say these prayers beside the sick person’s bed?
Yes, you can say these prayers beside a sick person’s bed. Sometimes we have sick people who are not strong enough to move around. Other times, the sick are on the verge of death while lying on their sick beds. It is, therefore, our responsibility to talk to God on their behalf. Christian faiths suggest that praying for the sick beside their beds is not wrong. The Bible is also quiet on praying for the sick beside their beds, so many believe there is no issue in doing so. Generally, Christians do this for their loved ones just to comfort the sick and encourage them to be strengthened in the Lord.
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
