Prayers for Healing
Catholic prayer for healing asks plainly for recovery while entrusting the outcome to God — the two movements are not in tension. The Anima Christi has been prayed at sickbeds since the fourteenth century; Lourdes and St. Peregrine are the Church's great intercessors for the sick.
Traditional prayers
Anima Christi (Soul of Christ)
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within thy wounds hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from thee.
From the malicious enemy defend me.
In the hour of my death call me,
and bid me come to thee,
that with thy saints I may praise thee
for ever and ever. Amen.
Memorare
that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother;
to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
From Scripture
14Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed: save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
— Jeremiah 17, vv. 14, Douay-Rheims · read the full chapter
3Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak: heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.
4And my soul is troubled exceedingly: but thou, O Lord, how long?
5Turn to me, O Lord, and deliver my soul: O save me for thy mercy's sake.
— Psalm 6, vv. 3-5, Douay-Rheims · read the full chapter
14Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man. And the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him.
— James 5, vv. 14-15, Douay-Rheims · read the full chapter
Psalm numbers follow the Douay-Rheims (Vulgate) numbering; the common Hebrew numbering appears in parentheses.
Pray a novena
Patron saints for this intention
How to use these prayers
James 5 is the scriptural basis of the Anointing of the Sick — if illness is serious, ask your parish for the sacrament; any priest can give it. Find parish contact details in our directory.