Prayers for the Sick
Praying for someone else's illness is one of the oldest works of Christian charity. The Memorare — St. Bernard's confident appeal to Mary — is the classic prayer to say on another's behalf, and Lourdes is where the Church brings its sick.
Traditional prayers
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
2Blessed is he that understandeth concerning the needy and the poor: the Lord will deliver him in the evil day.
3The Lord preserve him and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth: and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.
4The Lord help him on his bed of sorrow: thou hast turned all his couch in his sickness.
— Psalm 40 (41), vv. 2-4, Douay-Rheims · read the full chapter
16And when evening was come, they brought to him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word: and all that were sick he healed:
17That it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet Isaias, saying: He took our infirmities, and bore our diseases.
— Matthew 8, vv. 16-17, 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
Say the Memorare once daily for the person by name. Many parishes keep a book of intentions or offer Mass for the sick — the parish pages on this site list contact details.