Prayers in Time of Illness

Following are prayers that can be said for those who are ill or their illness grows worse, are about to undergo an operation, prayer in time of distress and a thanksgiving prayer for recovery.



Prayers of the Sick

O Almight God, Holy King, in chastisement You do not wish our death;
You lift up those who have fallen;
You raise those who have been cast down, and You ease the physical ills of mankind.

I beseech You, my God, have mercy on me.
Heal my soul and body. Cleanse and banish every suffering, disease, illness, and weakness of my body and soul.

Send down, O Lord, Your healing power from heaven; strengthen my body, diminish my fever, and alleviate my suffering.

Be a physician to me. Raise me from the sick-bed, and restore my health.
Grant that through the prayers of your Church. I may please You by always doing your will.

For only You can be all-nerciful and save me, O God, and to You I give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.



Before an Operation

O Lord Jesus Christ our God, you patiently endured the scourging and wounding of your sacred body, that You may save the souls and bodies of your people.

Look now graciously on my suffering body, and give me the strength to bear patiently whatever awaits me.

Bless the people and all the means which will be used to restore me to health, and grant that I may accept my bodily sufferings as a means of reparation for the salvation of my soul.

For You, O Christ my God and Savior, are merciful, and I give glory to You, together with your eternal Father, and your all-holy and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.



For Those Whose Illness Grows Worse

O Lord Jesus Christ our Savior, for our sake You have been born, have hungered and thirsted, have suffered, and have laid down Your life. As I share in your suffering, allow me to share also in your graces.

May Your Precious Blood wash away the stains of my sins; may Your Righteousness cleanse my iniquities.

Consider rather my faith in You than my deeds when I appear before You, my judge.
As my health fails, increase in me your bountiful graces.

May I stand firm in my faith; may my hope in You never fail, may my love of You never grow cold; may the fear of death never cause me to abandon trust in You, but persevering to the end, may I say to You: "Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit," and may I so enter into your everlasting kingdom, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.



Prayer in Time of Distress (Psalm 86; Verses 1-13)

Incline your ear, O Lord; answer me, for I am afflicted and poor.
Keep my life, for I am devoted to You; save your servant who trusts in You.
You are my God; have pity on me, O Lord, for to You I call all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
For You, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.

Hearken, O Lord, to my prayer and attend to teh sound of my pleading.
In the day of my distress I call upon You, for You will answer me.
There is none like You among the gods, O Lord, and there are no works like yours.
All the nations You have made shall come and worship You, O Lord, and glorify your name.
For You are great, and You do wondrous deeds; You alone are God.

Teach me, O Lord, your way that I may walk in your truth; direct my heart that it may fear your name.
I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
Great has been your kindness toward me; You have rescued me from the depths of the nether world.



Thanksgiving for Recovery

O Lord Jesus Christ, You are the life and strength of all who trust in You.
Your mercies are without number, and the treasury of your goodness if inexhaustible.
I thank You for the blessings You bestowed on me and beseech You to continue revealing your goodness to me.

As it pleased You to restore my bodily health, so now endow my sould with all heavenly graces and perseverance in good works.

Prepare me by your blessing, in this life, for the enjoyment of eternal happiness in the life to come.

For to You is due all glory, thanksgiving, and adoration, together with your eternal Father, and your all-holy, gracious, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.

(Icons courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)