Christ calming the storm in the Lake Tiberia, Juan de Flandes, c. 1496-1504

Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) - Prayer Against Anxiety and Depression

O Christ Jesus

When all is darkness 

And we feel our weakness and helplessness, 

Give us the sense of Your Presence, 

Your Love and Your Strength. 

Help us to have perfect trust 

In Your protecting love 

And strengthening power, 

So that nothing may frighten or worry us, 

For, living close to You, 

We shall see Your Hand, 

Your Purpose, 

Your Will through all things. 

Amen.

Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) - Simple Prayer

Let nothing disturb you,

Let nothing frighten you,

All things are passing away:

God never changes.

Patience obtains all things

Whoever has God lacks nothing;

God alone suffices.

Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina (1887-1968) - Stay with me Lord

Prayer after Communion, and for depression.

 

Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have you present so that I do not forget you. You know how easily I abandon you.

Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak, and I need your strength, so that I may not fall so often.

Stay with me, Lord, for you are my life, and without you, I am without fervour.

Stay with me, Lord, for you are my light, and without you, I am in darkness.

Stay with me, Lord, to show me your will.

Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear your voice and follow you.

Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love you very much, and always be in your company.

Stay with me, Lord, if you wish me to be faithful to you.

Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I want it to be a place of consolation for you, a nest of love. 

Amen.

The Transfiguration, Giuseppe Cesari c. 1620

Saint John Henry Newman (1801-1890) - Lead Kindly Light

In the midst of a depressing and difficult situation, St. John Henry Newman was inspired to write the popular hymn "Lead, Kindly Light", which is also a great prayer during times of anxiety and depression,  and times of darkness and lack of hope.

Lead, Kindly Light, amidst th'encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou
Shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
Lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years!

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on.
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!

Meantime, along the narrow rugged path,
Thyself hast trod,
Lead, Saviour, lead me home in childlike faith,
Home to my God.
To rest forever after earthly strife
In the calm light of everlasting life.

Prayer in times of Stress, Anxiety and Mental Health

Prayer to Saint Dymphna (7th Century), Patron Saint of those suffering from nervous and mental afflictions.

Good Saint Dymphna, great wonder-worker in every affliction of mind and body, I humbly implore your powerful intercession with Jesus through Mary, the Health of the Sick, in my present need. [Mention need]

Saint Dymphna, martyr of purity, patroness of those who suffer with nervous and mental afflictions, beloved child of Jesus and Mary, pray to Them for me and obtain my request.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Saint Dymphna, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us.

Another Prayer to Saint Dymphna 

Lord, our God, you graciously chose St. Dymphna as patroness of those afflicted with mental and nervous disorders. She is thus an inspiration and a symbol of charity to the thousands who ask her intercession.

Please grant, Lord, through the prayers of this pure youthful martyr, relief and consolation to all suffering such trials, and especially those for whom we pray. [Here mention those for whom you wish to pray].

We beg you, Lord, to hear the prayers of St. Dymphna on our behalf. Grant all those for whom we pray patience in their sufferings and resignation to your divine will. Please fill them with hope, and grant them the relief and cure they so much desire.

We ask this through Christ our Lord who suffered agony in the garden. 

Amen.

Saint Teresa of Calcutta - Mother Teresa (1910-1977)

Saint Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)

Lord, I believe - help my unbelief.

 

This prayer taken from St Mark's Gospel, 9.22-23: 

And Jesus saith to him: If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And immediately the father of the boy crying out, with tears said: I do believe, Lord: help my unbelief.

Jesus autem ait illi : Si potes credere, omnia possibilia sunt credenti. Et continuo exclamans pater pueri, cum lacrimis aiebat : Credo, Domine; adjuva incredulitatem meam.

An article about this prayer of Mother Teresa, in her silent suffering with spiritual dryness, by Ellen Seta is at The Young Catholic Woman, April 2021.

Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622) - Be at Peace

Be at peace.

Do not look forward in fear to the changes in life;
Rather look to them with full hope that as they arise,
God, whose very own you are, will lead you safely through all things.

And when you cannot stand it, God will carry you in His arms.
Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
The same everlasting Father who cares for you today
Will take care of you then and every day.

He will either shield you from suffering,
Or give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace,
And put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.

Saint Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) - Holy Spirit, Come Into My Heart

Holy Spirit, come into my heart;
Draw it to Thee by Thy power, O my God,
And grant me charity with filial fear.

Preserve me, O beautiful love, from every evil thought;
Warm me, inflame me with Thy dear love,
And every pain will seem light to me.
My Father, my sweet Lord, help me in all my actions.

Jesus, love. 
Jesus, love. 

Saint Josemaria Escriva (1902-1975)

Asking his friend to pray this prayer, St. Josemaria wrote, "Then, don't worry any more."

My Lord and my God: into your hands I abandon the past and the present and the future, what is small and what is great, what amounts to a little and what amounts to a lot, things temporal and things eternal.

The Holy Family, Spanish Book of Hours, Add.18193 f.48v, c. 1460s

A Litany of Faith, Hope and Love

From Aleteia - Tom Hoopes - published on 27 April 2020.

"I scratched the first version of this out on a folded piece of paper and have prayed it ever since. This prayer came to me at a dark time in my life. The abuse crisis in the Church had hit my particular world, hard. My mother had died of ALS. My job was ending. I had begged God for a nearby job but didn’t get it, and would have to move 1,300 miles away for a different one instead. All of this with a newborn — our eighth child — and limited resources.

I was in the chapel taking account of what I believed about an all-powerful, all-loving God and why. I scratched the first version of this out on a folded piece of paper and have prayed it ever since. I have turned to it again in the COVID-19 pandemic."

Litany of Faith, Hope, and Love

Lord God, please give me the grace of the virtues of faith, hope, and love that you promised at baptism and that only you can give.

Act of faith. My God, I believe in you, and all that your Church teaches, because you have said it, and your word is true.

Lord, I believe in you … 

… Because the beauty of the world speaks of you. 

… Because the goodness in the world comes from you. 

… Because I can discern and know the truth.

… Because the laws of the universe are ordered.

… Because your creation is sustained in being.

… Because I am a mystery to myself that your words illuminate.

… Because you are the foundation of truth.

… Because you are too great for me to fully understand.

… Because trustworthy people have believed in you for centuries.

… Because of the witness of science.

… Because of the witness of the saints. 

… Because of the witness of the Gospels.

… Because you have given me the gift of faith.

… Increase my faith.

Act of hope. My God, I hope in you, for grace and for glory, because of your mercy, your promises and your power.

Lord, I hope in you …

… Because everything else decays. 

… Because you always keep your promises. 

… Because you are the King of the Universe. 

… Because you created me for your purpose.

… Because I have seen your hand in my own life.

… Because your words direct me.

… Because your goodness is the ground I walk on.

… Because you are greater than anything that threatens me.

… Because in history, good has triumphed. 

… Because you have sustained your Church despite the weakness of men. 

… Because you have provided for me all my life. 

… Because you are all powerful. 

… Because without you, I would not exist.

… Because of the witness of the saints. 

… That I may I be happy with you forever. 

… Increase my hope.

Act of love. O my God, because You are so good, I love You above all things and for your sake I love my neighbour as myself.

Lord, I love you …

… Because you loved me first. 

… Because you are infinite goodness. 

… Because you are inexhaustible beauty. 

… Because you are unfathomable truth.

… Because you made love the fundamental law.

… Because I wouldn’t exist without love.

… Because you created me.

… Because you gave me every good thing. 

… Because you gave me my faith. 

… Because you have protected me. 

… Because you have tested me. 

… Because you have trusted me with your life in my soul. 

… Because you have surrounded me with love. 

… Because you died for me. 

… Give me deeds of love and not just words. 

… Increase my love.

Let us pray

Lord God, give me the faith I need to know your will, the hope I need to accept your will, and the love I need to do your will, even when I don’t understand it, knowing that your way is better. I ask this through Christ Our Lord. 

Amen. 

The Resurrection, Juan de Flandes, 1508

Immaculate Queen of Peace, pray for us.