Blessing of a sick child

Blessing of a Sick Child

May the Lord Jesus be very close to you, little one, and wrap you in His gentle love.

May God the Father watch over you with a loving and protecting heart, keeping you safe in His care.

May Jesus, who welcomed children and blessed them, take away your pain, bring you comfort, and fill your heart with peace and courage.

May the Holy Spirit, the gentle Consoler, rest upon you now, bringing calm to your body, strength to your spirit, and healing according to God’s will.

May angels guard you day and night,may loving hands care for you,and may joy return to your smile.

May you feel safe, loved, and never alone,for God is always with you.

And may Almighty God bless you:the Father ✠, and the Son ✠, and the Holy Spirit ✠.Amen.

When seeking a blessing for a sick child, various religious traditions offer specific prayers and rituals aimed at healing, comfort, and divine intervention. These blessings often involve invoking God's mercy, the intercession of saints, and the laying on of hands.

In the Catholic tradition, a priest or deacon may perform a formal blessing for a sick child, which can include sprinkling holy water, reciting specific psalms and prayers, and the laying on of hands. The ritual often begins with a greeting of peace, followed by a reading from sacred scripture, such as passages emphasizing God's healing power or Jesus's compassion for children. For instance, Mark 10:13-16, where Jesus welcomes and blesses children, is a common choice.

A traditional Catholic blessing for a sick child might include prayers like: "O God, by Whose help all things grow to maturity and, once grown, are kept strong, stretch out Thy hand over this, Thy young servant, N., in his (her) sickness, that he (she), having regained his (her) health and strength, may grow up to full manhood (womanhood), and unfailingly offer Thee a loyal and pleasing service all the days of his (her) life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen." The priest may then place his right hand on the child's head and say, "May Jesus, the Son of Mary, Savior of the world, through the merits and intercession of His holy apostles, Peter and Paul, and of all the saints, be merciful and kind to you." The blessing concludes with the sign of the cross and holy water.

For parents or lay ministers, a blessing can be a heartfelt prayer for healing and strength. A common prayer for a sick child from a parent's perspective is: "Heavenly Father, I lift up my precious child to You. I ask that Your healing hand would rest upon them, restoring their body to full health. I pray against any sickness, discomfort, or pain that they may be experiencing right now. Lord, You are the Great Physician, and I place my trust in You to bring comfort and healing. Surround my child with Your peace and let them feel Your loving presence." This prayer often includes a plea for strength for both the child and the parent during challenging times.

Another prayer suitable for parents or lay ministers is: "Lord and Father, almighty and eternal God, by your blessing you give us strength and support in our frailty: turn with kindness toward this your servant N. Free him/her from all illness and restore him/her to health, so that in the sure knowledge of your goodness he/she will gratefully bless your holy name. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen." This prayer can be accompanied by tracing the sign of the cross on the child's forehead.

Many also turn to specific saints for intercession. A well-known prayer for a sick child is the Prayer to St. Jude, the patron saint of hopeless cases. It asks: "St. Jude, the glorious apostle faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the patron of hopeless cases of things despaired of, pray for our child who is sick and so miserable. Make use we implore you of this particular privilege accorded to you, to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to our assistance in this great time of need, that I may receive the consolations and succor of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings, particularly to help our child to get better from his illness and to give him good health and to guide his path, and that we may bless God with you and all the elect forever."

Beyond formal blessings, parents are encouraged to speak words of affirmation, read uplifting Bible stories, pray together with their child, and create a peaceful environment to help cheer up a sick child. Verses like Isaiah 53:5 ("By His stripes, we are healed") and James 5:15 ("The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up") are often cited for comfort and hope. Psalm 91, known as the "Psalm of Protection," and Psalm 23, which describes God as a guiding shepherd, are also frequently read to sick children.

Ultimately, the act of blessing a sick child, whether through formal rites or personal prayer, is a profound expression of faith, hope, and love, seeking divine comfort and healing during a time of vulnerability.

Reading of the Word of God

Matthew 19,13-15, or another text.

Intercessory prayer

OTHER PRAYER: "Beseech for our child the Lord Jesus, who has loved and blessed children with a special love."

R Lord, keep him in your love.

You declared that to such belongs the kingdom of heaven, we pray you for our child.

You said that the mysteries of the heavenly Kingdom were not revealed to the wise and the learned, but to the children, we pray you for our child. You have welcomed children's homage when they were singing hosanna before your Passion, we pray you for our child. You have ordered your disciples to take care of the sick and to pray for them, we pray you for our child. You teach us the prayer of children, help us to say:

Our Father...

Prayer of blessing

If the minister is lay, especially if he is the father or the mother blessing his child, he draws the sign of the cross on the forehead saying the prayer of benediction:

Father full of tenderness, God of all consolation, You take care with boundless kindness of your creatures and You give the salvation for soul and for body; snatch this child from disease, whom You gave to us, so that he grows up every day of his life in wisdom and grace before you and men, may he serve You in righteousness and holiness and never cease to give thanks for your Mercy. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen."