Blessing of a sick person

Blessing of a Sick Person

May the Lord be near you in this time of illness and surround you with His loving presence.

May God the Father, the source of all life and mercy, watch over you with tenderness and grant you strength and peace.

May Jesus Christ, the Divine Healer, who bore our suffering on the Cross, comfort you in pain, ease your burden, and restore you according to His holy will.

May the Holy Spirit, the Consoler and Giver of Life, bring calm to your body, hope to your heart, and light to your spirit.

May the Lord bless every caregiver, every treatment, and every moment of rest, and may He transform suffering into grace.

May you feel upheld by prayer, sustained by faith, and never alone in this trial.

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

A blessing for a sick person often involves prayers for healing, comfort, and strength, drawing upon religious traditions and faith in divine intervention. These blessings can be offered by clergy or lay individuals, and they typically encompass physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

The practice of blessing the sick is an ancient custom rooted in the actions of Christ and his apostles, emphasizing the Church's concern for those who are ill. Ministers visiting the sick are encouraged to adapt the celebration to the specific circumstances of the individual and the environment.

Components of a Blessing for the Sick

A blessing for a sick person generally includes several key elements:

• Invocation and Greeting: The blessing often begins with an invocation of the Holy Trinity and a greeting that conveys peace and well-wishes. For instance, a priest or deacon might say, "Peace be with you (this house) and all who live here," while a lay minister might use words like, "Brothers and sisters, let us bless the Lord, who went about doing good and healing the sick".

• Preparation: The minister prepares those present for the blessing by reminding them of Jesus's ministry of healing and the importance of entrusting the sick to the Lord's care. This preparation often highlights that by accepting suffering in union with Christ's passion, individuals can find comfort and strength.

• Scripture Reading: A passage from sacred Scripture is typically read to provide spiritual encouragement and context for healing. Examples include passages from 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, which speaks of God as the "Father of compassion and God of all encouragement," or Matthew 11:28-30, where Jesus invites the burdened to find rest in Him. Other relevant scriptures might include Psalm 103:2-4, which speaks of God healing all diseases, or John 10:10, where Jesus states His purpose is to bring life to the full.

• Intercessions/Petitions: Prayers are offered for the sick person, asking for healing, strength, comfort, and peace. These petitions can address various aspects of suffering, including physical pain, emotional distress, mental health struggles, and spiritual crises. Prayers may also be offered for caregivers, doctors, nurses, and for accessible healthcare.

• Laying on of Hands and Prayer of Blessing: In many traditions, a minister (priest, deacon, or layperson) may lay hands on the sick person as a gesture of prayer and blessing. This is followed by a specific prayer of blessing, asking God to restore health, provide courage, and grant patience. For example, a prayer might ask, "Lord, our God, you sent your Son into the world to bear our infirmities and to endure our sufferings. For N. and N., your servants who are sick, we ask that your blessing will give them strength to overcome their weakness through the power of patience and the comfort of hope and that with your aid they will soon be restored to health".

• Concluding Rites: The blessing concludes with a final invocation of God's blessing upon the sick person and all present, often including a Marian antiphon or a simple prayer for good health and divine blessings.

Themes in Healing Prayers

Common themes found in prayers for the sick include:

• Trust in God's Will and Power: Many prayers emphasize trusting in God's ultimate plan and His ability to heal, even when the outcome is uncertain.

• Comfort and Strength: Prayers frequently ask for comfort in pain and weariness, and for strength to endure suffering.

• Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Healing: The scope of healing requested is often comprehensive, encompassing the body, mind, and spirit.

• Guidance for Medical Professionals: Prayers often include requests for wisdom and skill for doctors and nurses.

• Hope and Peace: The blessing aims to instill hope and peace in the sick person, reminding them that they are not alone in their struggles.

A blessing for a sick person is a spiritual act intended to invoke divine favor, comfort, and healing upon an individual suffering from illness, encompassing prayers for physical recovery, emotional solace, and spiritual strength.

Reading of the Word of God

Mark 6,53-56, or another text.

Intercessory prayer

OTHER PRAYER: "Lord Jesus, You took our sufferings upon yourself, our sorrows you carried."

R/ Kyrie, eleison.

You felt compassion for the crowd of men. You passed in doing good and healing:

Christi, eleison.

R/ Christi, eleison.

You ordered your Apostles to lay hands on the sick:

Kyrie, eleison.

R/ Kyrie, eleison.

R/ Lord, keep him in your love.

Blessing prayer

If the minister is lying, he draws the sign of the cross on the forehead of everyone saying this prayer of benediction:

In your love, Lord our God, save us. You, who never cease to keep in your boundless kindness those you have created, look at these sick: raise them up with your right hand, reinforce them with your power, bring to them the remedy, and heal their sufferings; they expect Your relief, may they achieve this happiness. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen."