Prayer for a Loved One Struggling with Severe Alcoholism or Drug Addiction
📜 Historical & Biblical Origin: Invoking Saint Maximilian Kolbe (patron saint of addicts and those imprisoned by chemicals, who was martyred by lethal carbolic acid injection at Auschwitz) and Saint Mark Ji Tianxiang (Chinese martyr who struggled with opium addiction his entire life yet died a heroic saint).
🕯️ Instructions & Posture: Hold a photograph of your addicted husband, son, daughter, or relative before a crucifix. Offer up your tears and fasts on their behalf.
O Merciful Father, God of redemption and second chances:
I bring before Thee my beloved [Name of Loved One],
who is held captive in the suffocating chains of alcohol / drug addiction.
Thou seest how this chemical poison has altered their personality,
clouded their judgment, stolen their dignity, and brought heartbreak, lies, and terror into our family.
Lord, break the demonic power of this craving!
Deliver their brain and nervous system from the physical pull of this substance.
Surround them in their moments of temptation with Thy Holy Spirit.
Strip away the blinders of denial, and grant them the humility to admit their powerlessness
and to seek medical detox, rehabilitation, and Christian community.
Preserve [Name] from fatal overdoses, drunk driving crashes, liver failure, and sudden death.
Keep them alive, Lord, until the day of their breakthrough!
And for our family: grant us wisdom to establish healthy boundaries without enabling their addiction,
and give us the faith of Saint Monica never to give up hope.
Saint Maximilian Kolbe, pray for [Name]'s complete sobriety!
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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