Brief Prayers for the Sick – For Each Hour of the Day

1. At One O’Clock

O THOU One true God, my Father and Creator, from whom health and sickness, prosperity and adversity proceed, since it is Thy fatherly will that I am to bear so protracted a sickness and cross, grant unto me Christian patience and constant hope. I know Thou art my constant and beloved Father, both in days of adversity and prosperity. I know it behooves all true Christians to endure tribulation and to bear their cross; why then should I desire to be exempt? And did not Jesus Christ, my Head and my Savior, have to suffer for me? O my God and benevolent Father, keep me true to Thy word and let it ever be my best cordial and comfort. Amen.

2. At Two O’Clock

O DEAREST LORD JESUS, My faithful Mediator and Savior, full well do I know, that I have richly deserved this bodily infirmity and my other afflictions. But I take comfort in Thy inexhaustible grace and precious atonement, whereby Thou hast redeemed me, body and soul. May my body fare as it will, I am fully convinced that my body and soul, placed beyond the power of hell, shall attain to eternal life and be endowed with the glory and health of heaven. To this end, O Lord Jesus, grant me Thine aid. Amen

3. At Three O’Clock

O HOLY SPIRIT, Thou dearest friend of my soul and most truthful witness of my heritage to heaven, and my eternal salvation. I humbly pray Thee, continue to dwell in my heart throughout my protracted sickness and strengthen me with Thy divine comfort, that I may remain steadfast in Thy pure word and the most venerable sacraments. Preserve in me faith, love and hope, these three pillars of my Christian life, and reveal to me, in its fullness, God’s paternal pleasure towards me, to the end that I may quietly submit, being Thine in life and death. Amen.

4. At Four O’Clock

O THOU Faithful God, teach me to number my days, and I shall guard against sin. Grant unto me a happy death; acquit me on the day of judgment; preserve me from damnation; take me into life everlasting. Even in death I shall lie down and sleep in peace. On the final day help me to escape hell and to enter heaven. Let my heart receive the seeds of the divine word, keep them and take comfort from them, until Thou shalt come and take me unto Thyself. Amen.

5. At Five O’Clock

O DEAREST JESUS, Where else shall I find refuge in my pain and tribulation but in Thy holy five wounds! That will be my safest place of refuge, when I shall sink into unconsciousness. I abide in Thee: do Thou also abide in me. Provide the lamp of my heart with the oil of true faith, and prepare me by a Christian repentance to meet Thee with joy at Thy coming, and to participate in the joys of the eternal wedding feast, together with all the elect. Amen.

6. At Six O’Clock

O MY DEAR GOD And Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast created me in Thy image, and hast given me a human body and a rational mind, and I pray Thee, Thou wouldest not forsake me, Thy creature, in my present distress, but care for me as a father and rescue me by Thy power. My tribulation is grievous and each day has a burden of its own, but I know Thou wilt finally deliver me from all evil. In Thee, O Lord, do I hope; let me never be confounded. Amen

7. At Seven O’Clock

O GOD, My heavenly Father, Thou didst rest on the seventh day of creation, do Thou rest also in my heart and keep Thy Sabbath in it, Thou, the only rest and comfort of my soul. O Lord Jesus, let the seventh and last word spoken by Thee on the cross, also be my last utterance when in travail of death, that I may commend my spirit to Thee, my heavenly Father.

O HOLY SPIRIT, Thou teacher and spirit of prayer, enkindle in me that constant devotional spirit, that I may, by means of the holy Lord’s Prayer, the seven penitential Psalms and other prayers and devotions, present my wants and needs to the Lord and be graciously heard by Him. Amen.

8. At Eight O’Clock

O DEAREST LORD JESUS, Thou who already on the eighth day of Thy sojourn here on earth, didst begin to endure pain for me and to shed Thy blood, grant unto me a disposition willing to endure pain in patience and to Thy glory, and gladden me with the hope that Thou wilt safely keep my soul in the waters of great tribulation, even as Thou didst the eight souls in the ark of ISToah. Let me be among the eight groups Thou didst pronounce blessed, I being poor in spirit, patient in tribulation, meek toward mine enemies, hungry and thirsty after righteousness, charitable towards needy Christians, pure in heart, peaceable towards my neighbor, and steadfast in persecution. O may I, in this school of patience, advance through all grades to be translated finally to the blessed school of everlasting life, where I shall forever love and praise Thee, together with the Father and Holy Ghost. Amen.

9. At Nine O’Clock

O MY DEAREST LORD JESUS, Thy suffering, though so grievous, came to a blessed end, Thou being delivered through a happy death. Oh, grant the same to me, and put an end to my protracted sufferings. For this I shall praise, extol, and magnify Thee. Now I know Thou wilt ever be mindful of me, and my hope will never be lost in despair. While on this earth I am a member of Thy Church Militant, oh, let me be and remain a member of Thy Church Triumphant in heaven. Amen.

10. At Ten O’Clock

O THOU Just and gracious God and Father, I confess with frankness and sorrow that I have not only been conceived and born in sin, but that I have also frequently transgressed Thy Holy Ten Commandments in thoughts, words and deeds, thereby fully deserving both this my temporal cross and also everlasting punishment.

But since Thy most blessed Son, my faithful Savior Jesus Christ, has, with his precious merits and holy blood, fully atoned for all my sins, original and actual, I pray Thee on His account to be gracious unto me and not to add eternal punishment to my temporal chastisement.

And so incline me by Thy Holy Spirit that I be separate from the great multitude of the ungodly, and ever strive after true faith and those good Christian works that proceed therefrom. Especially do Thou grant that I be patient in tribulation, fight a good fight, keep the faith and a good conscience and at last live in Thy tabernacle eternally. Grant relief to me in my sufferings, if it be Thy holy will, and so lighten my cross that I may bear it.

11. At Eleven O’Clock

O THOU Faithful Lord Jesus, who hast after Thy resurrection often and powerfully comforted Thy sorrowing disciples, and dost kindly ask all the weary and heavy-laden to come unto thee, promising to give them rest: oh, come also unto me in my sickness, comfort and refresh me, Thou my only refuge, comfort, and support. I yearn for the repose of a happy death, and have a desire for the joyous resurrection of my body. Oh, let me experience both, the sooner the better, and I will forever praise Thee, with the Father and Holy Ghost. Amen.

12. At Twelve O’Clock

O DEAREST LORD JESUS, I render Thee heartfelt thanks that Thou hast revealed Thyself unto me in the writings of the holy prophets and apostles, to the end that I might believe on Thee and through faith in Thee have eternal life. I pray Thee to keep me steadfast in the true faith, that I may reach the end of faith, namely eternal bliss. And render Thou me watchful and well prepared, so that when Thou, my heavenly bridegroom dost come, I may meet Thee with joy and with Thee enter the heavenly bridal chamber, when I shall in truth love and praise Thee. Amen.