Prayers for Vocation/Addiction

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His_Ruby

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Hello all,

Do any of you know of any prayers, or more specifically novenas, for vocation (for instance, meant for someone seeking vocation or responding to a calling)? There is someone my husband and I would like to pray for in this way… a novena would be wonderful but any prayer is great.

On the same note, how about a prayer for someone with addictions such as alcoholism? Could be a novena as well.

Thanks! 🙂
 
Hi Ruby,

I’m not sure about a novena for the vocation, but I have heard of several people saying a novena to St. Joseph for this since he so willing accepted his vocation from God.

If you are looking for a Novena to help someone suffering from an addiction, please consider a Novena to the Holy Spirit, the Divine Mercy Chaplet and/or prayers to Matt Talbot (he has not yet been cannonized but has been declared venerable and is a patron for those suffering from addiction) as these prayers have worked a miracle in my own life.

I am a recovering alcoholic who had fallen away from the sacraments and completely turned my back on God in the search of another drink. Drinking had brought my life to ruin and there didn’t seem to be much hope for me. Everything I tried failed and every “miracle cure” I sought only seemed to drag me even deeper into my addiction. In fact, my family, close friends, and even myself thought I was a lost cause. Desperate to change and with no where left to turn, I sought the help of my mother’s prayer group (In reality, I think they actually sought me but there’s no cause to argue). I was a little unsure of how this could work, since I hadn’t taken the time to pray for so long, yet alone in a group format, but being afraid of yet another failure, I found myself willing to try. That evening, we prayed to the Holy Mother of Remedy and for each the special intentions of others before saying the rosary. At the end of the evening, they invited me to come back and to my surprise, I found that I enjoyed the group. I felt a peace I hadn’t felt for years. Though I continued to drink, I got through my days easier, and the next week, I found myself back praying with the group. This week, we said the same prayers again, but this time, we invoked the Holy Spirit and St. Philomena. Silently, I humbled myself before God. I pleaded for his mercy “Free me from alcohol. Free me, a miserable sinner from this wretched life which has brought me so much heartache and offended you so deeply” and God heard my prayer. My life began to change immediately. The next morning and only by divine grace, I happened to run into a priest from my past who offered to hear my confession. The day after that, I was inspired to go to mass and I was finally able to receive communion for the first time in years. The holy spirit was actually working in my life. Upon leaving the church, I spotted a prayer card to the Divine Mercy. Two days sober, but still moody and sluggish, I decided that I would try praying the chaplet, because it was easier and shorter than the rosary. What could it hurt? The change was immediate. My thirst for alcohol seemed to disappear. What was once such an irrepressible urge, now wasn’t given a second thought. If alcohol happened to cross my mind, I simply chased it away, like one shoos a fly away from their face. I placed my trust in God and asked the Holy Spirit to guide me. My sobriety was completely in his hands now. It was no longer for me to worry about because I had surrendered it to him. Family and friends noticed the difference in my composure instantly, not knowing the dramatic changes that were taking place in my life, but I knew that God had granted me a conversion. I kept saying the chaplet, followed by more chaplets, thanking God for his grace and praying for other suffering alcoholics. I went to confession bi-montly, attended mass regularly, sometimes during the week, and most importantly, I continued to pray. Later during one of our conversations, my mother admitted praying to Matt Talbot for his intercession in my life. Not knowing who Matt Talbot was, I was naturally curious, so she gave me her copy of his biography she had picked up from the catholic bookstore. Upon reading, I discovered a man, who like myself was deeply absorbed in alcoholism. A poor irish laborer, he even went as far as selling his boots, or stealing from others, anything to buy a drink. When he had reached rock bottom, he turned to God, and through the sacraments and prayer he was able to change his life. As form of penance, he made rigorous physical demands on himself by using a block of wood as a pillow and wearing cords and chains wound tightly wrapped around his body. Many alcoholics and addicts have prayed to him and attributed their success with his intercession, but he still needs a miracle before he can be cannonized. Pope John Paul II even wrote a paper on this man in his formative years before he was elected pope. You can find him easily in a quick internet search. This may be more information than you needed, but I pray that it helps. May the Divine Heart of Jesus Christ and the Immaculate Heart of Mary bless you!

Warm regards,

Karin
 
Karin,

Thank you soo much for this very inspirational reply. I have heard of Matt Talbot but haven’t read his story, and I plan to do so now. 🙂 My mother has suffered from alcoholism for many years and now more than ever needs our special prayers. Bless you.
 
His_Ruby said:
Karin,

Thank you soo much for this very inspirational reply. I have heard of Matt Talbot but haven’t read his story, and I plan to do so now. 🙂 My mother has suffered from alcoholism for many years and now more than ever needs our special prayers. Bless you.
Click to expand...
I hope you have also informed your Mother of ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS? And perhaps you have investigated ALANON?

(I’m 23 years sober in AA))
 
Andruschak said:
I hope you have also informed your Mother of ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS? And perhaps you have investigated ALANON?

(I’m 23 years sober in AA))
Click to expand...
Ruby,

AA and ALANON are wonderful programs, and I would highly recommend that you take the advice of the previous post and attend an ALANON meeting if there is a group near you, even if you only wish to listen. I go to AA and it is a program of tremendous value that could really help your mom. If you decide to mention it, be prepared for a range of reactions. She may even be angry with you for suggesting she seek help, but be patient and keep praying. God has a special purpose for her and he will answer your prayers. I will be praying with you, too. God bless you!

Karin
 
**From a site page that focuses on “Venerable Matt Talbot Intercedes for Addicts,” the following prayer is offered:
**
**
**
PRAYER FOR THE ADDICTED
God of mercy, we bless You in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who ministered to all who come to Him. Give Your strength to N., Your servant, bound by the chains of addiction. Enfold himlher in Your love and restore himlher to the freedom of God’s children. Lord, look with compassion on all those who have lost their health and freedom. Restore to them the assurance of Your unfailing mercy, and strengthen them in the work of recovery. To those who care for them, grant patient understanding and a love that perseveres. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

More can be found at :

circleofprayer.com/matt-talbot.html
 
**Perhaps these two prayers will assist you.

For Families Torn by Addiction**
Code: 
                                              We pray, O God of hope,
for all families
whose lives are torn and disrupted
by drugs and alcohol.
Enable them to identify the illness.
Strengthen them to seek help.
Bless them with the power of your love,
which imparts transformation and wholeness
to those who trust in your name.
Grant that as they walk this tortured road,
they may journey together
and bound close in the bond of love.
Amen.
Code: 
                                                               - Vienna Cobb Anderson
  **For Those Who Suffer From Substance Abuse** 
	  	 [
](javascript:var x = window.open(’/prayeroftheday/prayer_pf.asp?prayerid=3335’)😉

Our most loving God, may you shower your blessings on those of us who suffer from chemical dependency. You know how much of a battle it is sometimes to stay clean and sober. Lord Jesus, please watch over us this day and smile upon those who are addicts and alcoholics. In Jesus’ name. Amen
 
**Ruby:

You may be familiar with the Serenity Prayer which follows:

****Serenity Prayer
**

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.

Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

**The first section is said at twelve-step meetings and frequently by the public at large.

The following is my variation of it as a prayer for another; insert your friend’s name in the blank.
**
http://images.beliefnet.com/imgs/x.gifhttp://images.beliefnet.com/imgs/x.gifSerenity Prayer for Another

God, grant _____ the serenity
to accept the things _____ cannot change;
courage to change the things ______ can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

I pray that _____ may live one day at a time;
enjoy one moment at a time;
accept hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as Christ did, this sinful world
as it is, not as ______ would have it;
trusting that Christ will make all things right
if _________surrenders to His Will;
that _____ may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy forever in the next.
Amen.

http://images.beliefnet.com/imgs/x.gif
 
psalm151 said:
Ruby,

AA and ALANON are wonderful programs, and I would highly recommend that you take the advice of the previous post and attend an ALANON meeting if there is a group near you, even if you only wish to listen. I go to AA and it is a program of tremendous value that could really help your mom. If you decide to mention it, be prepared for a range of reactions. She may even be angry with you for suggesting she seek help, but be patient and keep praying. God has a special purpose for her and he will answer your prayers. I will be praying with you, too. God bless you!

Karin
Click to expand...
I might also ask if you have any Catholic Retreat Centers near you. Some put on occasional weekend retreats for those in recovery and/or their families. Talk to a local Priest and see if any such resource is in your area.

In my case, 23 years sober in AA, I am going next weekend to a recovery retreat here,

materdolorosa.org/
 
psalm151 said:
Ruby,

AA and ALANON are wonderful programs, and I would highly recommend that you take the advice of the previous post and attend an ALANON meeting if there is a group near you, even if you only wish to listen. I go to AA and it is a program of tremendous value that could really help your mom. If you decide to mention it, be prepared for a range of reactions. She may even be angry with you for suggesting she seek help, but be patient and keep praying. God has a special purpose for her and he will answer your prayers. I will be praying with you, too. God bless you!

Karin
Click to expand...
Yes. In the past few years, she has been into rehab once (we had her admitted for a short stint after an overdose but she could sign herself out in a couple days, and did) and in the hospital for drinking and an overdose of pills twice, but because addiction can be such a prideful thing she still insists she can recover on her own (and is not doing so well). She will not go to AA meetings, although my sister and hubby and I have gone to them for support and have been researching ALANON groups in our area as well. I know she needs our prayers more than anything now.

Thank you all for the wonderful prayers! And the idea of the retreat sounds great as well.
 
**Ruby:

You might look for Matt Talbot Retreats in your area. You can Google “MTR” for possible locations.

The National Catholic Council on Alcoholism and other drugs (NCCA) has a free prayer book list below:

**Developed by NCCA members, “Prayers for Addicted Persons and Their Loved Ones” is sponsored by our friends at Guest House. We pray that this 20-page pocket / purse-sized booklet will bless you and help you.
Send your name and address to
Prayer Book, NCCA
1601 Joslyn Road
Lake Orion, MI 48360
Or e-mail NCCA@guesthouse.org
 
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