5 Powerful Healing Prayers to Our Lady of Lourdes

Lourdes has been synonymous with healing since the very first days of the apparitions. When Our Lady instructed Saint Bernadette to dig in the ground and drink from the spring, she set in motion a stream of grace that has touched millions of lives. To date, 70 miraculous cures have been officially recognized by the Church, and thousands more unexplained healings have been documented by the Lourdes Medical Bureau.

But healing at Lourdes is not limited to the physical. Many pilgrims describe profound emotional and spiritual healings — a renewal of faith, freedom from anxiety or despair, reconciliation with God and others. The prayers below address all dimensions of healing, because Our Lady cares for the whole person.

1. The Traditional Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes for Healing

This is the most widely prayed healing prayer associated with Lourdes. It is used by pilgrims at the Sanctuary and by the faithful around the world.

O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comforter of the Afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Look upon me with mercy. Obtain, O loving Mother, the grant of my requests. I will endeavor to imitate your virtues, that I may one day share your glory. Amen.

This prayer acknowledges Our Lady under several of her traditional titles — Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comforter of the Afflicted — each of which speaks to a different kind of need.

2. Prayer for a Sick Family Member

When someone we love is suffering, we often feel helpless. This prayer channels that helplessness into trust, placing our loved one in the hands of the Blessed Mother.

Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes, you who are Health of the Sick and Comforter of the Afflicted, I come before you with a heavy heart. I lift up to you my beloved [name], who is suffering from illness. Through your intercession, I ask our Lord Jesus Christ to lay His healing hand upon them. Restore them to health if it be His will, and grant them peace in their suffering. Mother of Mercy, wrap them in your mantle of love and bring them comfort. Amen.

This prayer is especially meaningful when prayed in conjunction with the Rosary. Consider using our Interactive Rosary to pray for your loved one's healing.

3. Prayer for Emotional Healing

Not all wounds are visible. Grief, anxiety, depression, and trauma are real forms of suffering that Our Lady understands deeply. She who stood at the foot of the Cross knows what it is to suffer in the heart.

O Mary, Mother of Sorrows, you who stood at the foot of the Cross and watched your Son suffer, you understand the pain of the human heart. I come to you burdened by emotional wounds — grief, anxiety, fear, and sadness. Through the healing waters of Lourdes, pour out upon me the grace of inner peace. Heal the wounds I carry within. Help me to trust in your Son's promise that He will give rest to the weary. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for my emotional healing. Amen.

4. Prayer for Spiritual Healing and Renewal

Sometimes the deepest healing we need is spiritual — a return to faith, freedom from doubt, or liberation from sin. Our Lady's message at Lourdes was, above all, a call to prayer and penance — the foundations of spiritual health.

Immaculate Mary, at Lourdes you called us to prayer and penance. I confess that I have strayed from the path of faith. My soul is weary and my spirit is weak. Through your intercession, renew in me the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Restore my faith, strengthen my hope, and rekindle my love for your Son. Lead me back to the sacraments and to a life of deeper devotion. Wash me in the grace that flows from the Grotto, and make me whole again. Amen.

5. Litany of Our Lady of Lourdes for the Sick

The litany is a longer prayer form, ideal for sustained prayer or group devotion. Each invocation is a short petition with a response.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

Health of the Sick, pray for us.

Comforter of the Afflicted, pray for us.

Refuge of Sinners, pray for us.

Gate of Heaven, pray for us.

You who appeared to Bernadette in the Grotto, pray for us.

You who said, "I am the Immaculate Conception," pray for us.

You who directed the discovery of the healing spring, pray for us.

You who call us to prayer and penance, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Pray for us, Our Lady of Lourdes, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

How to Use These Prayers

These prayers can be used in several ways:

• **Personal daily prayer:** Choose one prayer that speaks to your current situation and pray it each day.
• **Alongside the Novena:** Combine one of these healing prayers with the [Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes](/tools/novena-our-lady-of-lourdes/) for a powerful nine-day devotion.
• **For others:** Pray on behalf of someone who is ill or suffering. Simply insert their name where appropriate.
• **Printable prayer cards:** Use our [Prayer Card Generator](/tools/prayer-card-generator/) to create a beautiful card with your chosen prayer.

Find more prayers tailored to your specific situation with our Healing Prayer Selector.

A Note on Faith and Healing

The Catholic Church teaches that God can and does heal through prayer, but healing is always according to His will. Prayer is not a formula that guarantees a specific outcome — it is an act of trust and surrender.

Even when physical healing does not come, prayer brings its own graces: peace, acceptance, spiritual strength, and a deeper union with Christ in His suffering. Many pilgrims to Lourdes say that even though their physical condition did not change, they received a profound healing of the heart.

These prayers are spiritual support and should never replace professional medical treatment. If you or a loved one are ill, please continue to follow the guidance of your healthcare providers alongside your devotional practices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pray these prayers for someone who is not Catholic?

Yes. You can pray for the healing of anyone, regardless of their faith tradition. God's mercy is not limited by denominational boundaries.

How many times should I pray a healing prayer?

There is no required number. Pray as often as you feel called to. Many find that praying consistently over nine days (a novena) deepens the devotion and opens the heart to grace.

Are these prayers officially approved by the Church?

These prayers come from the traditional Catholic prayer treasury and established devotional practices. They use invocations and titles recognized by the Church in its liturgical and devotional tradition.

Turn to Our Lady with Confidence

Whatever form of healing you seek — physical, emotional, or spiritual — Our Lady of Lourdes invites you to bring your burdens to her with confidence. She is the Health of the Sick and the Comforter of the Afflicted. She understands your suffering and intercedes for you before her Son.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Health of the Sick, pray for us.