PRAYER FOR ALCOHOLICS & DRUG ADDICTS

 “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

 

Eternal Father, LORD of hosts, we confidently cry out to You in the Name of Your Son Jesus, who ministered to all who came to Him in faith.

With the powerful intercessions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, St. Michael the Archangel, St. John Paul II, St. Catharine of Siena, St. Teresa of Avila, Venerable Matt Talbot (who triumphed over addiction), and all the saints and angels of heaven, we cry out for __________, and for all Your children who are bound by the chains of alcoholism or drug addiction.

Enfold them in Your love; restore them to freedom through Your grace. Give them graces of true repentance and conversion to Your Son Jesus. Transform them by the power of the Holy Spirit. And bless them with Your peace. Amen.

Eternal Father, God of mercy, look with compassion on all who have lost health, relationships, careers, and freedom due to alcoholism or drug addiction. Give them the assurance of Your unfailing mercy and strengthen them in the work of recovery. To friends and family who care for them, grant patient understanding and a love that perseveres. We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Blessed Virgin Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces, for all who are bound by the chains of alcoholism or drug addiction, and for the friends and family who care for them, we ask for all the graces you have to give us. Amen.

“Mother of God, spread the effect of grace of thy Flame of Love over all of humanity, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”

 

“In the Name of the Father, and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

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ADDICTIONS AND DIVINE MERCY

From “Divine Mercy Answers Life’s Crises and Problems”
By Fr. George W. Kosicki, C.S.B.

Father George Kosicki, CSB (1928 - 2014) worked with

the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception

in spreading the message of Divine Mercy. 

“What Should I Do When I’m Addicted?”

There are various types of addictions. They all affect the whole person in body, mind and spirit. The various addictions begin with a seeking of euphoria or pleasure and eventually end in moral degradation and violent behavior. Consider the following:

Addiction to alcohol is a complex phenomenon that involves the chemistry of the brain, genetic propensity stimulated by excessive intake of alcohol and stress. Some researchers have shown that the break down product of alcohol is not excreted but is “dumped” into the brain and sits on the site of the endorphins. The endorphins are the natural chemicals that stimulate a sense of well-being and pleasure. The end product of alcohol metabolism blocks the site of the natural endorphins -- so the alcoholic is addicted to stimulating the endorphin pleasure site with alcohol.

Addiction to drugs (such as heroine, etc.) follows the same pattern as the end-product of the metabolism of alcohol’s inhibiting the natural endorphins. So the drug addict seeks the euphoria of the drug in a compulsive way.

Addiction to pornography is the latest addition to the list of addictions. The euphoric site in the brain is stimulated to give a sense of pleasure from looking at pornographic materials, for example on the internet. Researchers are reporting that addiction to pornography is the major cause of most of the violent action of molestation of the young and the break-up of the family.

“What Should I Do As An Addict?”

There are Twelve-Step programs for each of the various addictions. Seek them out for help; that is why they exist.

In terms of Divine Mercy as the antidote to addiction, consider the following points that echo the Twelve-Step programs:

1. Admit your misery and your inability to overcome the complex pneumo-psycho-somatic (spiritual, psychological and physical) addiction by yourself. Turn to God’s mercy. Plunge into the ocean of God’s mercy with complete trust.
2. Repent of your sinful addiction and repent of your violent actions and moral degradation in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
3. Ask a prayer group or a priest to pray over you for healing of the addiction.
4. Trust in God Who in His infinite mercy is always ready to forgive and to heal.
5. Seek out a support group of merciful friends to encourage you and challenge you to keep your resolutions.
6. Stop all addictive behavior by the grace of God -- i.e., no alcohol, no drugs, no porn...
7. Start with a new life -- new friends, new work if needed to reduce stress, new hobbies, new recreations, change your diet to a balanced intake of food.
8. Start a life of mercy in action: by deeds, by word and by prayer. Seek out ways to be merciful to those in need of help.
9. Repent of your self-concern and be concerned for others.
10. Continue in regular, daily prayer of thanks and asking the Lord for mercy on all those with addictions.
11. Receive regular and frequent Holy Communion to strengthen and nourish you with the Body and Blood of the Lord, the Presence of Mercy Incarnate.
12. Entrust your new life to Mary our Mother, the Mother of Divine Mercy.

Ask for His mercy.

Be merciful.

Completely trust in Jesus.

http://www.renewalministries.net/files/freeliterature/DM%20Answers%20life%20crises%20and%20problems.pdf

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OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an “anxiety” disorder characterized by recurring, un-welcomed thoughts or images (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or the urgent need to engage in certain rituals (compulsions). Repetitive behaviors or rituals (such as repetitive hand washing, house cleaning… counting or checking things repeatedly) are performed with the hope of preventing and stopping obsessive thoughts. But these “rituals” provide only temporary relief.

Thoughts come from three places:

the subconscious mind, God, and the Devil.

 

Mental health professionals are able to help OCD patients live relatively productive and fulfilling lives. But they have no cure. Treatment for OCD includes therapy (such as cognitive-behavioral therapy) and drugs (such as Prozac, Paxil… or Zoloft). _ National Institute of Mental Health

OCD may be a result of changes in the body’s natural chemistry or brain functions. OCD may also have a genetic component.

Although mental health professionals are able to help their patients live “relatively productive and fulfilling lives,” they have no “cure” for OCD -- because they ignore (or reject) the “spiritual” aspect of the disorder.

Many OCD sufferers are in need of “deliverance” and “inner-healing.”

I once viewed a program on OCD that focused on two heartbreaking cases. In both cases, OCD had a “trigger.” And that trigger was “trauma” -- a “traumatic” event in the lives of the people. Trauma provided the opportunity (the open door) for evil spirits to invade (with the intent to destroy).

OCD is devastating, heartbreaking… and hopeless for people living in darkness. OCD is more than mental illness. It is also a spiritual disorder that cannot be cured by therapy and drugs alone. (The condition is exasperated and worsened by evil spirits that attack areas of weakness, vulnerability… and mental illness.) 

TO ADVANCE YOUR INNER HEALING:

 

1) Spend time each day in silent,

meditative prayer

(at home or before the Blessed Sacrament);

 

2) Go to Confession (at least monthly);

 

3) Attend daily Mass (as often as possible);

 

4) Pray the Rosary every day.

 

5) Pray the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Mary.

http://catholicdeliverance.blogspot.com/2013/09/rosary-of-seven-sorrows-of-mary.html

 SPIRITUAL WARFARE FOR OCD?

 

“I plead the Blood of Jesus on my mind.

I plead the Blood of Jesus 

on every thought in my mind.”

 

Only Jesus can heal the trauma within a person. And when the trauma is healed, OCD -- and the evil spirits behind it -- will disappear. BUT when OCD is the result of changes in the body’s natural chemistry or brain functions, deliverance and inner healing are not enough.

God may choose to heal the brain and the body’s natural chemistry through prayer. But God also uses medication!

Some OCD sufferers are unable to separate themselves from the condition. For these, medication is needed. As the father of an OCD sufferer once said, “Just enough (medication) to take the edge off.”

Another course of action for recovery from OCD -- or any addictive and dysfunctional behavior -- is a Christ-centered “Twelve-Step Program.” 

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