Category Archives: Prayer

Seeking shelter from harm

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The following passage from Psalm 57 is a nice prayer for anyone in serious temptation from their addiction:

Psalm 57:2: “Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. In you I seek shelter. In the shadow of your wings I seek shelter till harm pass by.”

(Via USCCB.)

God’s mercy is limitless, providing we ask for it in trust and faith. God provides if He is asked. He is our safe and sturdy shelter from the harm that threatens and is just one drink away.

A drink provides a temporary respite from the troubles that abound in our lives. God’s promise of care and protection from all harm is trustworthy based on the strength of our faith and our willingness to place ourselves in it.

It endures. The drink is temporary and illusory.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Rescue me and set me free

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Two readings from today’s Liturgy of the Hours (click on the “Universalis” banner at the top of the page) make excellent prayers for people still hunted by their addictions.

Psalm 141:8-9: “My eyes are upon you, O GOD, my Lord; in you I take refuge; do not strip me of life.
Guard me from the trap they have set for me, from the snares of evildoers.”

and

Psalm 142:6-8: “I cry out to you, LORD, I say, You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.
Listen to my cry for help, for I am brought very low. Rescue me from my pursuers, for they are too strong for me.
Lead me out of my prison, that I may give thanks to your name. Then the just shall gather around me because you have been good to me.”

(Via USCCB.)

Addiction is the prison one is trapped in, evildoers (“people, places and things”) seek to continually ensnare the struggling alcoholic and addict.

The Lord will rescue you from these types. No matter how beaten down you are by the threat of a relapse and the immediate temptation to drink, God will give you the strength to prevail if you ask Him in trust and with faith.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

"What to do kit for addictions"

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John W. Garcia, a member of Catholics in Recovery offers this video on basic Catholic tools to aid in your recovery from addictions.

It does answer one common objection that comes up when people state that you cannot rely solely on religion, and that you need the support of a group, the “slogans” and other tools that you develop in recovery meeting rooms. Those are nice, but not needed.

The “What to do kit for addictions” offers all sorts of things the Catholic Faith has that can help you recover, and maintain that recovery. In addition, and this is key, it offers the tools needed to retrain yourself in how you react to things. This seems a central point in any addict’slife.We need to relearn how to react to things in a non-addictive way.

John is also the person behind the excellent Sober for Christ resource.

Watch the video and visit his site.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Bruised reeds and smoldering wicks

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The First Reading from the Mass for Monday of Holy Week is one of my favorites:

Isaiah 42:3: “A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench…”

Via USCCB.)

It reminds me of us alcoholics and addicts in our times of suffering and eventual recovery.

I had written about this passage before: Bruised reeds…

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Not My Will, but Yours be done

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Quite often in AA meetings and in literature we hear the phrase “Not my will, but yours.” I’m not sure if the quoters are aware of the source. An excerpt from the Gospel of Mark from the Mass of the Passion of Our Lord (Palm Sunday):

Mark 14:36: “Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will.”

(Via USCCB.)

The “cup” is the suffering and death Jesus was about to undergo. He knew what it would entail, and didn’t seem particularly thrilled to undertake it. But with the same humility He expressed in becoming human for our sake, He agreed to submit to the Father’s will and accept the suffering that was to come.

There is a certain serenity in doing this, a serenity that can be found in partnering with God and agreeing to set aside your own wishes and desires and instead taking up the cross that is before you.

This is the mark of a Christian.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

In my distress I called upon the Lord – he heard my voice.

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The Church seems to be using Lent to drive home the theme of relying on the Lord to deliver His people from their distress. The Responsorial Psalm for Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent is yet another prayer of gratitude to God:

Psalm 18:2-7:
“I love you, O LORD, my strength, O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.

My God, my rock of refuge, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold! Praised be the LORD, I exclaim, and I am safe from my enemies.

The breakers of death surged round about me, the destroying floods overwhelmed me; The cords of the nether world enmeshed me, the snares of death overtook me.

In my distress I called upon the LORD and cried out to my God; From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.”

(Via USCCB.)

Lent is a time for repentance, of turning away from sin and amending your life. The Church is also reminding us that a benefit of this is a confident reliance on God to help us in our distress. We must never forget this.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Suppressed consciences

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This excerpt from the First Reading for Mass for the Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent serves an interesting insight into the inner workings of the mind on its way to committing sin (and an addictive relapse):

Daniel 13:6-14: “…These men, to whom all brought their cases, frequented the house of Joakim.

When the people left at noon, Susanna used to enter her husband’s garden for a walk.

When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk, they began to lust for her.

They suppressed their consciences; they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven, and did not keep in mind just judgments.

Though both were enamored of her, they did not tell each other their trouble,

for they were ashamed to reveal their lustful desire to have her.

Day by day they watched eagerly for her.

One day they said to each other, ‘Let us be off for home, it is time for lunch.’ So they went out and parted;

but both turned back, and when they met again, they asked each other the reason. They admitted their lust, and then they agreed to look for an occasion when they could meet her alone.”

Via USCCB.)

Take out “Susanna” and substitute any of the “people, places and things” that serve as triggers for relapse and we see a mirror of the mental processes that lead to a relapse.

The image of the object of desire, be it a lustful target or just an old drinking establishment, somehow causes the conscience to be supressed. Anyone who has relapsed, or came close to it, understands. Your “right-thinking” is turned off, God is distant and “just judgments” are far from your thoughts.

The object takes over and mindlessly the addict succumbs and falls prey to it.

I heard it explained in an AA meeting that meeting attendance interrupts this thought process and halts the trend towards relapse. This is fine for those who still actively attending 12 Step meetings. But for those who do not, there is prayer, Mass and the sacraments. The grace of God present in these can be enough to save the addict from falling.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge

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The Responsorial Psalm for Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent offers consolation to those suffering from the acts of others:

Psalm 7:2-3,9-12:
“O LORD, my God, in you I take refuge;
save me from all my pursuers and rescue me,
Lest I become like the lion’s prey,
to be torn to pieces, with no one to rescue me.

Do me justice, O LORD, because I am just,
and because of the innocence that is mine.
Let the malice of the wicked come to an end,
but sustain the just,
O searcher of heart and soul, O just God.

A shield before me is God,
who saves the upright of heart;
A just judge is God,
a God who punishes day by day.”

(Via USCCB.)

People who follow their own wills and not God’s often wreak havoc upon other people’s lives. If you are trying to lead a good, clean and sober life there will be obstacles. Other people will see your decision to live a life contrary to how they see it should be lived (because it is a threat to them), and will try and derail your path.

You will be an object of scorn and ridicule as they try to drag you back into your old ways.

The Lord, if you trust in Him, will be your safe refuge and will protect you by strengthening your faith. The reassurance you get from a deep prayer life, from reading Sacred Scripture and attending Mass will be the armor you need to cope with the world and its ways.

The world and its followers won’t go away, but you’ll have a defense. And a protector.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

I cried out to you and you healed me

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I include the entire Psalm 30 (except the intro verse) as it is an excellent prayer of thanksgiving to God for all those who have been touched by His healing hand. This serves as the Responsorial Psalm for the Daily Mass for Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent:

Psalm 30:2-13: “I praise you, LORD, for you raised me up and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.

O LORD, my God, I cried out to you and you healed me.

LORD, you brought me up from Sheol; you kept me from going down to the pit.

Sing praise to the LORD, you faithful; give thanks to God’s holy name.

For divine anger lasts but a moment; divine favor lasts a lifetime. At dusk weeping comes for the night; but at dawn there is rejoicing.

Complacent, I once said, ‘I shall never be shaken.’

LORD, when you showed me favor I stood like the mighty mountains. But when you hid your face I was struck with terror.

To you, LORD, I cried out; with the Lord I pleaded for mercy:

‘What gain is there from my lifeblood, from my going down to the grave? Does dust give you thanks or declare your faithfulness?

Hear, O LORD, have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper.’

You changed my mourning into dancing; you took off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.

With my whole being I sing endless praise to you. O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.”

(Via USCCB.)

Let this prayer be a reminder and a consolation for anyone who suffers. Trials and tribulations do come to an end, although they seem to last forever.

Everyone suffers, you are strengthened if you learn from the experience. At the very least you better endure “trudging the road of happy destiny”.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Novena to St. Joseph for Alcoholics: Day 9 (and Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

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Today is the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Via USCCB.)

It is also the ninth and therefore final day of the novena through him for alcoholics.

St. Joseph was the head of the Holy Family of himself, the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus. He is the model and guide for family leadership, being responsible for the enormous task of providing and caring for Mary and Jesus.

Alcoholism and addiction rupture families. Repairing relationships with the family is one of the tasks that recovering alcoholics seek to do. Making amends for the hurt and pain caused by a drinking past is long and a courageous trial to overcome.

Establishing a new family is also a goal. Once sober, an alcoholic seeks to have what seemed impossible before, a stable and secure home life.

And so, to that end, we pray:

St. Joseph, model of leadership in a family look with favor upon families and those seeking to belong to one. Intercede with God on their behalf and heal people and relationships so that all who desire it may become part of a happy and healthy family. We ask this through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)