Catholic Prayers to Calm Anxiety, Fear, and Worry

Prayer can be a powerful tool in helping us calm anxiety and here’s why:

A common coping strategy taught by mental health professionals to calm anxiety is distraction or mental exercises. These strategies shift your attention away from the distressing thought.

Prayer is a type of mental exercise and meditation! People typically think of Eastern traditions when they see the word “meditation,” but it also has its roots in Catholic prayer. The Church has numerous meditations within its rich tradition. These include the Rosary, The Lord’s Prayer, Litanies, even the prayers of the Mass are meditative in nature.

Meditations help us shift our attention away from our anxieties in a difficult time. Meditations teach us to simply observe our thoughts instead of getting caught up in them. This post contains a list of prayers that can help you meditate on the mysteries of our faith in a way that helps you calm your fears and worries.

It is important to note though that prayer is not enough if you are suffering from a mental health condition. If you think you may be experiencing an anxiety-related mental health issue such as panic attacks, severe inability to complete necessary tasks in your daily life due to anxiety, then please seek appropriate help from a licensed mental health professional. There are professionals who specialize in treating mental health conditions from a Catholic perspective. Check out CatholicTherapists.com where you can search for a therapist near you.

Prayers of the Saints to Calm Anxiety, Fear, and Worry

Prayer to St. Dymphna (Patron Saint of Mental Health)

The intercession of St. Dymphna is often invoked for those suffering from anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns. You can use this same intercessory prayer and add your own specific anxiety or stress-related intention.

“Good Saint Dymphna, great wonder-worker in every affliction of mind and body, I humbly implore your powerful intercession with Jesus through Mary, the Health of the Sick, in my present need. (Mention it.) Saint Dymphna, martyr of purity, patroness of those who suffer with nervous and mental afflictions, beloved child of Jesus and Mary, pray to Them for me and obtain my request.

(Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be.)

Saint Dymphna, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us.”

St. Padre Pio – Stay With Me, Lord Prayer

St. Padre Pio led a life of devotion and prayer, despite suffering from poor health and physical pain. His simple quote “Pray, hope, and don’t worry” embodies his trust in the Lord. His life of trusting and surrendering to God reminds us that we can choose to take courage in our own suffering. Instead of his suffering making him bitter, he recognized that in the mysterious plan of God, there is a time for all things.

“Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You.

Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light and without You I am in darkness.

Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.

Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You.

Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much and to be in Your company always.

Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.

Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of Love.”

St. Padre Pio – Prayer for Trust and Confidence

St. Padre Pio also wrote a prayer to ask God for the grace of growing in holy virtues. Growing in trust and confidence is one powerful way to decrease the hold that anxiety and stress have on you in your life. The antidote to anxiety is safety, which comes from trust.

“O Lord, we ask for a boundless confidence and trust in Your divine mercy, and the courage to accept the crosses and sufferings which bring immense goodness to our souls and that of Your Church.

Help us to love You with a pure and contrite heart, and to humble ourselves beneath Your cross, as we climb the mountain of holiness, carrying our cross that leads to heavenly glory.

May we receive You with great faith and love in Holy Communion, and allow You to act in us as You desire for your greater glory.

O Jesus, most adorable Heart and eternal fountain of Divine Love, may our prayer find favor before the Divine Majesty of Your heavenly Father.”

St. Francis de Sales – Be at Peace Prayer

St. Francis de Sales focused on surrendering all concerns to God. This saint new that His will is always for our ultimate good. He also focused on practical holiness by encouraging people to find peace in small, daily acts of faith and love, rather than worrying about perfection or the unknown.

“Be at peace.

Do not look forward in fear to the changes in life;

Rather look to them with full hope that as they arise,

God, whose very own you are, will lead you safely through all things.

And when you cannot stand it, God will carry you in His arms.

Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;

The same everlasting Father who cares for you today

Will take care of you then and every day.

He will either shield you from suffering,

Or give you unfailing strength to bear it.

Be at peace,

And put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.”

St. Brigid of Ireland Prayer

St. Brigid is a patron saint of healers and a saint associated with creativity and womanhood. Her prayer helps us reflect on her self-giving nature and how we as women have strength in the emotions we feel.

“Saint Brigid.

You were a woman of peace.

You brought harmony where there was conflict.

You brought light to the darkness.

You brought hope to the downcast.

May the mantle of your peace cover those who are troubled and anxious, and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world.

Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made.

Brigid you were a voice for the wounded and the weary.

Strengthen what is weak within us.

Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens.

May we grow each day into greater wholeness in mind, body and spirit.”

St. Teresa of Avila – Let Nothing Disturb You Prayer

St. Teresa of Avila is well-known for her contemplative prayer life. This prayer is a beautiful fruit of her devotion and helps us meditate on the wisdom of her prayer life.

“Let nothing disturb you, 

Let nothing frighten you, 

All things are passing away: 

God never changes. 

Patience obtains all things.

Whoever has God lacks nothing; 

God alone suffices.”

St. Ignatius of Loyola – Prayer of Surrender

This prayer is a request for complete openness to God’s love. It was one of the last elements in St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises, a series of meditations, prayers, and contemplative practices that Catholics can follow to deepen their relationship with Christ.

“Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,

My memory, my understanding,

And my entire will,

All I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.

To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.

Give me only your love and your grace,

That is enough for me.”

St. Josemaria – Prayer of Abandonment to God’s Providence

St. Josemaria’s prayer offers us a simple way to release our anxieties. It reminds us that only God knows all of the details of the past, present, and future. We can rest easy knowing that only He has the full picture. We only see a tiny glimpse through our limited human perspectives!

“My Lord and my God:

into your hands I abandon the past and the present and the future,

what is small and what is great,

what amounts to a little and what amounts to a lot,

things temporal and things eternal.

Amen.”

Other Prayers to Calm Anxiety, Fear, and Worry

The Serenity Prayer

This is a well-known prayer for peace and surrender. It reminds us to recenter ourselves in the present moment before us instead of getting caught up in the anxieties of the future or the past.

“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.”

The Memorare

This prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary assures us that she will not abandon us in our time of need. By asking Mary for help with our anxieties, this prayer shifts our focus from our problems to our loving mother, who understands our human struggles and intercedes for us with her Son, Jesus.

“Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,

That never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection,

Implored thy help, or sought thy intercession,

Was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee,

O Virgin of virgins, my Mother;

To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions,

But in thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.”

Prayer to Trust in Divine Mercy

This prayer comes from the devotion revealed by Jesus to St. Faustina and encourages surrender. Saying “Jesus, I trust in You” repeatedly fosters a sense of release from the need to control or solve everything on our own. It invites us to trust fully in God’s plan, even when we cannot see it.

“Most merciful Jesus,

I turn to You in my need.

You are worthy of my complete trust.

You are faithful in all things.

When my life is filled with confusion, give me clarity and faith.

When I am tempted to despair, fill my soul with hope.

Most merciful Jesus,

I trust You in all things.

I trust in Your perfect plan for my life.

I trust You when I cannot comprehend Your divine Will.

I trust You when all feels lost.

Jesus, I trust You more than I trust myself.

Most merciful Jesus,

You are all-knowing.

Nothing is beyond Your sight.

You are all-loving.

Nothing in my life is beyond Your concern.

You are all-powerful.

Nothing is beyond Your grace.

Most merciful Jesus,

I trust in You,

I trust in You,

I trust in You.

May I trust You always and in all things.

May I daily surrender to Your Divine Mercy.

Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy,

Pray for us as we turn to you in our need.”

The Litany of Trust

This beautiful prayer was written by Sr. Faustina Maria Pio, S.V., a member of the Sisters of Life religious community. She was inspired by Jesus’ message to St. Faustina Kowalska on trusting in Divine Mercy. She created the Litany to help others find peace in trusting God amidst life’s uncertainties. By naming fears in lies that show up in our daily lives and asking Jesus to deliver us from these, we consciously surrender them to Him.

“From the belief that I have to earn Your love … Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear that I am unlovable … Deliver me, Jesus.

From the false security that I have what it takes … Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear that trusting You will leave me more destitute … Deliver me, Jesus.

From all suspicion of Your words and promises … Deliver me, Jesus.

From the rebellion against childlike dependency on You … Deliver me, Jesus.

From refusals and reluctances in accepting Your will … Deliver me, Jesus.

From anxiety about the future … Deliver me, Jesus.

From resentment or excessive preoccupation with the past … Deliver me, Jesus.

From restless self-seeking in the present moment … Deliver me, Jesus.

From disbelief in Your love and presence … Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being asked to give more than I have … Deliver me, Jesus.

From the belief that my life has no meaning or worth … Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of what love demands … Deliver me, Jesus.

From discouragement … Deliver me, Jesus.

That You are continually holding me, sustaining me, loving me … Jesus, I trust in you.

That Your love goes deeper than my sins and failings, and transforms me …Jesus, I trust in you.

That not knowing what tomorrow brings is an invitation to lean on You … Jesus, I trust in you.

That You are with me in my suffering … Jesus, I trust in you.

That my suffering, united to Your own, will bear fruit in this life and the next …Jesus, I trust in you.

That You will not leave me orphan, that You are present in Your Church…Jesus, I trust in you.

That Your plan is better than anything else … Jesus, I trust in you.

That You always hear me, and in Your goodness always respond to me …Jesus, I trust in you.

That You give me the grace to accept forgiveness and to forgive others …Jesus, I trust in you.

That You give me all the strength I need for what is asked …Jesus, I trust in you.

That my life is a gift … Jesus, I trust in you.

That You will teach me to trust You … Jesus, I trust in you.

That You are my Lord and my God … Jesus, I trust in you.

That I am Your beloved one … Jesus, I trust in you.

Amen.”

Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Sacred Heart of Jesus is often depicted with flames, symbolizing the intensity of His love for us. Meditating on this image while praying can provide comfort and reassurance. The Sacred Heart represents Christ’s deep, unfailing love for humanity. This prayer connects us to that love, reminding us that Jesus understands and shares in our suffering.

“O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,

I place all my trust in You.

Help me to remember,

No matter how great my troubles may seem,

Your love for me is greater still.

Fill me with Your peace and let me rest in You. Amen.”

A Simple Prayer

Prayer does not have to be complicated nor long. Sometimes a short prayer is all we need to hold onto when we feel stressed, scared, or anxious. The following is one example. Feel free to create your own prayer that is meaningful and calming to you.

“Jesus, I trust in You.

Calm my heart and quiet my soul.

Help me to rest in Your love and let go of my fears. Amen.”

Prayers from Bible Verses to Calm Anxiety, Fear, and Worry

Psalm 23 – The Lord is My Shepherd

This scripture is often prayed to bring us inner peace when we face scary or difficult circumstances. Try learning it by memory and reciting this whenever you start to feel anxious or worried. It has been a favorite Bible verse since our Church’s inception and continues to be relevant in our world today.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”