For When Sickness Increases
O Lord Jesus Christ, our God and our Savior,
for our sake You were born; and for our sake You were hungry and thirsty;
for our sake You were mocked, scourged and crowned with thorns;
for our sake You suffered and died on the cross,
offering up Your divine life for our salvation:
as You now grant Your servant (name) to share in Your sufferings,
grant him (her) also to share in Your grace.
May Your wounds heal the wounds of his (her) sins.
May Your precious Blood wash away the stains of his (her) sins.
May Your divine righteousness purge from him (her) every iniquity.
Look upon his (her) faith in You, and the faith of us who pray,
and do what is best for him (her) according to Your mercy, rather than our merit.
As sickness increases in him (her),
so likewise increase in him (her) Your power and strength.
Let not his (her) faith waver or his (her) hope fail, or his (her) love grow cold.
Let not the fear of suffering and death cause him/her to cast away his (her) hope in You,
or to lose courage and the will to fight every sickness and sin.
Let him (her) rather look always to You even to the very end,
and cry out, as You Yourself cried from the cross to God:
“Into Your hands, Good Father, I commend My spirit.”
Bless him (her) to enter Your everlasting Kingdom,
where all the saints continually shine with Your divine glory.
For You have suffered that we might be healed,
and have died that we might live,
and we send up thanksgiving and praise to You,
to the Father who sent You,
and to Your most Holy Spirit, Who strengthens us to share Your passion,
now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.