Prayer to know who hurts us
To have the evil eye, to be jinxed, to be the victim of a curse... Depending on our culture and traditions, there are many ways of evoking the feeling that someone is acting against us, that an evil force is hindering us. Are the things we're going through, the difficulties we're encountering, indeed the result of the malevolence of certain people? Are we facing visible or invisible enemies? Is it simply the result of bad choices on our part? Sometimes it's hard to identify where the attacks are coming from. Through prayer, God, through his Holy Spirit, helps us to discern the origin of evil and guides us on a path to liberation. Discover several prayers of discernment and prayers of protection to deal effectively with what can harm us.
Discerning where evil comes from: prayers for discernment
Bible prayer to discover hidden things
Here's a short prayer from the Bible we can recite to ask God for the grace to see the invisible forces at work.
"Lord, deign to open my eyes, and let me see!"
This invocation is a request to see both the enemies we face, and the invisible, heavenly supports the Father sends us, as the extract from the 2nd book of Kings from which this verse is taken reminds us: "Early the next morning, when the servant of the man of God arose and went out, he saw the force with its horses and chariots surrounding the city. 'Alas!' he said to Elisha. 'What shall we do, my lord?' Elisha answered, 'Do not be afraid. Our side outnumbers theirs.' Then he prayed, 'O Lord , open his eyes, that he may see.' And the Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw that the mountainside was filled with fiery chariots and horses around Elisha." (2 Kings 6:15-17)
(Discover also the prayer to Saint Lucy to see hidden things)
Invocation to the Holy Spirit, Spirit of Truth
The Spirit of God is the spirit of truth, revealing what is hidden. By invoking the Holy Spirit, we can take an enlightened look at our situation and our life. He enables us to identify bad influences in our surroundings, spot situations that are not good for us, and guide us along safe paths.
"Come Holy Spirit, come Spirit of Truth, shine your light on my life and guide my steps".
Placing ourselves under divine protection: prayers of protection
Prayer of protection to Saint Michael
"O invincible prince, faithful guardian of God's Church and righteous souls, defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and you, Prince of heavenly hosts, by the power of God, drive Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl the world seeking the ruin of souls back to hell.
Amen."
Prayer to Saint Benedict, patron saint of exorcists
"Please, Lord, through the intercession of St. Benedict, remove from us the evils from which we suffer.
The name of your blessed servant is eternally blessed, what can he not do in our favor?
Through his prayers, may he ward off anything that might draw us away from you, O my God, and may his blessing obtain all the gifts of your Providence.
We pray this through Our Lord Jesus Christ.
So be it.
Saint Benedict, preserve us from all attacks of the devil, from evil spells and from all miseries and unforeseen misfortunes."
(See also how to pray against evil)
Strengthening yourself against the adversary: combat psalm
"Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.
Lord, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them?
They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow.
Part your heavens, Lord, and come down; touch the mountains, so that they smoke.
Send forth lightning and scatter the enemy; shoot your arrows and rout them.
Reach down your hand from on high; deliver me and rescue me from the mighty waters, from the hands of foreigners
whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful.
I will sing a new song to you, my God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you,
to the One who gives victory to kings, who delivers his servant David. From the deadly sword
deliver me; rescue me from the hands of foreigners whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful.
Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants,
and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace.
Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision. Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields;
our oxen will draw heavy loads. There will be no breaching of walls, no going into captivity, no cry of distress in our streets.
Blessed is the people of whom this is true; blessed is the people whose God is the Lord." (Psalm 144)
With Hozana, place yourself under God's protection
The Hozana website and app offer a wide range of online novenas and retreats to help you pray for peace and strength with God. Discover, among others,
- this to place yourself under the protection of the leader of the angelic army,
- a novena to
