Christian Pure

Prayers for Alcoholics: For Someone Who Drinks, and for Staying Sober

Christian Pure Team

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Summary

  • Short prayers cover a husband or wife, a son or daughter, a parent or a friend who drinks, and the drinker’s own first day, cravings, relapse, shame and a sober anniversary.
  • The Serenity Prayer entered Alcoholics Anonymous in 1941 from a memorial notice in the New York Herald Tribune; Reinhold Niebuhr claimed authorship, and AA’s own history calls its origin long uncertain.
  • The NHS warns that stopping drinking overnight after physical dependence could be harmful; SAMHSA’s National Helpline (1-800-662-4357), Drinkline (0300 123 1110) and Alcool Info Service (0 980 980 930) give help.
  • The 1888 Catholic Manual of Prayers has a prayer “Against Gluttony” that asks to live “without greediness, gluttony, or drunkenness”; Venerable Matt Talbot, sober from 1884 to 1925, is popularly regarded as a patron of people with addictions.
  • Scripture condemns drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18; Proverbs 23:29–32) but promises washing to those who were drunkards (1 Corinthians 6:10–11); churches differ on whether Christians may drink at all.

For a husband, child or friend who drinks: “Lord Jesus, drink has hold of [name], and you love [him or her] more than I can. Keep [him or her] safe today, break the craving, and bring [him or her] to ask for help. Give me patience, and keep me from making it easier to drink. Amen.” If you are drinking heavily every day, do not stop suddenly without medical advice: the NHS warns that stopping overnight after physical dependence “could…

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Bibliography (Click to show)
  • Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (1611), text of Project Gutenberg eBook no. 10 (Proverbs 23:29, 32; Lamentations 3:22–23; Matthew 6:34; Romans 8:1; 1 Corinthians 6:10–11; 10:13; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Timothy 5:23). https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10
  • NHS. “Alcohol support.” https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “National Helpline.” https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines/national-helpline
  • Alcool Info Service (Santé publique France). https://www.alcool-info-service.fr/
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. https://988lifeline.org/
  • Samaritans. “Contact Samaritans.” https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
  • Alcoholics Anonymous, General Service Office. “Origin of the Serenity Prayer: A Historical Paper” (SMF-129). https://www.aa.org/sites/default/files/literature/assets/smf-129_en.pdf
  • A Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Catholic Laity, prepared and published by order of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore. New York: Catholic Publication Society, 1888. Prayers against the Seven Deadly Sins, “Against Gluttony,” p. 297. https://archive.org/details/AManualOfPrayers1888
  • Turley, K. V. “The Mystery of Venerable Matt Talbot.” National Catholic Register, 7 June 2020. https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-mystery-of-venerable-matt-talbot

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