When worry presses in and the mind will not rest, the Church offers something deeper than reassurance: prayer that hands our fear to the One who holds all things. If you are looking for a Catholic prayer for anxiety, begin with the short prayer below and return to it as often as you need. Anxiety is among the most common burdens of the human heart, and the saints knew it intimately. As St. Francis de Sales—a Doctor of the Church—wrote, “Anxiety is the greatest evil that can befall a soul, except sin. God commands you to pray, but He forbids you to worry.”
Below you will find a short, trusted prayer to begin with, followed by a collection of authentically Catholic prayers for moments of anxiety, worry, and fear—drawn from Scripture, the saints, and the living tradition of the Church. Each includes a brief note on when it may help you most. Pray slowly. You do not need to feel calm to begin; you only need to turn toward God.
A note before you begin: Prayer is a profound source of peace, but it is not a replacement for the care of a doctor or counselor when anxiety is severe or persistent. If you are struggling, please consider reaching out to a trusted professional as well. God works through their care, too.
A Simple Catholic Prayer for Anxiety
This is the prayer to return to first—short enough to pray in a single breath, complete enough to carry the whole weight of a worried heart.
Jesus, I trust in You.
These five words hold the entire spiritual answer to anxiety. When the mind races, the act of trust does not deny the trouble—it places the trouble in stronger hands than ours. Repeat it slowly, as many times as you need. This aspiration comes to us from the Divine Mercy devotion revealed to St. Faustina, who was told by Our Lord to inscribe these very words beneath His image.
Catholic Prayers for Worry and Fear
1. Prayer of St. Francis de Sales for Trust in God
Best for: A racing mind fixed on tomorrow. This is the classic Catholic prayer against anxious imagining of the future—pray it when “what if” thoughts will not stop.
Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life with fear. Rather, look to them with full confidence that, as they arise, God, to whom you belong, will in His love enable you to profit by them. He has guided you thus far in life. Hold fast to His dear hand, and He will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand, He will carry you lovingly in His arms. Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow. The same Eternal Father who takes care of you today will take care of you tomorrow, and every day of your life. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations. Amen.
2. The Memorare
Best for: Turning to your Mother when you feel alone in your fear. A prayer of confident appeal to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who never abandons those who run to her.
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.
3. “Pray, Hope, and Don’t Worry”—A Prayer with St. Padre Pio
Best for: Daily worry that wears you down. Pray these words of St. Pio as both a reminder and a petition when anxiety has become a habit of the heart.
Lord, in the words of St. Padre Pio, teach me to “pray, hope, and not worry.” Worry is useless; You are merciful, and You will hear my prayer. I place this fear in Your hands and ask for the grace to trust You today. St. Pio, pray for me. Amen.
4. Sub Tuum Praesidium (We Fly to Thy Protection)
Best for: Sudden fear or distress. The oldest known prayer to Our Lady—when you need the shelter of a Mother’s protection right now.
We fly to thy protection, O holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
5. A Scripture Prayer from Philippians
Best for: Anchoring an anxious mind in God’s Word. St. Paul’s direct counsel to the anxious, prayed back to God.
Heavenly Father, Your Word tells me: “Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Lord, I bring You my anxiety now. Guard my heart and my mind with Your peace. Amen.
6. Act of Trust in God’s Providence
Best for: When you cannot change your circumstances. A prayer of surrender that releases what is outside your control into God’s loving care.
My God, I do not know what this day or this hour holds, but You do. I surrender to You all that worries me—what I cannot control, what I fear, and what I cannot see. I believe that You love me and that nothing reaches me except through Your loving hands. Give me the grace to trust You completely. Thy will be done. Amen.
To go deeper, learn how God works through every circumstance of our lives in our guide to holiness and Divine Providence.
7. Prayer to St. Dymphna, Patroness of Anxiety and Mental Distress
Best for: Ongoing anxiety, stress, or emotional affliction. St. Dymphna is the Church’s patron for those who suffer in mind and heart.
Good St. Dymphna, you bore great affliction with patience and trust in God. Intercede for me in my anxiety and distress. Ask the Lord to calm my troubled mind, to lift the weight of fear from my heart, and to grant me His peace. Pray for all who suffer from anxiety, that we may find rest in God. Amen.
For the full novena and more on the patron saint of anxiety, visit our dedicated St. Dymphna prayers and novena.
8. Anima Christi (Soul of Christ)
Best for: Drawing close to Jesus in His Passion when fear feels overwhelming. A beloved prayer of refuge in the wounds of Christ.
Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O good Jesus, hear me. Within Thy wounds hide me. Permit me not to be separated from Thee. From the wicked foe defend me. In the hour of my death call me, and bid me come to Thee, that with Thy saints I may praise Thee forever and ever. Amen.
9. A Short Aspiration for Moments of Panic
Best for: An anxiety or panic attack, when long prayers feel impossible. Repeat a single line until the wave passes.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.
(Or simply:) Jesus, mercy. Jesus, peace.
10. Prayer to Your Guardian Angel
Best for: Fear that strikes when you feel alone or unprotected. A reminder that God has assigned a heavenly guardian to your side at every moment.
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
When fear makes you feel alone, this beloved prayer recalls a comforting truth: you are never truly alone. Learn more about this constant companion in our Guardian Angel Prayer guide.
11. Litany of Trust (Excerpt)
Best for: Naming the specific lies that anxiety tells. This modern Catholic litany, composed by the Sisters of Life, gently dismantles the fears that drive worry.
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 fear that suffering will be too much for me to bear—deliver me, Jesus. That You are with me in my suffering—Jesus, I trust in You. That You will not leave me orphaned—Jesus, I trust in You.
Pray the complete prayer with our full guide to the Litany of Trust.
12. A Catholic Night Prayer for an Anxious Mind
Best for: Anxiety that strikes at bedtime, when worry keeps you from sleep. Place the day and the night ahead into God’s keeping.
Lord, the day is over and I give it back to You—its joys, its failures, and its unfinished worries. Quiet my mind now. Watch over those I love. Let me rest in the knowledge that You do not sleep, and that You hold all things while I cannot. Into Your hands I commend my spirit. Amen.
Find more prayers to close your day in peace in our collection of Catholic night prayers.
How to Pray When You Are Anxious
A few simple practices can help these prayers take root:
Choose one prayer and make it your anchor. You do not need to pray all of them. Pick the one that meets you where you are today—the short aspiration for hard moments, the St. Francis de Sales prayer for a racing mind—and return to it.
Pray slowly, even physically. Anxiety lives in the body. Slow your breathing, speak the words aloud if you can, and let the rhythm of the prayer steady you.
Don’t wait to feel peaceful. The act of turning to God is the prayer. Peace often comes after, not before.
Bring the same prayer back, day after day. Anxiety is rarely healed in a single moment. Consistency—a few minutes of daily prayer—is how trust is built and how the saints grew in peace.
Frequently Asked Questions About Catholic Prayers for Anxiety
Who is the Catholic patron saint of anxiety?
St. Dymphna is the patron saint of anxiety, nervous disorders, and mental and emotional distress. Catholics struggling with worry also frequently invoke St. Padre Pio, known for his counsel “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” Both saints are powerful intercessors for those seeking peace of mind.
What is the best Catholic prayer for anxiety?
The short aspiration “Jesus, I trust in You,” from the Divine Mercy devotion, is among the most powerful and accessible Catholic prayers for anxiety—it can be prayed in a single breath and contains the whole spiritual answer to anxiety: trust. For a longer prayer, the Prayer of St. Francis de Sales for trust in God speaks directly to the anxious mind. The best prayer is ultimately the one you will actually return to each day.
Is it a sin to feel anxious?
No, anxiety itself is not a sin. It is a human experience that even the saints endured, and Christ Himself experienced agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. What the Church encourages is to bring our anxiety to God rather than letting it pull us away from trust in Him. As St. Francis de Sales taught, God does not condemn us for feeling fear; He invites us to hand it to Him in prayer.
What does the Bible say about anxiety?
The Bible addresses anxiety directly and often. One of the most beloved passages is Philippians 4:6–7, which urges us to bring everything to God in prayer so that “the peace of God, which passes all understanding,” may guard our hearts and minds. Jesus also teaches in Matthew 6 not to be anxious about tomorrow, pointing to the Father’s care for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field.
Can prayer replace treatment for anxiety?
No, prayer does not replace medical or psychological care. Prayer is a true and powerful source of grace and peace, but the Church does not teach that it substitutes for the help of a doctor or counselor. Serious or persistent anxiety deserves professional attention, and God often works healing through that care. Prayer and professional help are not opposed—they work together.
Continue Your Journey Toward Peace
- 12 Catholic Prayers for Peace — prayers for peace of heart, home, and the world
- 28 Catholic Prayers for Healing — prayers for healing amid illness and physical suffering
- St. Dymphna Prayer & Novena — the patron saint of mental and emotional peace
- The Litany of Trust — the full text of this powerful prayer of surrender
- The Surrender Novena — a nine-day prayer of letting go
- Holiness and Divine Providence — understanding how God works through every circumstance of our lives
- Getting Started with Mental Prayer — learn to build a daily habit of quiet prayer with God
