Before surgery it is natural to feel afraid, and it is good to bring that fear to God. Christ, the Divine Physician, healed the sick wherever he went, and he still works through the skill of doctors and nurses. Below are Catholic prayers before an operation, for a loved one who is having surgery, for the surgical team and for a good recovery, with Scripture for courage and what the Church offers before a serious operation: the Anointing of the Sick.
A prayer before my surgery
Written for this page:
Lord Jesus, Divine Physician, I place myself in your hands.
You know my fears; take them from me and give me your peace.
Guide the hands and minds of the surgeons, the anesthetists and the nurses,
keep me safe during the operation,
and let me wake to find you with me.
Into your hands I commend my body and my soul.
Mary, Health of the Sick, St. Raphael, St. Luke, pray for me. Amen.
A short prayer as you go into the operating room
Jesus, I trust in you.
Lord, be with me; Mary, hold my hand.
Short prayers like these can be repeated quietly while you wait, are wheeled to the operating room, or go under anesthesia.
A prayer for a loved one having surgery
This prayer for a sick person is from Father Lasance’s With God (1911):
Most merciful Jesus, Who art the consolation and salvation of all who put their trust in Thee, we humbly beseech Thee, by Thy most bitter Passion, grant the recovery of his (or her) health to Thy servant N.N., provided this be for his soul’s welfare, that with us he may praise and magnify Thy holy name.
Written for this page:
Lord, today (name) is in surgery.
Watch over him (her) with love, keep him (her) safe from every complication,
and give skill and care to everyone in the operating room.
Calm our worry as we wait, and bring him (her) through to healing. Amen.
A prayer for surgeons, doctors and nurses
Lord, bless the surgeons and the whole medical team.
Give them clear minds, steady hands and compassionate hearts.
Make them instruments of your healing,
and reward them for their care of the sick. Amen.
This prayer was written for this page. Sts. Cosmas and Damian, twin physicians and martyrs, are the patrons of surgeons; St. Luke, “the most dear physician” (Colossians 4:14), is the patron of doctors.
A prayer for recovery after surgery
Thank you, Lord, for bringing me (him, her) through the operation.
Heal the wounds, ease the pain and restore strength day by day.
Give patience in the slow work of recovery,
and let me use this time to grow closer to you. Amen.
This prayer was written for this page. See our Catholic prayer for healing for more.
Scripture before an operation
Fear not, for I am with thee: turn not aside, for I am thy God: I have strengthened thee, and have helped thee, and the right hand of my just one hath upheld thee.
A psalm for David. The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing.
He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment:
He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name’s sake.
For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me.
Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly is it!
And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed: save me, and I shall be saved, for thou art my praise.
The Anointing of the Sick before surgery
The Church encourages Catholics to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick before a serious operation: “It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation” (CCC 1515). Call your parish or ask for the hospital chaplain a day or two before. You can also go to confession and receive Holy Communion. The sacrament gives strength, peace and courage, and sometimes physical healing, if it is God’s will.
Patron saints for surgery and recovery
| Saint | Patron of | Feast day |
|---|---|---|
| Sts. Cosmas and Damian | Surgeons, physicians | September 26 |
| St. Luke | Doctors | October 18 |
| St. Raphael the Archangel | Healing, the sick | September 29 |
| St. Peregrine | Cancer patients | May 1 |
| St. Camillus de Lellis | Hospitals, nurses, the sick | July 14 (July 18 in the USA) |
See also patron saints of healing and the St. Raphael prayer.
Frequently asked questions
Should I receive the Anointing of the Sick before surgery?
Yes, before any serious operation. You do not need to be dying to receive it.
What saint do you pray to before surgery?
Many pray to St. Raphael, whose name means “God heals,” to Sts. Cosmas and Damian, or to Mary, Health of the Sick.
What can I pray if I am too anxious to pray?
Just a name: “Jesus.” Or “Jesus, I trust in you.” God hears the prayer of the heart. Ask others to pray for you, too.
More prayers for the sick
- Prayer for good test results
- Catholic prayer for healing
- Prayer for the sick
- Catholic prayer for strength
- Last rites
- St. Peregrine prayer
Texts and sources
- Prayer for a sick person: F. X. Lasance, With God (1911), Indulgenced Prayers, public domain (Wikisource).
- Scripture: Isaias (Isaiah) 41:10; Psalm 22:1–6 (Psalm 23 in modern Bibles); Jeremias (Jeremiah) 17:14; Colossians 4:14, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church 1515.
- The other prayers were written for this page.