Catholic Prayer for Alcoholics: St. Monica and St. Matthias
A Catholic prayer for alcoholics usually asks God for mercy and freedom, and asks saints who knew this struggle to pray alongside you. The saints most often named are St. Monica, St. Matthias and Venerable Matt Talbot. Below is a prayer to God, then short prayers asking each of them to intercede, for yourself or for someone you love.
A Catholic prayer for someone who drinks
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on ______ and on me. You see the hold alcohol has on them. Break it, Lord, in Your time and Your way. Protect them from harm, and protect those who live with them. Lead them to the sacraments, to good friends and to the help they need. Give me patience, wisdom and hope. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us. Amen.”
Prayer to St. Monica
St. Monica was the mother of St. Augustine. For many years she prayed and wept for her son, who lived far from God. She lived to see him baptized by St. Ambrose in Milan. In his Confessions, Augustine also tells how Monica, as a girl, fell into a habit of sneaking wine from the family cellar and gave it up after a servant mocked her for it. Catholic sources such as the University of Notre Dame list her as a patron of alcoholics, and of mothers facing family trouble.
“St. Monica, you know what it is to love someone who is lost, and to wait on God for years. Pray for ______. Ask the Lord to free them from drink and draw them home to Him. Pray for me too, that I won’t lose heart or stop praying. Amen.”
Prayer to St. Matthias
St. Matthias is the apostle chosen to take the place of Judas after the Resurrection.
“And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”
Tradition names him a patron of people fighting alcoholism. EWTN explains this most likely comes from an early saying credited to him, recorded by Clement of Alexandria, about keeping the body under control.
“St. Matthias, you were chosen to fill an empty place among the apostles. Pray for me as I try to fill the empty place where drinking used to be. Ask the Lord to give me self-control, steady faith and good friends. Amen.”
Venerable Matt Talbot
Matt Talbot was a Dublin laborer who drank heavily from boyhood. In 1884, broke and turned away by his drinking friends, he went home and took a pledge to give up drink. He kept it for about forty years, through daily Mass, prayer and hard work, and died in 1925. The Church has declared him Venerable, and many Catholics ask him to pray for people who struggle with alcohol.
“Venerable Matt Talbot, you knew the pull of drink and the long fight to stay free. Pray for me today. Help me lean on Christ the way you did. Amen.”
What the Church offers besides prayer
Prayer to the saints is never meant to stand alone. The sacraments matter: confession lifts shame and starts you fresh, and the Eucharist feeds you for the fight. A priest can hear you without judgment. Many parishes host recovery meetings or know where to find one.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
If you want to stop drinking, talk to a doctor about it before you do.
Safety first. If you drink heavily every day, stopping suddenly can be dangerous. Talk to a doctor before you quit.
Something to do today
Pick one of the prayers above and pray it with a Hail Mary each morning this week. Then call your parish office and ask when confession is, or whether a recovery group meets there. If you’re praying for a son or daughter, St. Monica’s story pairs well with our prayer for my son with addiction.
Common questions
Who is the patron saint of alcoholics?
Catholic sources most often name St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, and St. Matthias the Apostle. Venerable Matt Talbot, an Irishman who got sober and stayed sober through prayer, is also widely asked to pray for people who struggle with drink.
Why is St. Matthias linked to alcoholism?
Scripture doesn't say. EWTN suggests it comes from an early saying credited to him, recorded by Clement of Alexandria, about mastering the flesh. The link is a later tradition, not something the Bible states.
When are the feast days of St. Monica and St. Matthias?
St. Monica's feast is August 27, the day before her son St. Augustine's. St. Matthias is celebrated on May 14 in the current Roman calendar.
Can a non-Catholic pray these prayers?
The prayers that speak straight to God can be prayed by any Christian. Asking saints to pray for you is a Catholic and Orthodox practice. Follow your own church's teaching, and talk with your priest or pastor if you have questions.
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