Saint Prayers for Addiction: Jude, Kolbe, Talbot, Monica
Catholics facing addiction often ask four holy people for their prayers: St. Jude for situations that feel hopeless, St. Maximilian Kolbe for drug addiction, Venerable Matt Talbot for alcoholism, and St. Monica for a loved one who is lost. Below is who each one was and a short prayer asking them to intercede. The prayers are our own, written for this page, so you can use them freely.
St. Jude: when it feels hopeless
St. Jude Thaddeus was one of the twelve apostles. He’s sometimes confused with Judas Iscariot because the names are alike, which may be one reason people prayed to him less and turned to him only as a last resort. Over time he became known as the patron of desperate cases. Families who have tried everything often start here.
“St. Jude, faithful friend of Jesus, you know what it is to be asked for help when everything else has failed. I bring you ______, who is trapped in addiction. It looks hopeless to me. Ask the Lord to break through where I can’t. Pray that they live, that they come to their senses, and that they find people who can help. Amen.”
St. Maximilian Kolbe: for drug addiction
Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish Franciscan priest. In Auschwitz, in 1941, he offered to die in place of a man with a wife and children. After two weeks in a starvation cell he was killed by an injection of carbolic acid. Pope John Paul II canonized him in 1982. Because of how he died, many people ask him to pray for those addicted to drugs, especially by needle.
“St. Maximilian Kolbe, you gave your life for a stranger. Pray for ______, whose life is being taken by drugs. Ask Jesus to set them free, keep them from an overdose, and give them the courage to accept help. Pray for me, too, that I love them without giving up. Amen.”
Venerable Matt Talbot: for alcoholism
Matt Talbot started drinking as a boy in Dublin and drank hard for years. At 28 he took a pledge to stop, and with prayer, Mass and hard work he kept it until he died in 1925. He is often held up as a sign that an ordinary drinker can be made new.
“Venerable Matt Talbot, you knew the shakes, the shame and the long road back. Pray for ______ today. Ask God to give them one sober day, then another. Help them find in the sacraments the strength you found. Amen.”
St. Monica: for a loved one who is lost
St. Monica prayed for her son Augustine for many years before he turned to God. She’s the saint of worn-out mothers and fathers, and of anyone who keeps praying for someone else.
“St. Monica, you didn’t stop praying when your son ran from God. Teach me to keep going. Pray for ______, and for me while I wait. Amen.”
For more on St. Monica and a prayer to St. Matthias, see our Catholic prayer for alcoholics.
What Scripture says about asking others to pray
The Bible encourages believers to pray for one another, and says the prayer of a righteous person has real power.
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
The book that bears Jude’s name ends with a promise worth holding onto for anyone who keeps falling.
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,”
Prayer plus help
The saints point to Christ, and Christ often works through people. Anyone stopping alcohol or drugs after heavy use should see a doctor first.
Safety first. If you drink heavily every day, stopping suddenly can be dangerous. Talk to a doctor before you quit.
If someone may have overdosed, call 911. If someone is thinking about suicide, call or text 988.
Talk it through with Jimmy or Sarah — first month free
Jimmy and Sarah are AI sponsors who know the Twelve Steps and the Bible. They'll listen, walk the steps with you, and keep pointing you to real people: a meeting, a sponsor, a church.
Free to download · first month free, no card · adults 18+
After the first month, talking with Jimmy or Sarah needs Plus ($9.99/month or $59.99/year).
Something to do today
Choose the saint whose story fits yours best. Pray their prayer this morning, then do one practical thing: call a meeting line, talk with your priest, or ask a doctor what help is available.
Common questions
Who is the patron saint of addiction?
There's no single official one. St. Maximilian Kolbe is widely called a patron of people struggling with drug addiction, Venerable Matt Talbot is linked with alcoholism, and St. Jude is asked to help in cases that feel hopeless. These come from devotion, not a formal Church decree.
Why is St. Maximilian Kolbe linked to addiction?
He died in Auschwitz in 1941 by a lethal injection, after taking another prisoner's place in a starvation cell. Because his death came by injection, many Catholics ask his prayers for people addicted to drugs.
Do Catholics pray to saints instead of God?
No. Catholics ask saints to pray for them, the way you might ask a friend to pray. All grace comes from God through Christ. If you're not Catholic, you can still pray straight to God using the same words.
When are their feast days?
St. Jude shares October 28 with St. Simon. St. Maximilian Kolbe is August 14, and St. Monica is August 27. Matt Talbot hasn't been beatified, so he has no feast day yet.
Talk it through with Jimmy or Sarah — first month free
Jimmy and Sarah are AI sponsors who know the Twelve Steps and the Bible. They'll listen, walk the steps with you, and keep pointing you to real people: a meeting, a sponsor, a church.
Free to download · first month free, no card · adults 18+
After the first month, talking with Jimmy or Sarah needs Plus ($9.99/month or $59.99/year).
Get the daily reading by email
One short reading a day: a verse, a few honest words, one thing to do and a prayer. Unsubscribe any time.
We'll send one email to confirm. We never share your address.