5 Saints to Walk With in Recovery

Let’s face it—recovery is hard, relapse is hard, healing is hard.

Every single one of us needs some form of healing: of mind, soul, body, relationships, etc. And honestly, reflecting on the lives of the saints can sometimes make this harder. 

Our fallen nature loves to compare ourselves to others, and the devil loves to pit us against our brothers and sisters. How often do we read about the lives of the saints, but not hear anything about the times they struggled: the hardships, the trials, the moments of doubt, the moments of worry; The times they were just trying their best but felt like they were failing God, miserably. 

We know those moments are there because the saints were people just like us: broken, humble, fallen creatures. But God doesn’t care about the level to which we give ourselves to Him—He just cares that we try. And our effort is simply enough for Him.

Here are some saints who know recovery well, and whose intercession can be a comfort for us on our healing journeys.

St. Mary of Egypt

St. Mary was born sometime in the 4th or 5th century, and was known to be a public prostitute. She experienced prolonged years of “insatiable lust”, and it’s believed some of these actions may have been forced upon others at times. She experienced a radical conversion when she was in Jerusalem for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and, when trying to enter a church, she felt a strong force pulling her away from the door. Realizing the depth of her sin, she began crying out to the Lord in sorrow. Seeing an image of Mary nearby, she humbly implored her help, asking Mary to help her to enter the church and venerate the relic of the True Cross. Trusting Mary’s intercession, she tried again, and was able to enter without any resistance. After venerating the Cross, she returned to Mary in thanksgiving. It was during her prayer she felt the Spirit prompting her that if she crossed the Jordan River, she would find peace. She lived there in solitude for 47 years, and died peacefully after receiving Holy Communion, recounting the words of Simeon: “Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation."

St. Mary, how many times have we too searched to quench our thirst in broken places; to try and satisfy a longing that only God could fill? How many times have we disregarded the souls of others and used them as tools for our own pleasure? Help us, St. Mary, to pray for the souls we’ve affected: all the sons and daughters in the porn industry, all the people we’ve fantasized about, all the ones we’ve hurt in person, and all those who have hurt us. May we all rejoice in the Heavenly Kingdom together, our souls finally filled—our thirsts finally quenched. Amen.

St. Augustine

St. Augustine of Hippo was a theologian, bishop, rhetorician, and convert to the Catholic Faith. He was born in 354 Algeria, to a non-believing father and a devout Catholic mother. Although his mother enrolled him in catechumen classes at an early age, St. Augustine had a brilliant mind, and desired a life of wealth, fame, and success. These temptations quickly led to a life away from God and into idolatry, lust, alcoholism, and heresy. He experienced a continuously restless heart, but each time he would search for relief—either in different philosophies like Manichaeism or in worldly pleasures like sex, stealing, and drinking—he would become disillusioned and leave unsatisfied. This search ended when he found Christianity, and his heart finally found rest: he was baptized into the Catholic Church at the age of 33. He was ordained just four years later in 391, and proclaimed a bishop in 395. His Confessions is one of the most popular works within the Church, and an inspiring testament to his recovery, his mother’s intercession, and the merciful love of God.

St. Augustine, you know our hearts cannot rest until they rest in the Lord. You experienced the passing pleasures of the world, and found the road to recovery in a radical, transformative way. Now, we too on this journey with the Lord, are seeking the same rest you have in Heaven, face-to-face with the Father. Help us to never tire in pursuing the Lord. Help us to recognize this temporal world for what it is: a journey of sanctification—a training in love. 

St. Dymphna

Born in 7th century Ireland, St. Dymphna was daughter to a pagan king and Christian woman, who secretly baptized and raised her in the faith. Her mother tragically died when Dymphna was little, sending her father into a desolation of grief and mental illness. Out of this deep loss and yearning for his late wife, her father sadly turned his gaze to Dymphna, wishing to marry someone who resembled her mother. Dymphna fled her father’s plans with the help of her guardian and confessor, Fr. Gerebernus, and a few loyal friends in modern-day Belgium. Her father eventually tracked her down, and when she refused to marry him, he ordered her execution out of rage. At just 15 years old, St. Dymphna was martyred, along with Fr. Gerebernus, and tradition tells us that her own father beheaded her after his executioner refused. She is the patroness of mental illness, anxiety, emotional distress, and victims of sexual abuse.

St. Dymphna, you suffered deeply at a young age. The grief of losing your mother, fleeing your home, and experiencing abuse from your father is unimaginable. You know what it is to cry out to the Lord in desolation, and your cry of faith has now returned you to His loving embrace. Help us to forgive those who have harmed us, physically and emotionally. Help us to forgive ourselves for the harm we’ve caused ourselves and others. Help us to forgive the Lord for anything we may be angry, hurt, or betrayed by, recognizing that His love is greater than all the pain, suffering, and desolation this world offers. May we rejoice with you in Heavenly song, with our persecutors at our side. 

Jacob

Jacob’s story in the Old Testament is one of suffering, deception, prolonged woundedness—from his own sins and the sins of others. Perhaps the turning point of his life was the night he went into the desert. After fleeing the ill-treatment of his father-in-law, and fearing an attack from his brother, Jacob camped in a spot chosen by angels. Here, alone in the wilderness, Jacob was visited by a stranger and they fought (wrestled) all night. At one point, the stranger severely injured Jacob’s hip, but he still persevered. Strangely enough, Jacob sensed the stranger was of God, and asked them to bless him before departing. It was then that God revealed Himself to Jacob, called him by a new name, and blessed him. Even through the struggle and the pain, Jacob blessed the place and honored it because he had seen the face of God. That same day when his brother showed up, and Jacob was expecting violence, he was instead met by an embrace of love as the brother glorified God together.

Jacob, in your weakness, you were strong. In your suffering—when you didn’t understand, when you couldn’t make sense of what was happening—you remained close to the Lord. Help us to wrestle the Lord in faith as you did. Help us to trust Him enough to bring our frustrations, our shortcomings, our suffering to Him. Help us to see God in our struggles, and to glorify Him as you did when He meets us in our anguish.

St. Mary Magdalene

And of course, Mary Magdalene. The woman who was delivered. The woman who suffered with Our Lord on the Cross. The woman who saw the Resurrected Christ, and recognized Him when He called her by name.

St. Mary Magdalene, help us to rejoice in the Resurrection. Help us to glory in the healing power of God. Help us to see the places we have been, claim them as merciful love, and walk with the Lord on the path of recovery, healing, and everlasting redemption.

These of course are just some of many saints who are ready to intercede for you within recovery. But hopefully, these five can help introduce you to others, like St. Monica—mother of St. Augustine—or St. Therese and St. Teresa of Calcutta, who both endured prolonged periods of darkness and desolation in prayer.

No matter which saints you seek, all will lead you back to the Divine Healer Himself. The Lord is always ready to take your wounded heart into His own and love you, not as a broken son or daughter, but as a restored member of His holy kingdom—as a future saint.

Share your favorite saints and intercessors in the comments :)