Healing Prayers
A Prayer for Healing Victims of Abuse
God of endless love, ever caring, ever strong, always present, always just: You gave your only Son to save us by his blood on the cross.
Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace, join to your own suffering the pain of all who have been hurt in body, mind, and spirit by those who betrayed the trust placed in them.
Hear the cries of our brothers and sisters who have been gravely harmed, and the cries of those who love them. Soothe their restless hearts with hope, steady their shaken spirits with faith.
Grant them justice for their cause, enlightened by your truth. Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts, heal your people’s wounds and transform brokenness into wholeness.
Grant us the courage and wisdom, humility, and grace, to act with justice. Breathe wisdom into our prayers and labors. Grant that all harmed by abuse may find peace in justice. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen. by The Paulist Center
A Prayer for Healing
Strengthen me, Holy One, on my journey through illness; Steady my steps on this difficult path. Bring me through signposts of remedies and therapies, Secure in Your guidance as I face these changes You are my Strength and my Hope, The Author of my healing. You are my Promise and my Courage, Guiding my helpers as I move toward healing. Guard the encouragement of simple improvements, Every day praising Your loving concern. Make me Your partner, Divine Physician, Restoring me for Your Name’s sake. From Flames to Heaven: New Psalms for Healing and Praise
Book Reviews and Commentaries
A Letter to the Pope: The Keeper of the Nest by Jennifer Wortham, Dr.PH. Reviewed by Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D.
Pray Your Way Through Forgivingness: Reflections, Prayers and Actions for Healing by Nicole Sotelo Reviewed by Alexandra Greenwald National Catholic Reporter
Healing the Wound of Sexual Abuse: Reading the Bible with Survivors by Elaine A. Heath Reviewed by Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D. Profiles in Catholicism
Abuse of Trust: Healing from Sexual Abuse by Allen Hebert and Denae Heber Reviewed by Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D. Profiles in Catholicism
Acts of Recovery: The Story of One Man’s ongoing healing from sexual abuse by a priest by Michael Hoffman Reviewed by Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D. Profiles in Catholicism
Glimmers of Grace: Moments of Peace and Healing Following Sexual Abuse by Faith Hakesley Reviewed by Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D. Profiles in Catholicism
Healing the Church: Diagnosing and Treating the Clergy Sexual Abuse Crisis by Sr. Nuala Kenny, MD Reviewed by Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D. Profiles in Catholicism
Toward Healing and Renewal: Sexual Abuse of Minors Held at the Pontifical Gregorian University Edited by Charles J. Scicluna, Hans Zollner. and David John Ayotte Reviewed by Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D.Profiles in Catholicism
Healing General Articles/Commentaries
Hope and healing at the Church’s heart: a new approach to helping abuse survivors by Peter Beer and Hans Zollner The Tablet
Evaluating Towards Healing as an Alternative to Litigation as Redress for Survivors of Clerical Child Sexual Abuse by Timothy Matthews Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 26:3, 333-340
April 8 World Day for Prevention and Healing from Sexual Abuse by Mike Hoffman Profiles in Catholicism
Report on the Independent Reconciliation Program for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond by Diocese of Richmond
A Model of Healing and Reconciliation: My Parents by Mike Hoffman Profiles in Catholicism
Making It Right At Home by Mike Hoffman Profiles in Catholicism
Healing in God’s Hands by Phillip Fry Profiles in Catholicism
Stages of Healing from Childhood Sexual Abuse by Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Spiritual Healing After Sexual Abuse by John Burger The Catholic World Report
Homecoming: Healing From Abuse by T. Pitt Green Catholic Education Resource Center
Healing from Childhood Sexual Abuse by Sharie Stines, Psy.D. PsychCenter
The Upside Down Room. Healing from Sexual Abuse by Sue Johnston Chabad Lubavitch Medical Center
Spiritual Healing for Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse by Dee Ann Miller, RN, BS AdvocateWeb
Healing From Clerical Sexual Abuse by: Allen Hebert Your Holy Family Ministries
In hopes of healing, abuse survivor shares his story by Dave Hrbacek Catholic News Service/CatholicPhilly
The Upside Down Room. Healing from Sexual Abuse by Sue Johnston Chanod
Indigenous artist finds healing with murals at Alberta Catholic schools by Wendy-Ann Clarke Catholic News Service via CatholicPhilly.com
Healing Medical Journal Articles/Commentaries
Healing from Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Theoretical Model by CB Draucker J Child Sex Abus. 2011 Jul-Aug; 20(4): 435–466.
Why Get Over It Isn't Enough for Victims of Clerical Sexual Abuse by Philippa Martyr Church Life Journal November 21, 2019
How Can We Help Victims of Clergy Abuse? by Romeo Vitelli Ph.D. Psychology Today Feb 27, 2019
The essence of healing from sexual violence: a qualitative metasynthesis. by Draucker CB, Martsolf DS, and others Research in Nursing & Health, 31 Jul 2009, 32(4):366-378
How Do Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Experience Formally Delivered Talking Therapy? A Systematic Review by Sarah Parry, Jane Simpson J Child Sex Abus. 2016 Oct;25(7):793-812.
Survivors Roundtable Discussion
Videos
Ninth Annual Hope and Healing Prayer Service
Rosary for Healing and Protection
How to begin the healing process after child sexual abuse
Healing Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church