In my last post on Friday, I talked about my accident and the injuries that I received from it, as well as the excellent care I received from the doctors and nurses at the Royal Alexandria Hospital. Since I am still suffering from a sore and stiff neck from said accident, I figured I would look up some saints to call on and decided to share my findings with you today.

The first saint I want to mention is Saint Ursicinus, who is the patron saint of stiff necks. He was a disciple who followed his abbot into exile from northern France in the seventh century. Here’s a prayer we can use to invoke his intercession:

O Holy Ursicinus, you who know the discomfort and pain of the body, be my swift intercessor. I ask for your prayers, particularly for the relief of this stiffness and soreness in my neck. Ease the tension, quiet the pain, and restore flexibility to my body, so that I may turn my attention fully to God’s will. Amen.

The next saint is St. Gemma Galgani, the patron saint of spinal pain. She developed spinal meningitis at age sixteen but was cured. She claimed it was due to her devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She later died young of tuberculosis and was canonized by 1940, and was also declared a Virgin. Here’s a prayer for her intercession for those who are suffering any type of spinal pain:

Dear St. Gemma, you bore immense suffering in your body, yet your faith shone brighter than your pain. Look upon me now as I struggle with the persistent discomfort and stiffness. Through the merit of your own suffering, pray to the Lord to grant me strength, patience, and a miraculous lessening of my burden. Help me to use this cross of pain for the salvation of my soul. Amen.

The next person I am praying to for intercession is Blessed Michael McGivney. Although he is not yet officially a Saint, he was beatified in 2020 after a miracle was attributed to his intercession, and we pray that a second miracle will lead to his canonization. As the founder of the Knights of Columbus, he dedicated his life to practical charity, particularly supporting families who were suffering from the illness or death of a loved one. I call upon Blessed Michael McGivney not just for physical healing, but for the patience and courage needed to endure this lingering recovery.

Here is the prayer we can use to invoke his intercession and support his cause for sainthood:

God, our Father, protector of the poor and defender of the widow and orphan, you called your priest, Blessed Michael McGivney, to be an apostle of Christian family life and to lead the young to the generous service of their neighbor.

Through his intercession, I humbly ask for the favor of my own healing from this persistent neck stiffness and pain.

May the inspiration of your servant prompt us to greater confidence in your love, and we humbly ask that you glorify Blessed Michael McGivney on earth according to the design of your holy will, granting the miracle needed for his canonization. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The next saint I am seeking intercession from in heaven is Saint Luke, the Evangelist. Before he became an evangelist, he was a physician and is considered the patron saint of doctors and healing today. He also wrote two books of the Bible, the one named after him and the book of Acts. Both were letters to a friend of his, whom he was trying to persuade to become a believer in Jesus. No doubt he took the time to interview the people he wrote about as his physician training would have demanded of him, including Saint Paul, whom he travelled with.

Invocation to St. Luke the Evangelist: St. Luke, beloved physician and faithful Evangelist, I ask for your intercession on behalf of all healers and for my own recovery. Grant wisdom to those who offer me counsel and care, that they may rightly discern the path to my recovery. Pray for the healing of my injury, that I may experience the wholeness which Christ offers to all who seek Him.

Amen.

To round out my list of intercessors, I’m calling upon St. Raphael the Archangel. His name is derived from the Hebrew words Rafa (to heal) and El (God), meaning “God Heals” or “Divine Healer.” He is one of the three Archangels named in scripture and features prominently in the Book of Tobit, where he guides Tobias on a journey and brings about the healing of his father’s blindness. Today, he is widely regarded as the patron of travelers, the sick, and those seeking healing for any physical, mental, or spiritual ailment. Calling upon St. Raphael is a way of asking God Himself to oversee and complete my recovery.

Here is the prayer we can use to invoke his intercession:

Invocation to St. Raphael the Archangel: Holy Archangel Raphael, whose name means ‘God Heals,’ guide me on my journey to recovery. Send the light of heaven to banish all darkness of pain and despair. Guard me from discouragement and lead me to the means of grace that will bring about my restoration. Heal me, O Lord, through the prayers of your faithful Archangel, that I may serve You better.

Amen.

As I continue to cope with the stiffness and soreness in my neck, I find immense comfort in knowing that there are so many powerful intercessors ready to “answer the call.” I humbly ask that you keep me in your prayers, asking God, through the intercession of St. Ursicinus, St. Gemma Galgani, St. Luke, St. Raphael, or Blessed Michael McGivney, to bring about my full healing and recovery. More importantly, let my search be a reminder to all of us: if you or someone you know is suffering—whether from a debilitating injury, chronic pain, or a difficult diagnosis—take a moment to call upon one of these Heavenly advocates. May their prayers bring comfort, hope, and true healing to all who are unwell.