The Power of a Wife’s Prayers: Praying for Your Husband

One of the greatest gifts a wife can give her husband is something that costs nothing, can be given every day, and may often remain completely hidden:

her prayers.

Marriage brings many joys, but it also brings responsibilities, worries, sacrifices, and crosses. Your husband may carry burdens that he does not always talk about—the responsibility of providing for his family, making difficult decisions, protecting his home, remaining strong in his faith, and resisting the many temptations of the world.

As his wife, you may not be able to solve every problem he faces.

But you can pray for him.

And never underestimate what God can accomplish through the faithful prayers of a wife.

Pray for the Man He Is—Not Just the Man You Want Him to Become

It can be tempting to pray, “Lord, please change my husband.”

Instead, begin by praying:

“Lord, make my husband the man You created him to be—and make me the wife You created me to be.”

Prayer should not become a way of asking God to make our spouse conform to our wishes. It is an act of placing the person we love into God's hands.

Ask God to strengthen what is good in your husband, heal what is wounded, protect what is vulnerable, and lead him toward holiness.

And while you pray for God to work in his heart, allow God to work in yours as well.

Pray for His Strength

Your husband needs spiritual strength.

Pray that when he is tired, God strengthens him.

When he is discouraged, God gives him hope.

When he is tempted, God gives him fortitude.

When he doesn't know what to do, the Holy Ghost gives him wisdom.

When he feels the weight of responsibility, ask St. Joseph to stand beside him.

A wife's prayer can simply be:

“Jesus, give my husband the strength he needs today.”

Pray for His Faith

One of the most important intentions a wife can have is for her husband's soul.

Pray that he will love Our Lord.

Pray that he will remain close to the sacraments.

Pray that he will have courage to lead his family toward Heaven.

Pray that he will seek God's will before his own.

Pray that he will become a saint.

Ultimately, the greatest desire of a Catholic husband and wife should be to help one another reach Heaven.

Pray for His Work

Whether your husband works outside the home, owns a business, performs physical labor, or carries other responsibilities, offer his work to God.

Pray for his protection.

Pray for wisdom in his decisions.

Pray for honesty and integrity.

Pray that God provides for your family's needs.

And pray that your husband remembers that his work has a greater purpose when it is offered to God.

You might quietly pray as he leaves:

“St. Joseph, go with him today. Protect him, guide him, and help him in his work.”

Pray for Protection from Temptation

The world places many temptations before husbands and fathers.

Pray for your husband's eyes, thoughts, friendships, decisions, and soul.

Ask St. Michael the Archangel to defend him in spiritual battle.

Ask St. Joseph to help him remain pure, courageous, and faithful.

Ask Our Lady to place her mantle around him.

And ask his Guardian Angel to protect and guide him throughout the day.

Pray Instead of Criticizing

There will be moments in every marriage when spouses frustrate one another.

Before criticizing, complaining, or speaking out of anger, try praying first.

“Jesus, help me see my husband through Your eyes.”

This doesn't mean ignoring serious problems or never having necessary conversations. Marriage requires honesty and communication.

But prayer can change the spirit in which we approach those conversations.

Sometimes God begins repairing a difficult situation by first softening our own hearts.

Pray for Him When He Doesn't Know You're Praying

There is something especially beautiful about hidden prayer.

When your husband is sleeping, bless him quietly.

When he leaves for work, say a prayer.

When you fold his clothes, pray for him.

When you make his dinner, offer a Hail Mary for him.

When he is having a difficult day, offer a small sacrifice for him.

He may never know how many prayers you have offered.

But God knows.

Small acts of love offered quietly can become powerful prayers.

Entrust Him to Our Lady

A wife does not have to carry every worry about her husband herself.

Give him to Mary.

Say:

“Blessed Mother, I entrust my husband to you. Be a mother to him. Protect him, guide him, and always lead him to your Son.”

Our Lady understands a wife's heart. She loved St. Joseph, shared the responsibilities of family life with him, and trusted completely in God's providence.

Ask her to help you love your husband with patience, tenderness, strength, and faith.

Ask St. Joseph to Help Him

St. Joseph is a particularly beautiful intercessor for husbands and fathers.

He was:

• A faithful husband.

• A protector of his family.

• A hardworking provider.

• A man of silence and prayer.

• A man obedient to God's will.

Ask St. Joseph to help your husband become the man God is calling him to be.

And ask St. Joseph to protect your marriage.

A Wife’s Daily Prayer for Her Husband

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of my husband.

Please watch over him today. Give him strength when he is tired, courage when he is discouraged, wisdom when he must make decisions, and peace when he is burdened.

Protect his mind, his heart, his body, and his soul. Keep him close to You and strengthen him against every temptation.

Bless his work and provide for our family's needs.

Help him become the husband, father, and Catholic man You created him to be.

And Lord, change my heart too. Help me to encourage him rather than discourage him, to forgive quickly, to speak with charity, and to love him faithfully.

Bless our marriage and help us lead one another toward Heaven.

Blessed Mother, cover my husband with your mantle.

St. Joseph, protect and guide him.

St. Michael, defend him.

His Guardian Angel, watch over him.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, keep our marriage close to Your Heart.

Amen.

Pray for Your Husband Every Day

You don't need to pray for an hour.

Begin with one minute.

When you wake up:

“Jesus, protect my husband today.”

When he leaves:

“St. Joseph, go with him.”

When you are frustrated:

“Lord, help me love him well.”

Before you sleep:

“Jesus, thank You for my husband. Bring us both closer to You.”

A strong Catholic marriage is not built only through affection, communication, and hard work.

It is also built on its knees.

So pray for your husband.

Encourage him.

Offer sacrifices for him.

Entrust him to Our Lady and St. Joseph.

And above all, pray that after walking through this life together, you will one day stand together before God in Heaven.