Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain, in which there are sudden and recurrent seizures. The seizures can be mild to severe, and they are often unpredictable.
Because epilepsy is a chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide, the Epilepsy Foundation offers a wide range of resources for people living with the condition. One of these resources is a prayer list that can help you pray specifically for those who suffer from epilepsy.
If you have epilepsy or know someone with this condition, consider adding them to your prayer list as well as any other people who may need your prayers today.
St Valentine Prayer For Epilepsy
St. Valentine is the patron saint of epilepsy and there has been a superstition that by sending someone with epilepsy a card, they will be cured. This is not true but it is believed that because St. Valentine was thrown into jail for marrying people against the laws of Rome, he miraculously healed his jailer’s daughter who began to visit him regularly in prison. It was later discovered she had epilepsy and somehow was cured by St. Valentine himself after her frequent visits to him in prison.
If someone mentions Valentine’s day , you probably think of romance, flowers and chocolates and maybe even Cupid’s arrow. While the connection with epilepsy is far less recognised, we thought St Valentine was due some recognition this month.
There are many theories to explain St. Valentine’s connection to epilepsy and it can be tricky to get to the heart of its origins. Historians offer different theories to explain how St. Valentine became an ‘epilepsy saint’.
St. Valentine’s illness
Patron Saint of: Engaged couples, Beekeepers, Fainting, Epilepsy, Happy Marriages, Love, Lovers, Young people. Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Some have suggested that there is a strong phonetic similarity in the German language between the words ‘Valentine’ and ‘fallen’ – epilepsy was known as ‘the falling disease’ for centuries. This strengthened St. Valentine’s connection in the German language which lead to alternative terms for epilepsy such as ‘St. Valentine’s illness’ and ‘St. Valentine’s affliction’ although we cannot be sure of this.
One theory suggests that St. Valentine supposedly cured someone of epilepsy — a young woman engaged to be married. Another legend tells the story of a bishop named Valentine von Terni who helped the son of a Roman orator and stopped his seizures.
Did you know?
There are more than 40 named ‘epilepsy saints’ including John the Baptist who was known to heal people from spasms or seizures. The only other illness with as much saintly association was the plague.
The art of seizures
Many works of Christian art have portrayed St. Valentine with people with epilepsy. The first example featured in The Nuremberg Chronicle, first printed in 1493. The paintings often showed the saint with a boy or man having a seizure or recovering from a seizure.
Surprisingly, neuroscientists have pointed out that epilepsy depicted in art is often clinically accurate. Specifically the extended legs and arms and arched backs of babies with infantile spasms, a form of epilepsy seen in babies.
How did he help people with epilepsy?
The debate that surrounds St. Valentine and epilepsy is not just about who he was or why he is connected to the condition, but also whether or not he is beneficial to people with epilepsy.
Throughout history St. Valentine was called upon by thousands of people with epilepsy , mainly Christians. Stories would have spread and enhanced his reputation for curing people and increased the amount of people turning to him for help. If the connection lasted throughout the ages, it may explain why he became such an important patron.
There’s still a lot about epilepsy that we don’t fully understand. It’s possible that in ancient times, when even less was known about the causes and possible treatments for epilepsy, that people would turn to a figure of hope like St. Valentine when they could not rely on the latest developments in science, genomics and neurology that we do today.
Epilepsy is a health condition that is so common, and I pray in the mighty name of Jesus, that you will cure my loved one of epilepsy.
Dear Lord, I pray for my loved one who has epilepsy. I pray that you will heal them of this disease and make sure it does not return. I pray that you will protect them and keep them safe from harm.
I pray for their health, both physical and mental. Please take away any pain they may be experiencing in their body due to seizures or other ailments related to epilepsy. And please heal any damage done by the disorder in their mind or spirit as well!
I ask that You would give peace both now while they are alive as well as eternal rest when they pass on into heaven someday soon (or far into the future). Let there be no more fear or uncertainty about life after death because You are with us always – whether we know it yet or not!
Oh God, I pray in the mighty name of Jesus, that You will free him/her from seizures.
I pray in the mighty name of Jesus that you will be freed from seizures. I pray for a healing of your body, mind, and spirit. I ask for the power of God to come upon you and make you whole. I ask that You will heal this person today, in Jesus’ name!
I pray that they receive healing today and are able to live a long life filled with joy and peace. May they be blessed by God today, amen!
I also pray for myself: may my faith grow stronger every day; may my family be protected from harm; may we have all things needed so that we may live healthy lives; may my loved ones be protected from harm; may our marriage grow stronger each day through Christ’s love alone? Amen
Father as we join our faith together for healing for my loved one with epilepsy,
Father, we come before you in the name of Jesus Christ. We are thankful for the gift of love which your Son has given us and for all that he has done to bring us closer to you.
We pray today that you would shine your light upon our loved one with epilepsy, who has been struggling with this condition for so long.
Please heal them so they can live a healthy life without fear or pain. Please give them peace, comfort and joy through their struggles until they see you face-to-face in heaven again someday soon!
I declare today that my loved one with epilepsy receive healing today in the mighty name of Jesus.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray that all things you have prayed for to be healed will come to pass.
I believe in the power of faith and prayer, because God is a healer and can do amazing things for those who believe in Him!
Healing does not require a doctor’s prescription or pills to help your loved ones get well again; it is done by calling on Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, believing that He died on a cross as your substitute (2 Corinthians 5:21) so you could be free from sin’s penalty–death! Because He lives today, we can also live forever with Him!
I declare today that my loved one with epilepsy receive healing today in the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord!
Father, I pray that this prayer finds you well and blesses you. And let us bless the Lord together in unity. In Jesus name Amen
Blessed be the Lord, who has granted us a new day. I pray that this prayer finds you well and blesses you. And let us bless the Lord together in unity. In Jesus name Amen.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day and all the days of our lives. We pray that you would keep us safe from harm and bless us with good health in mind and body. We thank you for the miracles that happen every day, and especially for the miracle of your love that makes life worth living.
We pray for our beloved friends and family who suffer from epilepsy. We know how hard it is to live with epilepsy and we want to help them find peace in their lives. Please help them find comfort during these difficult times and give them strength to overcome their disabilities. Give them hope that things will get better soon!
We ask these things through Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you in unity forever. Amen!
Epilepsy is not a death sentence.
Epilepsy is not a death sentence. It’s true that epilepsy may be associated with sudden unexpected death, but the majority of deaths related to seizures occur in people who have been seizure-free for years or even decades. The most important thing you can do is take your medication exactly as prescribed and make sure all of your health conditions are being treated by your physician. And remember—no matter how difficult it may be for you, epilepsy should never stop you from following your dreams!
I thank God for the answer to our prayers. We may not see it yet but I believe that by His stripes our loved ones with epilepsy shall be healed.
Catholic Prayer For Epilepsy
Thank You Jesus For Who You Are. Thank You Jesus For Loving Me. Dear, Lord Jesus Please Forgive Me Of All My Sins So I Can Pray With A Clean Heart,And I Forgive Everyone Who Hurt Me And I Bless Them In Jesus Name Amen. Epilepsy !! I Renounce You!! I Come Out Of Agreement With You Now And Forever You Have No Authority Over Me I Am Free From You In Jesus Strong Name Amen. Spirit Of Fear!! I Rebuke You!! I Will Not!! Fear. Fear Is Not Of Faith I Am A Faith Person , And You Will Obey Me. GO!! To The Pit Now In Jesus Name Spirit Of Epilepsy!! ,And All Fits!! Convulsions !! Seizures !! And All Abnormalities!! I REBUKE YOU !!! Go From Me Now To Where The Lord Jesus Sends You In Jesus Strong Name Amen You No Longer Have A Place In Me Epilepsy And His Helpers Will Leave Me Now!! In Jesus Name Amen. Thank You Jesus For Healing Me . And I Receive My Healing In Jesus Name Amen. Holy Spirit Fill Me Up Fill The Voids In Me Continue To Use Me And Set Me Free In Jesus Name Amen!
Short Catholic Prayer For Epilepsy :
Prayer for Epilepsy to St. Genesius
Lord Jesus,
you took pity on the blind Bartimaeus
and healed him;
you raised Lazarus from the dead
and freed Mary Magdalen from seven
devils to count her among your disciples.
You made the blind see, the deaf hear,
the dumb speak, the lame walk,
you cleansed lepers and cast out demons.
You preached the Good News to the poor
and bless those who are faithful to you.
Through the intercession of your
faithful martyr, Genesius,
grant your healing and consolation to the sick.
Give them the strength to carry their Cross
in union with you.
(We remember in particular _________.)
Help us to remain faithful to you in health
and in suffering, conformed to your Cross;
open our hearts to your will
so your grace may transform our lives.
Patron Saint For Epilepsy
It’s a little known fact that while St. Valentine is widely associated with love and the giving of ‘valentines’, he is also the patron saint of people with epilepsy.
If someone mentions Valentine’s day , you probably think of romance, flowers and chocolates and maybe even Cupid’s arrow. While the connection with epilepsy is far less recognised, we thought St Valentine was due some recognition this month.
There are many theories to explain St. Valentine’s connection to epilepsy and it can be tricky to get to the heart of its origins. Historians offer different theories to explain how St. Valentine became an ‘epilepsy saint’.
St. Valentine’s illness
Some have suggested that there is a strong phonetic similarity in the German language between the words ‘Valentine’ and ‘fallen’ – epilepsy was known as ‘the falling disease’ for centuries. This strengthened St. Valentine’s connection in the German language which lead to alternative terms for epilepsy such as ‘St. Valentine’s illness’ and ‘St. Valentine’s affliction’ although we cannot be sure of this.
One theory suggests that St. Valentine supposedly cured someone of epilepsy — a young woman engaged to be married. Another legend tells the story of a bishop named Valentine von Terni who helped the son of a Roman orator and stopped his seizures.
Did you know?
There are more than 40 named ‘epilepsy saints’ including John the Baptist who was known to heal people from spasms or seizures. The only other illness with as much saintly association was the plague.
The art of seizures
Many works of Christian art have portrayed St. Valentine with people with epilepsy. The first example featured in The Nuremberg Chronicle, first printed in 1493. The paintings often showed the saint with a boy or man having a seizure or recovering from a seizure.
Surprisingly, neuroscientists have pointed out that epilepsy depicted in art is often clinically accurate. Specifically the extended legs and arms and arched backs of babies with infantile spasms, a form of epilepsy seen in babies.
How did he help people with epilepsy?
The debate that surrounds St. Valentine and epilepsy is not just about who he was or why he is connected to the condition, but also whether or not he is beneficial to people with epilepsy.
Throughout history St. Valentine was called upon by thousands of people with epilepsy , mainly Christians. Stories would have spread and enhanced his reputation for curing people and increased the amount of people turning to him for help. If the connection lasted throughout the ages, it may explain why he became such an important patron.
There’s still a lot about epilepsy that we don’t fully understand. It’s possible that in ancient times, when even less was known about the causes and possible treatments for epilepsy, that people would turn to a figure of hope like St. Valentine when they could not rely on the latest developments in science, genomics and neurology that we do today.
Epilepsy facts and myths
Did you know that the Greek philosopher Hippocrates (460-377 BC) was the first person to think that epilepsy starts in the brain? Find out more interesting facts and debunked myths around epilepsy and seizures.
- Most seizures happen suddenly without warning, last a short time (a few seconds or minutes) and stop by themselves.
- Seizures can be different for each person.
- Just knowing that someone has epilepsy does not tell you what their epilepsy is like, or what seizures they have.
- Calling seizures ‘major’ or ‘minor’ does not tell you what happens to the person during the seizure. The names of seizures used on this page describe what happens during the seizure.
- Some people have more than one type of seizure, or their seizures may not fit clearly into the types described on this page. But even if someone’s seizures are unique, they usually follow the same pattern each time they happen.
- Not all seizures involve jerking or shaking movements. Some people seem vacant, wander around or are confused during a seizure.
- Some people have seizures when they are awake, called ‘awake seizures’. Some people have seizures while they are asleep, called ‘asleep seizures’ (or ‘nocturnal seizures’). The names ‘awake’ and ‘asleep’ do not explain the type of seizures, only when they happen.
- Injuries can happen during seizures, but many people don’t hurt themselves and don’t need to go to hospital or see a doctor.
About epilepsy and seizures
- Epilepsy is a neurological condition – which means it affects the brain. It is also a physical condition, because the body is affected when someone has a seizure.
- Epilepsy is described as the tendency to have repeated seizures that start in the brain. Epilepsy is usually only diagnosed after the person has had more than one seizure.
- The Greek philosopher Hippocrates (460-377 BC) was the first person to think that epilepsy starts in the brain.
- Anyone can have a seizure if the circumstances are right, but most people do not have seizures under ‘normal conditions’.
- Seizures used to be called ‘fits’ or ‘attacks’. Seizures happen when there is a sudden interruption in the way the brain normally works. In between seizures the brain functions normally.
- Epilepsy is a variable condition that affects different people in different ways.
- There are over 40 different types of seizure. What seizures look like can vary. For example someone may go ‘blank’ for a couple of seconds, they may wander around and be quite confused, or they may fall to the ground and shake. So not all seizures involve shaking.
- Some people are unconscious during their seizures and so they do not remember what happens to them. It can be really useful to have a description of what happened from someone who saw their seizure to help with diagnosis. This is sometimes called an ‘eyewitness account’.
- Different epilepsies are due to many different underlying causes. The causes can be complex, and sometimes hard to identify. Sometimes a cause for epilepsy can be found (for example a person may start having seizures due to a brain injury) or there may be a genetic tendency. Some researchers now believe that the chance of developing epilepsy is probably always genetic to some extent.
Epilepsy statistics
- One in 20 people will have a one-off epileptic seizure at some point in their life (although this does not necessarily mean that they have epilepsy).
- One in 50 people will have epilepsy at some time in their life (not everyone with epilepsy will have it for life).
- Around 87 people are diagnosed with epilepsy every day.
- Over 600,000 people in the UK have epilepsy. That’s about one in every 100 people. There are around 60 million people with epilepsy in the world.
- Up to 3% of people with epilepsy will be affected by flashing lights (called photosensitive epilepsy), so most people with epilepsy do not have seizures triggered by flashing lights.
Epilepsy as stigma
Ideas that appear very strange to us have shaped views of epilepsy throughout our history. A number of creative, but mostly ineffective cures have been attempted.
Older writings testify to the fact that persons with epileptic seizures have been discriminated against throughout history. We can hardly imagine what it was like to live with such seizures in an era when people believed that these were caused by evil spirits and that the spirits could affect or infect others.
A well-known neurologist has claimed that «the history of epilepsy can be summarised as 4 000 years of ignorance, apprehension and stigma, followed by 100 years of knowledge, apprehension and stigma». In contemporary Norway, both children and adults with epilepsy can tell stories of exclusion because of apprehension and fear in society. The myths surrounding epilepsy are enduring, and many of them still persist. Doctors and health personnel should seek to de-mystify epilepsy and thus help improve the patients’ quality of life.
Many designations
Throughout history, epilepsy has been known by many names. The term epilepsy was introduced by Hippocrates and is derived from Greek «to seize, grab hold of».
Many other designations have been used: the sacred disease, the great disease, the falling sickness and many others (in Norwegian: fallsott, brotfall, fang, fangkrampe, ilske, brot, krampeslag, slau, begavning), including the wicked/evil sickness and lunacy.
The term «the falling sickness» reflects the belief that during a seizure, the sufferer would fall to the ground towards Hell and the Devil. «Fang» or «fangkrampe» refers to the belief that the creatures of the underworld would grab hold of or embrace the sufferer, and the cramps are his or her attempts to struggle free of this embrace.
The designation «begavning» («gift») testifies to the fact that epilepsy also was associated with special abilities, including the ability to cure others. In Norway, Knut Rasmussen Nordgarden (1792 – 1876) is probably the best known figure. He lived in Vestre Gausdal and went by the name Knut the Wise. People came to him from far and wide to be cured of illness.
«The sacred disease» was used because people also believed that epileptics had contact with God. One example is Christina the Astonishing (1150 – 1224), also known as Christina Mirabilis. She was a poor, orphaned peasant girl from Belgium who suffered a serious epileptic seizure at a young age. After the seizure people believed that she was dead and proceeded to bury her. Suddenly Christina called out: «The stench of the human sin is unbearable to me!» Later in life she performed a number of miraculous acts. She has become a symbol of human suffering and of the need to banish stigma and prejudice.
The term «lunacy» stems from a notion that mental disorders were closely linked to the phases of the moon. In Norway, the diagnosis insania epileptica (epileptic insanity) was used for some time. In 1925, altogether 223 persons were hospitalised with this diagnosis. The term «hysteroepilepsy» was coined by the French neurologist Jean Martin Charcot to describe seizures that neurotic patients suffered after having observed epileptic seizures in patients on the same ward.
Numerous causal explanations
In Antiquity, epilepsy was regarded as a sacred disease that had been inflicted by the gods. The treatment consisted in sacrifices and religious rituals presided over by priests.
For centuries, it was believed that epilepsy was caused by evil spirits, goblins and demons («morbus daemonicus»). Epilepsy was also linked to witchcraft. A handbook from 1494, Malleus Maleficarum (The Hammer of Witches), claims that witches had special characteristics, including epileptic seizures.
Nordic folk tales from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries show that epilepsy was thought to be a result of incidents during pregnancy. The pregnant woman should avoid being «negligent» – otherwise the child would suffer from the falling sickness. Pregnant women needed to carefully avoid anything that had collapsed. For example, they should not climb over a collapsed fence, not witness anybody who was unravelling a weave and not drop any object on the ground. If they saw someone falling over, they should invariably help them back up on their feet in order to avoid the forces of magic. In the village of Slätthög in Småland, Sweden, it was said that one should take care not to pour a child’s bathwater directly out onto the ground. If so, the water would reach the creatures of the underworld, who would later seek revenge by inflicting epilepsy on the child.
It was also a widespread notion that epilepsy could be God’s punishment for evil acts perpetrated by the sufferer or his or her ancestors.
Numerous methods of treatment
Christianisation reinforced the belief in healing by religious rituals. The New Testament describes how Jesus healed a boy suffering from «lunacy» i.e. epilepsy: «And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.». The most frequently used cures included prayer, fasting, sacrifices and exorcisms (driving out of demons). Certain saints were also invoked.
«Setting the disease into the ground» was a common treatment principle. To conduct diseases into the ground, the patient could, for example, place on the ground an arm that was twitching during a seizure. «Shoving», i.e. pulling the patient through a natural opening, such as a stone crevice or a hollow tree, could also help prevent seizures.
It was also believed that carrying an amulet or a satchel filled with dried animal organs around the neck could have a healing effect. Other forms of treatment included castration, bloodletting, leeches and craniotomy (to release evil spirits), ashes from burnt clothing worn during seizures, herbs, various metals, human and animal blood, urine and ground-up human skulls. The methods were ineffective at best, and directly harmful at worst.
In the early days of printing, herbal manuals played an important role. The books would often be blessed by the local bishop, who would specify that «this herb will help – God willing».
Bromide salts were introduced in the treatment of epilepsy in Norway in the 1930s and remained in use until around 1950. The salts were often added to bread. The practice continued despite the fact that other and more effective drugs had been introduced. The bromide salts reduced the seizures but could have serious adverse effects, such as large boils on the skin. Unfortunately, history shows that once a treatment method has been introduced, it may be a long time before it is abandoned even though it has been proven to be harmful.
Lobotomy was used as a treatment method in Norwegian psychiatric hospitals from the 1940s until 1957. It is less known that persons with epilepsy were also subjected to this treatment, which resulted in varying degrees of brain damage. Some of those who did not suffer from epilepsy beforehand developed post-operative epilepsy as well as other signs of frontal lobe injuries.
«Murderous and morally depraved»
Through many centuries, certain forms of epileptic seizures, for example complex partial seizures characterised by aloofness and strange behaviour, were interpreted as madness. When psychiatric asylums were established in the 1800s, many epileptics were sent there.
In the late 19th century epilepsy was regarded as a degenerative disease. «The so-called epileptic degeneration includes development of an imbalance of the mind, moral defects, mendacity, spinelessness, often dipsomania and a predilection for vagrancy».
Dell described the characteristics of persons with epilepsy thus: the patient was «insane and malevolent with a proclivity for unpredictable seizures of violence and madness, perhaps murderous tendencies and surely moral depravity». Hyperreligiosity, hypergraphia and hyposexuality have also been regarded as features of the epileptic personality.
Marked by the social stigma that accompanied the diagnosis, people with epilepsy have though all ages had difficulty in finding work. Many were forced to beg, others took casual work and others were on poor relief. In the world at large, unemployment remains high among people with epilepsy, and discrimination in the labour market continues to be common.
Genetic cleansing and discrimination
The German psychiatrist Hans Berger, who discovered electroencephalography (EEG) in 1924, was the first to show that epilepsy was associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Unfortunately, this did not help change people’s view of epilepsy to any appreciable extent.
In Germany in the 1920s it was assumed that 80 % of those who were living in the epilepsy colonies had a hereditary form of epilepsy. This era was marked by ideas of racial hygiene. Persons with hereditary diseases, including epilepsy, were to be barred from having children. Forced sterilisations and extermination of all disabled children under the age of three were initiated. In practice, all disabled people up to the age of seventeen were killed.
In the period 1907 – 1964, altogether 60 000 persons with epilepsy were sterilised, including 30 in Norway. In Norway until 1969, everybody was obligated to disclose his or her epilepsy before marriage. If such information was withheld, the marriage could be annulled.
The rectification of myths and misconceptions about epilepsy has been a slow process. To this day, many experience the prejudices as an additional burden which is as hard to cope with as the epilepsy itself.
