Prayer

Sam prays to God for a sign.

While prayer is used by those of religious faith, it is also used as a means of communication between humans, angels, and God. Nephilim can also receive prayer. Long before they knew of the existence of angels, Sam prayed every day.

Episodes

2.13 Houses of the Holy

Sam admits to Dean that he prays every single day, and has for a long time.

4.18 The Monster at the End of This Book

Dean prays for Castiel's help when he is trying to stop Sam from meeting with Lilith.

"Well, I feel stupid doing this. But... I am fresh out of options. So please. I need some help. I'm praying, okay? Come on. Please."

5.18 Point of No Return

Looking to give himself to Michael as a vessel, Dean finds a preacher on the street and asks him to pray to the angels. Castiel hears this prayer and arrives, beating Dean in anger before taking him back to Bobby's.

6.03 The Third Man

Dean prays to Castiel, telling him:

"Well, let's give it a shot. Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray to Castiel to get his feathery ass down here."

After he gets no answer, he tries once more:

"Cas! Don't be a dick. We got ourselves a... plague-like situation down here, and... do you...do you copy?"

6.10 Caged Heat

In an effort to get Castiel's attention, Sam uses the plot to Raiders of the Lost Ark to get Castiel to meet him. When Castiel refuses to talk, Sam threatens to hunt him down and kill him, before pleading that he needs Castiel's help.

"Castiel, we need you. It’s important. Cas, we found something. It’s this gold box. Apparently Nazis were after it back in the day, someone opened it and their face melted off. I think it’s – ready for this – the Ark of the Covenant. Yeah. So…"

6.15 The French Mistake

While in the alternate universe, Dean prays to Cas.

"Dear Castiel, who art maybe running his ass away from Heaven, we pray that you have your ears on. So... Breaker breaker..."

Virgil kills "Misha" and uses his blood to contact Raphael, who orders him to return to the spot where he first crossed over at the time he crossed, so that Raphael can pull him back to their reality.

6.18 Frontierland

Needing to travel back in time to get phoenix ash to kill Eve, Dean prays to Castiel, only to be met by another angel, Rebecca.

"Castiel. The, uh, fate of the world is in the balance. So, come on down here. Come on, Cas, 'I Dream of Jeannie' your ass down here pronto. Please."

6.20 The Man Who Would Be King

Castiel prays to God for guidance, retelling his story of how he came to betray his friends in his war against Raphael.

6.21 Let It Bleed

After Ben and Lisa are taken by demons, Sam prays to Castiel to bring them back. Unbeknownst to Sam, Cas is next to him, unseen.

"Castiel, it's Sam. Um, so look, I don't know if you're in on this whole Ben-Lisa thing, but if you have any heart whatsoever, bring 'em back to us, man. C'mon. Please. I'm begging you. I am begging you, do you understand?"

7.01 Meet the New Boss

Castiel appears in response to Sam's prayer, when they want to try and get him to return all the souls to Purgatory.

"Hey, Castiel. Um... Maybe this is pointless. Look... I don't know if any part of you even cares, but, um, I still think you're one of us, deep down. I mean, way, way, way off the reservation, but... Look, we still have till dawn to stop this. Let us help. Please."

8.16 Remember the Titans

Some time after Sam completes the first of the trials to close the Gates of Hell, Dean prays to Castiel to watch over Sam.

"Cas, you got your ears on? Listen, you know I am not one for praying, 'cause in my book it's... it's the same as begging. But this is about Sam, so I need you to hear me. We are going into this deal blind... and I don't know what's ahead or what it's gonna bring for Sam. Now, he's covering pretty good, but I know that he is hurting, and this one was supposed to be on me. So, for all that we've been through, I'm asking you... you keep a lookout for my little brother, okay? Where the hell are you, man?

8.23 Sacrifice

In order to purify his blood for the demon cure ritual, Sam confesses his sins in a private prayer.

9.01 I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here

Dean prays for any angel to help him, and many of the recent fallen angels answer his call, including Gadreel pretending to be Ezekiel.

"Cas, are you there? Sammy's hurt. He's hurt, uh – he's hurt pretty bad. And, um... I know you think that I'm pissed at you, okay? But I don't care that the angels fell. So whatever you did or didn't do, it doesn't matter, okay? We'll work it out. Please, man, I need you here... Screw it. Okay, listen up. This one goes out to any angel with their ears on. This is Dean Winchester... And I need your help. The deal is this – Linwood Memorial Hospital... Randolph, New York. The first one who can help me gets my help in return... and you know that ain't nothin'. Hell, it's no secret that we haven't always seen eye to eye. But you know that I am good for my word. And, uh, I wouldn't be asking if I wasn't needing, so..."

9.03 I'm No Angel

The now-human Castiel overhears a woman praying in a church for the angels to heal her husband Mike. Castiel asks what she would do if she knew that no one was listening and God has left. She tells him that his lack of faith doesn't cancel out hers, and that someone is listening.

Castiel prays for aid.

9.09 Holy Terror

Castiel, seeking aid, tries many variations of prayer in hopes that God will listen to him. His calls for help are answered when the angel Muriel arrives at his motel room door.

"Okay. I'm... unfamiliar with this end of the process. Of course, no one may be listening, um, but I – I do need assistance. I have questions, and there seem to be no answers. I... I wouldn't presume to ask for help if I weren't desperate, but I need help. I'm lost. I need your guidance. I don't know how humans do it."

10.10 The Hunter Games

Castiel tells Claire Novak that angels are able to find those who pray to them. When Claire tells him she gave up praying a long time ago, he reveals that the prayer does not have to be formal, and that he could pick up on a "longing" coming from Claire.

11.01 Out of the Darkness, Into the Fire

Hexed by Rowena with her "attack dog" spell, Castiel goes into hiding after a confrontation with humans and prays to his brothers and sisters for help.

"Brothers, sisters... I know I have no right, I have no standing to ask you -- you anything, but these are desperate times, so ask I must. I confess my transgressions, and I will accept whatever punishment you dole out. Now, I... I ask you to help me. Please. Save me from doing worse."

11.02 Form and Void

After being infected by a rabid, Sam goes to a hospital chapel and prays to God for help.

"So... I know it's been a long time, but... Dean and I, we've -- we've been through a lot of bad. But this is different. This is my fault, and I don't know how to fix it. And if I have to die, I've made my peace with that, but... Please. Dean deserves better. Dean deserves a life. There are people out there, good people, who are going to suffer because of me, and I am not asking you to clean up my mess. Hell, I don't even know if you're out there, but... If you are... And if you can hear me, I, um... We need your help, God. We need to know there's hope. We need a sign."

11.07 Plush

Sam is in his room at the Bunker kneeling in front of his bed with his back to his open door, praying to God.

"So, uh... on the off chance that you're actually listening, uh... Uh, I gotta be real honest. The visions aren't making a whole lot of sense to me. Truth is... I don't know what's what. Please. What are you trying to say?"

When Dean sees this, he begins to admonish Sam, telling him he should not count on God to help them due to his past indifference with the Apocalypse.

13.01 Lost and Found

Angry over the loss of Castiel, Mary, and even Crowley, Dean prays to God and demands that He bring them all back.

"Okay, Chuck… or God, or whatever. I need your help. See, you– you left us. You left us. You went off. You said… You said the earth would be fine because it had me… and it had Sam, but it’s not, and we’re not. We’ve lost everything. And now you’re gonna bring him back. Okay? You’re gonna bring back Cas, you’re gonna bring back Mom, you’re gonna bring ‘em all back. All of ‘em. Even Crowley. ’Cause after everything that you’ve done, you owe us, you son of a bitch. So you get your ass down here and you make this right, right here and right now. Please. Please help us."

13.15 A Most Holy Man

As a shootout rages in the warehouse, Father Lucca Camilleri says a prayer for Sam and Dean.

13.18 Bring 'em Back Alive

In an attempt to be "God" in earnest, Lucifer sits on his throne and begins listening to the prayers of humanity. He quickly becomes annoyed by the sheer volume of the prayers, but his interest is piqued when he hones in on two priests performing an exorcism and decides to aid them in sending the demon, Anthony, back to Hell.

13.23 Let the Good Times Roll

When Apocalypse World Michael attacks Sam and Dean in the Bunker, Sam prays to Jack for help, who hears his prayer and saves them from Michael.

"Jack, Jack. Jack, I don't know where you are, and I don't even know if you can hear this prayer, but we need you. We need you."

14.07 Unhuman Nature

After finding out what happened to his family, and killing Frank Kellogg, Nick gets drunk and begins praying to Lucifer for help in removing his pain. His bond as his former vessel somehow awakens Lucifer in the Empty.

"All right... I'm not very good at this, but the priest said it would help, so, um... I'm gonna try. I say that I do the terrible things I do because I couldn't find who killed Sarah and Teddy. And that once I did, I'd be free of this darkness and this rage... but I lied. Truth is... I like doing these things, and I don't want to stop. I'm bonded to you and what you are. I mean, it's -- it's -- It's how you first found me. I don't know who I am if I'm not you. No consequences. No pain. No sorrow. I want that back. I want it back. I don't want to feel now what I didn't feel then. Where are you? Where are you? Help me. Help me."

14.08 Byzantium

As Castiel fights the Cosmic Entity, Dean prays to him to resurrect Jack so Lily Sunder can complete her spell and save him. Castiel hears the prayer and makes a deal with the Entity to exchange himself for Jack.

"Cas, I hope you can hear me. We've got Jack. His shell -- it's ready to go. Here's hoping that you're staring at him right now. So, if you are, then, uh, do your thing, okay? Amen."

14.13 Lebanon

With the Winchester family reunited and sitting down to have their first family dinner, John says a quick thankful prayer to whatever brought them all together, followed by each family member punctuating it with their own "Amen."

"All right. Near as I can tell, we have two choices. All right, we can think about what's coming. Or we can be grateful for this time that we have together. Now, me I choose grateful. So, to whatever brought us together, we owe you one. Amen."

14.17 Game Night

Seeking a way to restore Jack Kline's soul, Castiel seeks out Methuselah, who was present when Joshua made the call that God supposedly answered. Methuselah only tells Castiel and Anael that they will know what Joshua used when they see it, and that the item is somewhere in his crowded shop. Just as Castiel gives up, he spots an amulet that resembles Dean's Amulet. Methuselah confirms that Joshua created it after the Fall.

Castiel prays to God, but he gets no answer.

"God... I don't know where you are. I don't know if you can hear me. But please. Sam, Dean-- we need you. Please."

Jack sits in Heaven's Throne Room to receive prayers.

14.19 Jack in the Box

Dumah shows Jack to Heaven's Throne Room, where God received prayers. She tells him to calm himself and look for humans willing to be turned into angels.

In order to get Jack in the Ma'lak Box, Dean has Sam say a prayer to Jack, which he hears and teleports to the Bunker.

"Jack. I hope you can hear this. Some things, some bad things happened. But we're family. We're your family. A-And bad things happen in families. But we... We want to talk with you. That's how we can all... get through this. That's how we can all move forward. [...] Jack, we want -- we need to see you. Our mother would want it. Your mother would want it. [...] Jack, we just want things to be the way they were. Are you hearing this?"

15.08 Our Father, Who Aren't in Heaven

After learning that Michael is on Earth and has stopped in Cairo, Egypt, Castiel says a prayer to try and contact the archangel.

"Michael. Michael. This is Castiel. We didn't know each other very well, and our last meeting was unpleasant. But I know you have been through a terrible ordeal for many years. You've been beyond the reach of Heaven. Been beyond the reach of Earth. Much has changed with both. Heaven is not what it was. And your father... Your father is certainly not who you knew. Michael, there's a battle raging, and you are a warrior, but you must know the nature of this fight. I'm not your enemy anymore. Now we all have the same enemy. God Himself."

Michael responds to the prayer and agrees to meet with Castiel.

15.09 The Trap

After Castiel is captured by Leviathans, Dean prays to his friend, becoming more and more upset as he does.

"Cas? Cas, I hope you can hear me that wherever you are, it's not too late. I should've stopped you. You're my best friend, but I just let you go. 'Cause it was easier than admitting I was wrong. I-I don't know why I get so angry. I just know I know that it's i-it's just always been there. And when things go bad, it just it comes out. And I can't I can't stop it. No matter how -- how bad I want to, I just can't stop it. And -- and I-I forgive you. Of course I forgive you. I'm sorry it took me so long. I'm sorry it took me till now to say it. Cas, I'm I'm so sorry. Man, I hope you can hear me. I hope you can hear me. Okay."

When the two are reunited, Dean tries to apologize to Castiel in person. However, Castiel tells Dean that he doesn't need to as the angel heard his prayer.

15.12 Galaxy Brain

Jack says a silent prayer to Billie, but is greeted by a reaper named Merle who was assigned by Billie to watch over Jack. It's also revealed that Jack prayed to Billie for help when Kabaiel had him, but she didn't respond then either.

After Billie shows up and kills Merle for her failure, Jack comments that he had prayed to her for help. Billie simply says that while she heard him, she was busy.