Brazil's economy has taken such a battering that veteran Economy Minister Henrique Meirelles wants serious help: your prayers.

Meirelles made his appeal for divine intervention in a video circulated widely in the Brazilian media on Monday. It was reportedly recorded initially for pastors at a church.

Dressed in a dark suit and seated at a table, Meirelles says, "There's never been a recession like this."

"So that's why I'm counting on your cooperation ... I need everyone's prayers," he said.

At the end of the video, a message comes on the screen reading: "October - praying for the economy month."

After two years of the deepest recession on record, growth is creeping back into positive territory.