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18 Prayers for the Dead: Catholic & Christian Prayers for Loss

When we lose a loved one it is a time of pain and grief. We are bereft at having someone so special to us taken. Death is cruel and impacts not just ourselves, but the immediate family and all those surrounding the deceased.

After the death of someone many people want to find ways to try and feel better. They look for help and understanding, to try and make sense of what has happened. That might mean finding comfort amongst family or friends, reaching out for professional help or just trying get through it alone.

Some though will turn to prayer.

Praying after a death can help to bring peace to those mourning. By praying for someone you have lost you find comfort and can soothe the pain.

So if you want to pray for a lost loved one and remember those who have passed, or just offer support to those grieving a death, try these prayers for the dead.

Table of Contents
Short Prayers for the Dead
Prayers of Remembrance for the Dead
Prayers for the Death of a Loved One
Prayers for the Family of the Dead
Prayers for the Soul to Rest in Peace

Short Prayers for the Dead

Short Prayer for the Dead

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.
Love always, in the name of Jesus.
Amen


For Those We Have Lost

Almighty and eternal God,
from whose love in Christ we cannot be parted,
either by death or life:
hear our prayers and thanksgivings
for all whom we remember this day;
fulfil in them the purpose of your love;
and bring us all, with them, to your eternal joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.


For Bereavement

Lord, have mercy
on those who mourn
who feel numb and crushed
and are filled with the pain of grief,
whose strength has given up
You know all our sighing and longings:
be near to us and teach us to fix our hope on you
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.


SEE MORE: 23 Sympathy Prayers to Pray for Loss

Prayer for the Dead

May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus,
for he often refreshed me,
and was not ashamed of my chain,
but when he was in Rome,
he sought me diligently, and found me
(the Lord grant to him to find the Lord’s mercy on that day);
and in how many things he served at Ephesus, you know very well.


Prayer for the Dead

In your hands, O Lord,
we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters.
In this life you embraced them with your tender love;
deliver them now from every evil
and bid them eternal rest.
The old order has passed away:
welcome them into paradise,
where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain,
but fullness of peace and joy
with your Son and the Holy Spirit
forever and ever.
Amen.


READ MORE: Christian Condolence Messages and Quotes

Prayers of Remembrance for the Dead

Prayer of Gods Promise

May you be held by the God of compassion
as you remember your loved ones today.
May God be with you in your sorrow,
and comfort you in your loss.
May your God, your family and your friends,
give you strength and confidence.
May your spirit be lifted, may your heart be filled with peace,
and may the light of God’s promise fill you with joy and hope.
Amen.


Prayer after a Death

O God, Whose property is always to have mercy and to spare, we humbly beseech Thee for the soul of Thy servant N…,
which Thou hast this day commanded to depart out of this world,
that Thou wouldst not deliver it into the hands of the enemy,
nor forget it unto the end, but wouldst command it to be received by the Holy Angels,
and conducted to Paradise,
its true country; that as in Thee it hath hoped and believed,
it may not suffer the pains of hell, but may take possession of eternal joys.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.


Prayer to Find Peace after Loss

Lord Jesus, our Redeemer,
You willingly gave Yourself up to death so that all people might be saved and pass from death into a new life.
Listen to our prayers;
look with love on Your people who mourn and pray for their dead brother/sister.
Lord Jesus, You alone are holy and compassionate; forgive our brother/sister his/her sins.
By dying You opened the gates of life for those who believe in You;
do not let Your brother/sister be parted from You,
but by Your glorious power give him/her light, joy,
and peace in heaven where You live for ever and ever.
Amen.


In Memory Prayer

Lord of life and love,
as we give thanks for times past,
grant us courage to embrace the present
and grace to share the future.
In memory of loved ones dear,
kindle their flame to shine in the dark
and light the path ahead.
Show the way that leads to life
as we cherish days gone by
and inspire us with the touch of love
that faith and hope live on.


Prayer to Rest in Peace

We thank You Lord for the passing of our brother/sister.
We exalt Your name for the good life he/she lived.
We pray oh Lord, that everlasting life be given unto him or her.
And as he or she abides in Your garden,
let Your angels touch what he/she cannot touch again.
Father, be with his/her soul
and may he/she rest in perfect eternal peace.
Amen


Prayers for the Death of a Loved One

Prayer for a Lost Friend

I commend you, my dear [name] to almighty God,
and entrust you to your Creator.
May you rest in the arms of the Lord who formed you from the dust of the earth.
May holy Mary, the angels, and all the saints welcome you now that you have gone forth from this life.
May Christ who was crucified for you, bring you freedom and peace.
May Christ who died for you admit you into his garden of paradise.
May Christ, the true Shepherd, embrace you as one of his flock.
May he forgive all your sins and set you among those he has chosen.
May you see your Redeemer face to face and enjoy the vision of God, forever.


Prayer for Passed Loved One

You are, O God,
quick to pardon and desire man’s salvation.
In Your goodness we ask You to grant our deceased brothers,
relatives, and friends everlasting happiness.
With the help of Blessed Mary ever Virgin
and all Your saints,
we ask this through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.


Prayer for Deceased Parents

O God, Who has commanded us to honour our father and mother,
have compassion in Thy mercy, on the souls of my father and mother;
forgive them their sins,
and grant that I may see them in the joy of eternal brightness.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.


Prayer of Hope

God our Father,
Your power brings us to birth,
Your providence guides our lives,
and by Your command we return to dust.
Lord, those who die still live in Your presence,
their lives change but do not end.
I pray in hope for my family,
relatives and friends,
and for all the dead known to You alone.
In company with Christ,
Who died and now lives,
may they rejoice in Your kingdom,
where all our tears are wiped away.
Unite us together again in one family,
to sing Your praise forever and ever.

Amen.


Prayers for the Family of the Dead

Prayer for Grief

Lord God above, we, Your humble children kneel before you today in reverence.
We know You’re the greatest and You’re the king of all kings.
So, we pray You uplift our heart and soul so that we may cast away our sorrows oh Lord.
Give us the strength to surpass this situation.
No one dies without Your say-so and thus,
we rejoice over this triumph and we pray
You be with our deceased brother/sister. We thank you for the answered prayer and in Jesus name,
Amen.


Prayer to Mourn

Lord God,
you are attnetive to the voice
of our pleading.
Let us find in your Son
comfort in our sadness,
certainty in our doubt,
and courage to live through this hour.
Make our faith strong
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.


Prayer for Lost Family and Friends

Almighty Father, source of forgiveness and salvation,
grant that our relatives and friends who have passed from this life may,
through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints,
come to share your Eternal happiness through Christ our Lord.
Amen


Prayer for the Recently Departed

In your hands, O Lord,
we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters.
In this life you embraced them with your tender love;
deliver them now from every evil
and bid them eternal rest.
The old order has passed away:
welcome them into paradise,
where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain,
but fullness of peace and joy
with your Son and the Holy Spirit
forever and ever.
Amen.


Prayer for the Soul to Rest in Peace

Eternal Rest

Eternal rest, grant unto him/her O Lord
and let perpetual light shine upon him/her.
May he/she rest in peace. Amen.

Soul to Rest Prayer

May his/her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.


We hope these prayers for the dead will have helped you find some peace when dealing with the loss of someone special to you. Prayer allows us to heal and use our faith to navigate through the incredibly difficult times that losing someone brings. Hopefully these prayers will have helped with that.

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1 thought on “18 Prayers for the Dead: Catholic & Christian Prayers for Loss”

  1. These Prayers Give One Courage And Hope That The Deceased Is Happily Welcomed With Prayer In Their New Home With Their Creator.

    They Are A Source Of Spiritual Strength And Comfort As One Gradually Gets Used To The Absence Of The Loved One.

    Thank You For The Support In Times Of Loss And May God Bless You Abundantly Now And Always.

    Reply

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