When someone loses a loved one we want to find a way to comfort them and pay our respects. A really good way to do this is by praying – specifically in this case with sympathy prayers.
Prayer helps us to express our love and understanding for others, to empathise with what they are going through and to wish them the strength during such a difficult time. Prayer is an act of love towards others, as well as being something that can bring together people – which is essential during a time of loss.
Praying can also be beneficial to the person grieving. If they join you or others in prayer it can help bring them peace, relief or hope for the future.
Losing a loved one hurts more than almost anything so finding something that can offer respite is a real godsend. And having others pray for you can feel like some of the burden that you’re going through is lifted. Strength is given through prayer, and support is what anyone grieving needs.
So if you need some inspiration or ideas for a condolence prayer then please take a look at the examples below.
Sympathy Prayers
Prayer of Comfort and Strength
For all those who woke this morning
to the loneliness of bereavement –
the empty bed or chair,
an unaccustomed quietness,
a life now incomplete –
may they know your presence
in the stillness of the day,
and through the love of friends
who offer their condolence.
And in the darker moments
may they reach out to hold your hand
and feel the warmth of the One
who has already passed from death to life
to welcome others into God’s Kingdom.
Prayer of Comfort for the Bereaved
God of love and mercy,
embrace all those
whose hearts today
overflow with grief,
unanswered questions
and such a sense of loss.
Grant them space
to express their tears.
Hold them close
through the coming days.
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Prayer for Loss
You hold time within your hands, and see it all, from beginning to end. Please keep and carry these precious people in their sadness and loss. Cover them with your great wings of love, give their weary hearts rest and their minds sound sleep. Lord, lift their eyes so that they may catch a glimpse of eternity, and be comforted by the promise of heaven.
We ask all this in the precious name of Jesus.
Amen
Prayer of Condolence
We pray for all whose lives
have been touched by tragedy,
whether by accident
or a deliberate act.
For those who mourn,
immerse them in your love
and lead them through this darkness
into your arms, and light.
For those who comfort,
be in both the words they use
and all that’s left unspoken;
fill each heart with love.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
whose own suffering brought us life,
here and for eternity.
Amen
Prayer for those who Mourn
Almighty God,
source of all mercy and giver of comfort;
Deal graciously with those who mourn,
that,
casting all their sorrow on you,
they may know the consolation of your love;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer of Bereavement
O God, come to my assistance;
O Lord, hurry to help me. Please take the consuming anguish I feel right now;
take it from me and hold me in Your arms.
Heal my broken heart and bind up my wounds (Psalm 147:3)
Amen
Prayer of Comfort
Jesus, You said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted”
I am mourning; send me Your comfort now.
Wrap around Your arms around me and hold me tight.
Send angels of mercy to me.
Shower Your comfort on me through those around me,
and keep far from me those whose words and actions are no comfort
Amen
Prayer of Condolence
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen
Prayer of Loss
Thank you for the lives
of all those loved ones
who, whilst no longer
walking beside us
or holding our hand
along life’s journey
as once they did, live on
in the collective memory
of those they have left behind.
Enjoy their company, Loving God
until we shall meet again
Amen
Prayer for Comfort in Loss
Dearest Jesus, who wept at the death of your friend
and taught that they who mourn shall be comforted,
grant us the comfort of your presence in our loss.
Send Your Holy Spirit to direct us
lest we make hasty or foolish decisions.
Send Your Spirit to give us courage
lest through fear we recoil from living.
Send Your Spirit to bring us your peace
lest bitterness, false guilt, or regret take root in our hearts.
The Lord has given.
The Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Amen
Prayer of Loss
Embrace in your loving arms
all who are grieving the loss
of family and loved ones
through tragic circumstance;
where lives are in turmoil,
hope turns to despair
and pain is all that’s felt.
Be with them in their sorrow,
uphold them with your strength,
and through the generosity
of love shown by othersv and your presence within their hearts
may they know they are not alone,
in their struggle through today.
Prayer for the Bereaved
Jesus, please be with my friend reading this prayer. You know every wound, every joy, every fear, every dream. Heal old wounds. Heal new wounds. Rejoice alongside. Alleviate every haunting fear. Fulfill God-sized dreams in Your timing (and help us be patient in the waiting). Help us all to see the power of Your resurrection this month. Give us eyes to see where new life springs in our hearts. Rejuvenate when we’re weak. We need You Jesus.
Amen
Prayer for Loss
O sweet mother Mary,
who knew the sadness of mourning those your heart loved most,
Jesus, your Son,
and Joseph, your devoted spouse,
Pray for us in our time of loss.
Amen
Prayer of Strength
God of love, may I come quickly to thee, when I am in need of protection and sympathy.
Guard me against sorrow that is drawn from the imagination.
May I not allow grief to drag me into misery, but with strength and courage may I find happiness in thy daily will.
Amen.
Prayer for the Mourning
Bless those who mourn
the death of relative or friend
and feel that with this loss
their lives are incomplete.
Bless those who mourn,
and fill these empty hearts
with pleasant memories,
the sound of laughter,
sunshine and happier days.
Bless those who mourn,
and heal their brokenness
with the soothing balm
of your gentle touch,
that they might know
shalom, wholeness, peace
Prayer for Strength and Faith
Lord, at the moment nothing seems to be able to help the loss I feel.
My heart is broken and my spirit mourns.
All I know is that Your grace is sufficient.
This day, this hour
Moment by moment
I choose to lean on You,
For when I am at my weakest Your strength is strongest.
I pour out my grief to You
And praise You that on one glorious day
When all suffering is extinguished and love has conquered
We shall walk together again.
Prayer of Comfort for the Bereaved
Bring comfort to those
coming to terms
with the unexpected
loss of a loved one.
Bring healing to those
alive but broken
by serious injuries
and related trauma.
Bring unity to those
working for peace
and understanding
between communities.
Bring your warmth
to those whose hearts
are cold and empty,
and bring your blessing
on all who in such times
are there to share your love.
Prayer for Strength and Wisdom
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life
Amen
Prayer for Comfort
Comfort me with Your love O God
Wrap me up in Your strong embrace
Shelter me from the storm O Lord
Envelop me in Your tender care
By day I pour out my heartbreak to You
By night I give you my racing thoughts
In You I take refuge
In You I will not be afraid
For you hold me strong, You hold me safe
Calm my fearful heart O God
Still my anxious mind O Lord
For all my life is found in You
All my being is given to You
All my hope begins in You
Prayer for Comfort in Difficult Times
O merciful Father,
who hast taught us in thy holy Word that thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men:
Look with pity upon the sorrows of thy servant for whom our prayers are offered.
Remember him, O Lord, in mercy,
nourish his soul with patience,
comfort him with a sense of thy goodness,
lift up thy countenance upon him,
and give him peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Prayer to Comfort Sorrows
“Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief” (Psalm 31:9)
My heart is broken, my mind exhausted. I cry out to you and hardly know what to ask. All I can do is tell you how I feel and ask you to “keep track of all my sorrows… collect all my tears in your bottle… and record each one in your book” as I pour them out to you (Psalm 56:8)
Amen
Prayer for Peace and Comfort
Jesus, You told Your followers, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well… Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives” (John 14:1, 27).
I need Your peace. I need “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding” to guard my heart and mind (Philippians 4:7).
I need peaceful sleep. I ask for peaceful thoughts and emotions to rule my days and nights.
Amen
Prayer for Comfort in Loss
I commend you, 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.
