“God of the living and the dead, accept our prayers for those who have died in Christ and are buried with him in the hope of rising again. In your mercy grant them rest.”

Catholic Prayers for a Deceased Relative or Friend

O God, by whose mercy the faithful departed find rest, bless this grave, and send your holy angel to watch over it.

Lord, comfort those who mourn and sustain them with the hope of eternal life.

Lord Jesus Christ, by your own three days in the tomb, you hallowed the graves of all who believe in you and so made the grave a sign of hope that promises resurrection even as it claims our mortal bodies.

Merciful Lord, turn toward us and listen to our prayers: open the gates of paradise to your servant and help us who remain to comfort one another with assurances of faith, until we all meet in Christ and are with you and with our loved one forever.

Into your gentle keeping, O Lord, we commend this child of God. Though our hearts are troubled, we find hope in your loving kindness.

May the angels lead you into paradise: may the martyrs come to welcome you.

May choirs of angels welcome you.

He lives and grants my daily breath; He lives, and I shall conquer death; He lives my mansion to prepare; He lives to bring me safely there.

I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

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 the Faithful Departed

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 in Suffering

O Lord, your sorrowing Mother stood by your cross; help us in our sorrows to share your sufferings.

Like the seed buried in the ground, you have produced the harvest of eternal life for us; make us always dead to sin and alive to God.

Shepherd of all, in death you remained hidden from the world; teach us to love our hidden spiritual life with you and the Father.

In your role as the new Adam, you went down among the dead to release all the just there since the beginning; grant that all who are dead in sin may hear your voice and rise to new life.

Son of the living God, you have allowed us through baptism to be buried with you; grant that we may also rise with you in baptism and walk in newness of life. Amen.