Prayers for the Dead
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INDEX
INTRODUCTION
GREETING
PRAYER (L)
READING
LITANY OF THE SAINTS
THE LORD’S PRAYER
PRAYER OF COMMENDATION (L)
I want those you have given me to be with me where I am
223. This chapter contains prayers for use by a minister who has been called to attend a person who is already dead. A priest is not to administer the sacraments of penance or anointing. Instead, he should pray for the dead person using these or similar prayers.
224. It may be necessary to explain to the family of the person who is dead that sacraments are celebrated for the living, not for the dead, and that the dead are effectively helped by the prayers of the living.
225. To comfort those present the minister may conclude these prayers with a simple blessing or with a symbolic gesture, for example, making the sign of the cross on the forehead. A priest or deacon may sprinkle the body with holy water.
226. The minister greets those who are present, offering them sympathy and the consolation of faith, using one of the following or similar words:
A
In this moment of sorrow
The Lord is in our midst
and comforts us with his word:
Blessed are the sorrowful; they shall be consoled.
B
Praised be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation!
He comforts us in our afflictions
and thus enables us to comfort those who are in trouble,
with the same consolation we have received from him.
227. The minister then says one of the following prayers
Let us pray.
A
Almighty and eternal God,
hear our prayers for your son/daughter N.,
whom you have called from this life to yourself.
Grant him/her light, happiness, and peace.
Let him/her pass in safety through the gates of death,
and live forever with all your saints
in the light you promised to Abraham
and to all his descendants in faith.
Guard him/her from all harm
and on that great day of resurrection and reward
raise him/her up with all your saints.
Pardon his/her sins
and give him/her eternal life in your kingdom.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
[Latin:
Te, Dómine, sancte Pater, omnípotens aetérne Deus,
supplices deprecámur pro anima famuli tui N.,
quem de hoc sǽculo ad te venire iussísti;
ut ei dignéris dare locum refrigérii, lucis et pacis.
Líceat ei portas mortis sine offensióne transíre
et in mansiónibus sanctórum et in luce sancta permáneat,
quam olim Abrahæ et eius sémini promisísti.
Nullam eius ánima sustíneat læsionem,
sed, cum magnus dies ille resurrectiónis
et remuneratiónis advénerit,
resuscitáre eum, Dómine,
una cum sanctis et eléctis dignéris;
dimíttas ei ómnia delícta atque peccáta,
tecúmque immortalitátis vitam
et regnum consequátur æternum.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.
R. Amen.]
B
Loving and merciful God,
we entrust our brother/sister to your mercy.
You loved him/her greatly in this life:
now that he/she is freed from all its cares,
give him/her happiness and peace for ever.
The old order has passed away:
welcome him/her now into paradise
where there will be no more sorrow,
no more weeping or pain,
but only peace and joy
with Jesus your Son,
and the Holy Spirit
for ever and ever.
R. Amen.
[Latin:
Tibi, Dómine, fratrem nostrum (sorórem nostram)
humíliter commendámus,
ut, quem (quam) in hac vita mortáli
imménso semper es prosecútus amóre,
nunc, a malis ómnibus liberátum (liberátam),
in réquiem íngredi iúbeas sempitérnam.
Tuam ergo cleméntiam deprecámur,
ut, quia prima iam transiérunt,
illum (illam) in paradísum tuum benígne perdúcas,
ubi neque luctus, neque clamor, neque dolor erit ultra,
sed pax et gáudium, cum Fílio tuo et Spíritu Sancto,
in sǽcula sæculórum
R. Amen.]
228. The word of God is proclaimed by one of those present or by the minister. Other appropriate readings may be found in Pastoral Care of the Sick - Readings found in the ‘Rites’ Section of the iBreviary.
A.
+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
23:44-46
It was now around midday, and darkness came over the whole land until midafternoon with an eclipse of the sun. The curtain in the sanctuary was torn in two. Jesus uttered a loud cry and said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” After he said this, he expired.
The Gospel of the Lord.
B.
+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33-36, 41-44
The sisters sent word to Jesus to inform him, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” Upon hearing this, Jesus said: “This sickness is not to end in death; rather it is for God’s glory, that through it the Son of God may be glorified.”
Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus very much. Yet, after hearing that Lazarus was sick, he stayed on where he was for two days more. Finally he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea. Finally, he said to his disciples “Let us go back to Judea.”
When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. When Martha had heard that Jesus was coming she went to meet him, while Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would never have died. Even now, I am sure that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” “Your brother will rise again,” Jesus assured her. “I know he will rise again,” Martha replied, “in the resurrection on the last day.”
Jesus told her: “I am the resurrection and the life: whoever believes in me, though he should die, will come to life; and whoever is alive and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied. “I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God: he who is to come into the world.”
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jewish folk who had accompanied her also weeping, he was troubled in spirit, moved by the deepest emotions. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Lord, come and see,” they said. Jesus began to weep, which caused the Jews to remark, “See how much he loved him!” They then took away the stone and Jesus looked upward and said: “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I know that you always hear me but I have said this for the sake of the crowd, that they may believe that you sent me.”
Having said this, he called loudly, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, bound hand and foot with linen strips, his face wrapped in a cloth. “Untie him,” Jesus told them, “and let him go free.” This caused many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, to put their faith in him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
229. Then one of those present may lead the others in praying a brief form of the litany of saints – the full form may be found below. Other saints may be added, including the patron saints of the dead person, of the family, and of the parish; saints to whom the dead person had a special devotion may also be included.
A
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for him/her.
Holy angels of God, pray for him/her.
Abraham, our father in faith, pray for him/her.
David, leader of God's people, pray for him/her.
All holy patriarchs and prophets, pray for him/her.
Saint John the Baptist, pray for him/her.
Saint Joseph, pray for him/her.
Saint Peter and Saint Paul, pray for him/her.
Saint Andrew, pray for him/her.
Saint John, pray for him/her.
Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for him/her.
Saint Stephen, pray for him/her.
Saint Ignatius, pray for him/her.
Saint Lawrence, pray for him/her.
Saint Perpetua and Saint Felicity, pray for him/her.
Saint Agnes, pray for him/her.
Saint Gregory, pray for him/her.
Saint Augustine, pray for him/her.
Saint Athanasius, pray for him/her.
Saint Basil, pray for him/her.
Saint Martin, pray for him/her.
Saint Benedict, pray for him/her.
Saint Francis and Saint Dominic, pray for him/her.
Saint Francis Xavier, pray for him/her.
Saint John Vianney, pray for him/her.
Saint Catherine, pray for him/her.
Saint Teresa, pray for him/her.
Other saints may be included here
All holy men and women, pray for him/her.
Lord, be merciful, Lord, save your people.
From all evil, Lord, save your people.
From every sin, Lord, save your people.
From Satan’s power, Lord, save your people.
At the moment of death, Lord, save your people.
From everlasting death, Lord, save your people.
On the day of judgment, Lord, save your people.
By your coming as man, Lord, save your people.
By your suffering and cross, Lord, save your people.
By your death and rising to new life, Lord, save your people.
By your return in glory to the Father, Lord, save your people.
By your gift of the Holy Spirit, Lord, save your people.
By your coming again in glory, Lord, save your people.
Be merciful to us sinners, Lord, save your people.
Bring N. to eternal life, first promised to him/her in baptism, Lord, hear our prayer.
Raise N. on the last day, for he/she has eaten the Bread of Life, Lord, hear our prayer.
Let N. share in your glory, for he/she has shared in your suffering and death, Lord, hear our prayer.
Jesus, Son of the Living God, Lord, hear our prayer.
Christ, hear us.Christ, hear us.
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer. Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.
The following prayer is added
God of mercy,
hear our prayers and be merciful
to your son/daughter N.,
whom you have called from this life.
Welcome him/her into the company of your saints,
in the kingdom of light and peace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
B
Saints of God, come to his/her aid!
Come to meet him/her angels of the Lord!
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for him/her.
Saint Joseph, pray for him/her.
Saint Peter and Saint Paul, pray for him/her.
Other saints may be included here.
All holy men and women, pray for him/her.
The following prayer is added
God of mercy,
hear our prayers and be merciful
to your son/daughter N.,
whom you have called from this life.
Welcome him/her into the company of your saints,
in the kingdom of light and peace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
230. The minister introduces the Lord’s Prayer in these or similar words:
A With God there is mercy and fullness of redemption; let us pray as Jesus taught us to pray:
B Let us pray for the coming of the kingdom as Jesus taught us:
All say:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
231. The minister concludes with the following prayer:
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 N.
Lord Jesus, you alone are holy and compassionate:
forgive N. his/her sins.
By dying you opened the gates of life
for those who believe in you;
do not let our 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.
R. Amen.
[Latin:
Dómine, Redémptor noster,
qui teípsum morti tradidísti,
ut omnes hómines salvi fíerent
et ad vitam possent de morte transire,
clementissimam pietátem tuam humílter deprecamur,
ut digneris omnes servos tuos intueri lugentes
et pro amisso propinquo suo suppliciter exorantes.
Illi omnia peccata dimitte, Domine,
qui solus es sanctus et summe misericors,
qui per mortem tuam portas vitae tuis fidelis reserasti.
Ne frratrem nostrum a te separari, Rex aterne, permittas,
sed virtute gloriae tuae locum ei lucis, beatudinis et pacis largire.
Qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum.
R. Amen.]
For the solace of those present the minister may conclude these prayers with a simple blessing or with a symbolic gesture, for example, signing the forehead with the sign of the cross. A priest or deacon may sprinkle the body with holy water.