Catholic Prayer for the Dead
In the Catholic tradition, praying for those who have died is an act of love and hope. We ask God to grant them eternal rest and welcome them into His light. A Catholic prayer for the dead lifts up the souls of the faithful departed, entrusting them to God's mercy. These prayers include the traditional Eternal Rest prayer, prayed at funerals and on All Souls' Day, as well as prayers for a specific loved one and for the holy souls.
Pray them at a graveside, at Mass, during the month of November, or whenever you remember someone who has died. Praying for the dead is a way to stay connected in love and, with trust, place them into the mercy of God. Use the words below to remember and intercede for those who have gone before us.
The Eternal Rest Prayer
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
A Prayer for a Loved One Who Has Died
Merciful God, I entrust my loved one to Your loving care. Forgive their sins, welcome them into Your light, and grant them the peace of Your presence. Comfort all of us who mourn, and give us hope in Your promise of eternal life. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
A Prayer for the Holy Souls
Lord God, in Your mercy hear our prayer for the souls of the faithful departed. Cleanse them, embrace them, and bring them swiftly to the joy of Your presence. May our prayers and love be a comfort to them. Amen.
A Short Prayer of Remembrance
Lord, hold them in Your mercy and grant them eternal rest. Amen.
A Long Prayer Commending the Departed
Eternal Father, Lord of the living and the dead, I come before You with a heart that is heavy and unsure. I lift up my loved one who has passed from this life, asking that You receive them into Your boundless mercy. You know every day of their life, every joy and every failing, far better than I ever could. So I do not pretend to plead their case; I simply trust the cross of Your Son, by which the gates of heaven were opened. Wash away whatever still separated them from You, and let nothing keep them from Your light. Grant them, O Lord, the eternal rest that this weary world could never give. May perpetual light shine upon them, the light of Your own face that the saints behold forever. Comfort me as I grieve, for the parting is real and the silence is loud. Teach me to entrust them fully to You instead of clutching at memory alone. Let my prayers and small sacrifices be joined to the great offering of Christ on their behalf. Help me to live so that one day I may be reunited with them in Your presence. Until that day, hold them close, and hold me too. I believe in the communion of saints, and I believe Your love is stronger than the grave. Into Your hands, merciful God, I commend the soul of my loved one. Amen.
Eternal Rest, Renewed
Lord, grant them eternal rest, and let perpetual light shine upon them; may they rest in peace. Amen.
Praying a 9-Day Novena for the Dead
Catholic tradition also prays for the departed across nine consecutive days, most often beginning the day of death or burial, or repeated each year on the anniversary. Each day, pray the Eternal Rest prayer once, then add a single line naming what you miss or remember about the person — a kindness they showed, a habit you loved, a conversation you wish you'd had. Close each of the nine days with: 'Lord, receive [name] into Your mercy, and let perpetual light shine upon them. Amen.' On the ninth day, add a prayer of thanksgiving for their life. This nine-day pattern is sometimes called a Novena for the Dead or a Novena of Masses where a parish offers Mass on each of the nine days.
The Eternal Rest Prayer in Latin (Requiem Aeternam)
This is the traditional Latin form prayed at the Requiem Mass, the Catholic funeral Mass that takes its name from this prayer's opening Latin word. In Latin: "Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace. Amen." In English: "Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen."
Scripture to pray
Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.'— John 11:25
The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them.— Wisdom 3:1
Frequently asked questions
What is the Catholic prayer for the dead?
The traditional Catholic prayer for the dead is the Eternal Rest prayer: 'Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.' It is prayed at funerals, on All Souls' Day, and whenever Catholics remember the faithful departed.
How do Catholics pray for the souls in purgatory?
Catholics pray for the holy souls by asking God to cleanse them and bring them into His presence, often using the Eternal Rest prayer and offering Masses, rosaries, and acts of charity on their behalf. The month of November, especially All Souls’ Day, is traditionally dedicated to this.
What Bible verse is good for praying for the dead?
John 11:25, where Jesus says 'I am the resurrection and the life,' is central to Catholic prayers for the dead. Wisdom 3:1—'The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God'—is also read at funerals and offers deep comfort.
Is there a novena for the dead, and when do you pray it?
Yes — pray the Eternal Rest prayer for nine consecutive days, most commonly starting the day of death or burial, or repeated on the anniversary each year. See the nine-day pattern above; some parishes also offer a Mass on each of the nine days, sometimes called a Novena of Masses.
Why do Catholics pray for the dead?
Catholic teaching holds that souls being purified in purgatory can still be helped by the prayers of the living. This rests on the communion of saints: the belief that the living and the dead remain joined together in one body in Christ. Praying the Eternal Rest prayer, offering a Mass, or praying a novena for someone who died are ways Catholics act on that belief.
What is the final prayer at a Catholic funeral?
In the Catholic Order of Christian Funerals, the church service closes with the Final Commendation and Farewell, whose Song of Farewell is commonly sung as "Saints of God, come to his (her) aid." As the body is then carried from the church, the procession is customarily accompanied by the In Paradisum antiphon, known in English as "May the angels lead you into paradise." While the general Eternal Rest prayer is prayed throughout seasons of grief, this commendation and procession form the fixed conclusion before the separate Rite of Committal follows at the place of burial.