Responding in Prayer
Prayer with the Dying and the Dead
Prayers with the Dying and the Dead
The texts on this page are drawn from material from Pastoral Care of the Sick and Order of Christian Funerals. These and other texts are available in a series of leaflets:
- Prayer with the Dying (pdf)
- Prayers at the Time of Death (pdf)
- Prayers after Death (pdf)
Short Sentences of Scripture
Who can separate us from the love of Christ?
Romans 8:35
Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
Romans 14:8
We have an everlasting home in heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:1
We shall be with the Lord for ever.
1 Thessalonians 4:17
Prayer of Commendation
Go forth, Christian soul, from this world
in the name of God the almighty Father,
who created you,
in the name of Jesus Christ,
Son of the living God,
who suffered for you,
in the name of the Holy Spirit,
who was poured out upon you,
go forth, faithful Christian.
May you live in peace this day,
may your home be with God in Zion,
with Mary, the virgin Mother of God,
with Joseph, and all the angels and saints.
We shall see God as he really is.
1 John 3:2
We have passed from death to life
because we love each other.
1 John 3:14
To you, Lord, I lift up my soul.
Psalm 24(25):1
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Psalm 26(27):1
Though I walk in the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me.
Psalm 22(23):4
Come, blessed of my Father,
says the Lord Jesus,
and take possession of the kingdom
prepared for you.
Matthew 25:34
Hail, holy Queen
(Salve, Regina)
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy,
hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
to thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn, then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy towards us;
and after this, our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus:
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Prayer of
Blessed John Henry Newman
O Lord,
support us all the day long of this troublous life,
until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes,
and the busy world is hushed,
and the fever of life is over, and our work is done.
Then, Lord, in thy mercy,
grant us a safe lodging, a holy rest,
and peace at the last.
Amen.
Canticle of Simeon (Nunc Dimittis)
Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
I give you my heart and my soul.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
I place all my trust in you.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
assist me in my last agony.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you.
Amen.
At last, all-powerful Master,
you give leave to your servant
to go in peace, according to your promise.
For my eyes have seen your salvation
which you have prepared for all nations,
the light to enlighten the Gentiles
and give glory to Israel, your people.
O Jesus, who for love of me
O Jesus, who for love of me,
didst bear thy cross to Calvary.
In thy sweet mercy, grant to me
to suffer and to die with thee.
Saints of God
Saints of God, come to his/her aid!
Hasten to meet him/her, angels of the Lord!
Receive his/her soul and present him/her
to God the Most High.
May Christ, who called you,
take you to himself;
may angels lead you
to the bosom of Abraham.
Receive his/her soul…
Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him/her.
Receive his/her soul…
Blessing
Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon him/her.
May he/she rest in peace.
Amen.
May his/her soul
and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.
May the love of God
and the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ
bless and console us
and gently wipe every tear from our eyes:
in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.