Prayers for the Faithful Departed
It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins. (II Maccabees 12:46)
The Eternal Rest (Requiem Aeternam)
V. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon them.
V. May they rest in peace.
R. Amen.
In Latin:
V. Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine.
R. Et lux perpetua luceat eis.
V. Requiescant in pace.
R. Amen.
De Profundis (Psalm 129)
A prayer from the depths of sorrow for the remission of sins and the repose of the soul.
Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice.
Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
If thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it.
For with thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of thy law, I have waited for thee, O Lord.
My soul hath relied on his word: my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.
Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful redemption.
And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
V. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon them.
Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory
O gentle Heart of Jesus, ever present in the Blessed Sacrament, ever consumed with burning love for the poor captive souls in Purgatory, have mercy on the souls of Thy departed servants. Be not severe in Thy judgments, but let some drops of Thy Precious Blood fall upon the devouring flames, and do Thou, O merciful Saviour, send Thy angels to conduct them to a place of refreshment, light, and peace. Amen.
For a Recently Deceased Person
Absolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant [Name], that he (she) who is dead to the world, may live unto Thee; and whatsoever sins he (she) hath committed in this life through human frailty, do Thou, by the pardon of Thy most merciful goodness, wipe away. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Contexte Historique
The practice of praying for the dead is an ancient and venerable tradition in the Catholic Church, rooted in the belief in Purgatory and the Communion of Saints. The Church teaches that souls who die in God’s grace and friendship, but are still imperfectly purified, undergo a final purification, or Purgatory, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. The faithful on earth can help these souls by their prayers, suffrages, alms, and especially by the offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The ‘Requiem Aeternam’ (Eternal Rest) is the most common of these prayers, often recited after the Rosary or at the conclusion of other devotions, particularly during the month of November, which is dedicated to the Holy Souls.