After the loss of a family member
In your hands, O Lord,
we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters.
In this life you embraced them with your tender love;
deliver them now from every evil
and bid them eternal rest.
The old order has passed away:
welcome them into paradise,
where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain,
but fullness of peace and joy
with your Son and the Holy Spirit
forever and ever.
R/. Amen.
Catholic Prayers for Grief
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.
Grant that our brother/sister, N., may sleep here in peace
until you awaken him/her to glory,
for you are the resurrection and the life.
Then he/she will see you face to face
and in your light will see light
and know the splendor of God,
for you live and reign forever and ever.
R/. Amen.
After the loss of a family member
Lord God,
you are attentive to the voice of our pleading.
Let us find in your Son
comfort in our sadness,
certainty in our doubt,
and courage to live through this hour.
Make our faith strong
through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
Prayer of comfort for a funeral
Lord,
[Name of the deceased] is gone now from this earthly dwelling,
and has left behind those who mourn his/her absence.
Grant that we may hold his/her memory dear,
never bitter for what we have lost
nor in regret for the past,
but always in hope of the eternal Kingdom
where you will bring us together again.
Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
Prayer for Grief
O Lord, whose ways are beyond understanding,
listen to the prayers of your faithful people:
that those weighed down by grief
at the loss of this little child
may find reassurance in your infinite goodness.
Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
In Times of Sorrow
May you see God’s light on the path ahead
When the road you walk is dark.
May you always hear,
Even in your hour of sorrow,
The gentle singing of the lark.
When times are hard may hardness
Never turn your heart to stone,
May you always remember
when the shadows fall,
You do not walk alone.
In Times of Loss…
We pray that in this time of loss,
You’ll feel God’s love much more
And that you’ll find your comfort
In the presence of the Lord
We pray God pours upon you,
His sweet amazing grace
And overflow your heart with peace
As you live in His embrace.
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 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.
Prayer in Time of Bereavement
Dearest Jesus, who wept at the death of your friend
and taught that they who mourn shall be comforted,
grant us the comfort of your presence in our loss.
Send Your Holy Spirit to direct us
lest we make hasty or foolish decisions.
Send Your Spirit to give us courage
lest through fear we recoil from living.
Send Your Spirit to bring us your peace
lest bitterness, false guilt, or regret take root in our hearts.
The Lord has given.
The Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Amen.
O sweet mother Mary,
who knew the sadness of mourning those your heart loved most,
Jesus, your Son,
and Joseph, your devoted spouse,
pray for us in our time of loss.
Amen.
Healing Prayer for Those in Grief
God, do not let my feelings overwhelm me. During moments of anguish, touch my heart with courage, my soul with your compassion and with your love to comfort me. Despite my pain, let me know healing is occurring. Let me hear often that you are always with me. God, today is different; I am faced with my many challenges. Help me know I am not powerless and that I am surviving. Give me hope for tomorrow. Let me believe in myself and allow others to comfort me.
After the loss of a father or mother
O God, Who has commanded us to honor our father and mother,
have compassion in Thy mercy, on the souls of my father and mother;
forgive them their sins,
and grant that I may see them in the joy of eternal brightness.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
After a sudden loss
Lord, we pray for those who have been devastated by recent tragedies.
We remember those who lost their lives so suddenly.
We hold in our hearts the families forever changed by grief and loss.
