Every day, different families worldwide suffer the loss of their loved one(s), subjecting them to funeral preparations. Catholic prayers of the faithful for funerals are a beautiful way of bidding goodbye to the departed and asking God to rest them peacefully.
Such prayers also grant the grieving a lot of peace of mind and comfort, granting them a smoother healing journey.
According to Catholic doctrine, prayers can also deliver departed souls from purgatory, where they’re believed to await purification before shifting to Heaven.
Below are five brief prayers of the faithful for a funeral to set the departed soul free in peace.
Before you start, save these graveside prayers for burial of ashes.
1) Short Prayer of the Faithful for Funeral
“Gracious Lord,
Thank You for making us in Your likeness and blessing us with the gift of life. Thank You for all the years and memories we shared with (name of the departed) until You decided to take them back to Your glory.
I uplift them to You, asking You to bless their selflessness and kindness while on earth. Please rest their soul in eternal peace through Christ Jesus.
Amen.”
Original StAgnes.net prayer. Copying prohibited, except with source.
In a Catholic funeral, the leaders say the prayers of the faithful in high hopes that God will prepare a good place for them in Heaven. The prayers are also meant to comfort the family and friends left behind.
It’s an honor to be allowed to make the funeral prayer for the faithful, as it indicates that one is righteous enough to lead departed souls to Christ.
You can also read John 14:1-3 which urges believers not to let their hearts be disturbed but to trust in God and His only son, Jesus.
The Father’s house has plenty of rooms, and Jesus is preparing a place for them, and when He comes back, He will take them with Him.
Save these prayers for strength and comfort duyring death.
2) Catholic Prayer of the Faithful for Funeral
“Holy Father,
We come before You praying for (name of the departed) who has died, asking You to welcome them into Your Heavenly home of eternal peace and happiness.
Bless their family and friends with comfort and consolation, and heal the pain and doubt that comes with the grief of their loved one.
May You forgive the sins that they committed while on earth due to human frailty. We ask this through Your mighty name.
Amen.”
Original StAgnes.net prayer. Copying prohibited, except with source.
The Catholic Church acknowledges the distress that the family goes through when organizing their loved one’s funeral. By offering this prayer of the faithful you celebrate the life of the deceased and bring healing to the grieving.
God promises believers in Revelation 21:4 that:
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.“
Also read these prayers for dead grandmother.
3) Prayer of the Faithful for Departed Loved Ones
“Son of the Most High,
You died in humanity, were buried for three days, and resurrected to give us hope in life after death and the determination to live righteously to be embraced in Your Father’s arms.
Help our beloved to rest in eternal comfort until You rise them to Your glory. Make our hearts as pure as theirs even as we mourn, and grant us the strength to embark on our duties.
Thank You, Jesus,
Original StAgnes.net prayer. Copying prohibited, except with source.
Amen.”
The resurrection of Jesus Christ clearly implies that there’s eternal life after death.
However, as indicated in 2 Peter 3:13, only those who keep the promises of the Lord will be rewarded the resurrection to a new Heaven and Earth where righteousness stays.
In the Catholic Church, you can rest assured that your prayer of the faithful for the departed enhances their journey to eternal rest and shift their souls in purgatory to a better place.
Let these encouraging Bible scriptures build your faith in peaceful life after the death of your loved one:
“Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” — Ecclesiastes 12:7.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” — Psalm 73:26.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.“ — John 3:16.
Read these prayers for dead mom in heaven.
4) Powerful Prayer for the Deceased
“Creator God,
We have gathered here today in prayer for our deceased loved one, (name of the departed), asking You to receive them in Your mighty and warm hands.
Grant us the grace to accept that they aren’t here with us anymore and appreciate their destiny, which is far better than life on earth.
May You heal our wounds and shower us with peace and grace to move on with life. Strengthen us and clear any doubts about Your goodness from our minds.
Thank You, Lord.
Original StAgnes.net prayer. Copying prohibited, except with source.
Amen.”
Funerals have, for many years, been a part of the human mourning process. Even when Jesus died, He was laid in a tomb where no one had ever been laid before because it was part of the Jewish day of preparation.
By burying our loved ones, Christians emulate the Bible’s practices and signify that we believe in life after death. The above powerful prayer can bring ultimate peace of mind and comfort to the grieving.
Sometimes, gathering enough words to say during a funeral or memorial service of a loved one can be challenging.
In such times, you can also read Psalms 23:4:
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.“
5) Catholic Prayer for the Family of the Deceased
“Almighty and Eternal God,
I commend to You the family of (name of the deceased), which is currently mourning the death of their loved one.
May they find peace in Your arms, for You’re their creator from the dust of the earth. May Christ Jesus, who died for our sins, welcome the departed into His paradise garden.
Please forgive their sins and cleanse their souls so they may be part of those who are called upon Your kingdom.
Holy Mary, pray for them, Amen.”
Original StAgnes.net prayer. Copying prohibited, except with source.
Losing a loved one is horrible and impacts not just our happiness but can quickly deteriorate our performances at work, school, and in different relationships.
However, the Catholic prayer for the deceased’s family can go a long way in ensuring comfort, healing and restoration of happiness.
Simultaneously, you shouldn’t think that the death of your loved one results from God’s punishment for their sins or your family’s unrighteous deeds.
Every believer is bound to die someday; thus, we should all be prepared by living according to His word. Remember that “blessed are those who mourn, for God will comfort them” — Matthew 5:4.
Before you leave, try these prayers for a death in the family.
Can I Print These Prayers?
Yes. You can print these prayers at your convenience for future use, better recitation, to be used at upcoming funerals, or for any other personal reasons. Printed prayers can be used on many occasions every time you need them.
Can I Pray More than One Prayer?
Of course! You can pray more than one of the above prayers, each tailored to suit the situation you’re praying about.
The Bible doesn’t limit the number of times we can pray for our departed loved ones, regardless of how long they have been gone.
Will These Prayers Help the Deceased?
Absolutely! You can trust in the above prayers to help your deceased loved one in different aspects, such as blessing whatever they did on earth, including their children, investments, and pending projects.
Final Thoughts
While every believer is assured to die one day, it’s still so devastating when one losses a loved one. The good thing is that we are guaranteed to meet them again in paradise with more permanent happiness and unity.
Above all, the Bible urges all believers to live righteously and spend their time on earth serving God so they will be received into His kingdom when they die.
