Immediately After Death
The following prayers may be recited immediately after death and may be repeated in the hours that follow.
Saints of God, come to his/her aid!
Come to meet him/her, Angels of the Lord!
R/. 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 Abraham’s side. R/.
Give him/her eternal rest, O Lord,
and may your light shine on him/her forever. R/.
Let us pray.
All-powerful and merciful God,
we commend to you N., your servant.
In your mercy and love,
blot out the sins he/she has committed
through human weakness.
In this world he/she has died:
let him/her live with you forever.
Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
These verses may also be used.
V/. Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord.
R/. And let perpetual light shine upon him/her.
V/. May he/she rest in peace.
R/. Amen.
V/. May his/her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God,
rest in peace.
R/. Amen.
Later After Death
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.