Prayers for the Departed and Those Who Have Died
When someone we love dies, our love for them does not end. Christians have long prayed for the departed, entrusting them to God's mercy and asking that they rest in his peace. This section of our Christian Prayer Library gathers prayers for those who have died: parents, husbands and wives, children and friends, and those with no one left to pray for them.
Praying for the dead is part of Catholic and Orthodox tradition and is also practised by some Anglicans and Lutherans. For prayers to comfort those who mourn, see our Grief and Loss prayers.
Christian Prayers for the Faithful Departed
A Short Prayer for Someone Who Has Died
Merciful God, I entrust [Name] to your love. Thank you for the gift of their life and for all they meant to me. Forgive what was left undone, heal what was broken, and welcome them into your peace. Let them rest with you, and keep me in hope until the day we meet again. Amen.
Scripture reference:
John 11:25 — “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.’”
Eternal Rest
This short prayer comes from the Latin Requiem aeternam, which Catholics have prayed for the dead for centuries; Anglicans and Lutherans pray it in their own English forms. When praying for one person, say “him” or “her”. The English here is a new translation from the Latin made for this page.
Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
Scripture reference:
Hebrews 4:9 — “There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God.”
Prayer for a Mother or Father Who Has Died
Lord, I thank you for my mother (my father), who gave me life and so much of who I am. I still hear their voice in my own. Forgive what was hard between us, and keep all that was good. Receive them into your rest, and let them see your face. Teach me to carry their love forward to those who come after me. Amen.
Scripture reference:
2 Timothy 4:7 — “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Prayer for a Husband or Wife Who Has Died
Lord, the other half of my life is gone, and the house is too quiet. Thank you for the years we shared, for the ordinary days I would give anything to have back. Hold [Name] in your love now, as I tried to hold them. Give them rest and joy in your presence, and give me courage to keep living until we meet again. Amen.
Scripture reference:
Song of Songs 8:6 — “For love is as strong as death.”
Prayer for a Child Who Has Died
Lord Jesus, you welcomed the little children and took them in your arms. Hold our child now. We wanted so much more time. We trust that [Name] is safe with you, even as our hearts are broken. Let them know our love, and keep us close to you until we hold them again. Amen.
Scripture reference:
Mark 10:14 — “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them!”
Prayer for Those Who Have No One to Pray for Them
Lord, remember those who died alone, those whose names are forgotten, and those who have no one left to pray for them. The world may not remember them, but you never forget anyone you have made. Receive them with mercy and give them rest. Let none of your children be lost. Amen.
Scripture reference:
Luke 12:6 — “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.”
With the Saints Give Rest: An Orthodox Prayer for the Departed
Orthodox Christians sing this short hymn at memorial services for the departed, and the service ends with the words “Memory eternal”. The English here is a new translation from the Greek made for this page.
With the saints give rest, O Christ, to the soul of your servant, where there is no pain, no sorrow and no sighing, but life without end. Memory eternal.
Scripture reference:
Revelation 21:4 — “‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Prayer at a Graveside or on an Anniversary
Lord, I have come back to remember [Name]. Time has passed, but the love has not. Thank you for the life we shared and for the memories that still make me smile. Keep [Name] in your peace, and keep me faithful, so that one day we may be together with you. Amen.
Scripture reference:
Romans 14:8 — “If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
Prayer for All Souls' Day
On 2 November, Catholics remember all the faithful departed on All Souls' Day, and many Anglicans and Lutherans keep the day as well.
Lord of the living and the dead, today we remember all who have gone before us: our families and friends, those who taught us the faith, and the countless souls known only to you. Have mercy on them, and bring them into the light of your presence. Grant them eternal rest, and give us hope as we wait for the resurrection. Amen.
Scripture reference:
Psalm 130:5–6 — “I wait for the LORD; my soul does wait, and in His word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.”
The Eternal Rest prayer and the Orthodox hymn are newly translated for this page; all other prayers are original prayers written for the Piece of Holy Land Christian Prayer Library. Where you see [Name], use the name of the person who has died. Scripture quotations are taken from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), which is in the public domain.
