PRAYER SERVICE FOR THE DEAD ”Do not let your hearts be troubled.
”Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God and faith in Me. In my
Father’s house, there are many dwelling places; otherwise, how could I have
OPENING PRAYER told you that I was going to prepare a place for you, and then, I shall come
back to take you with me, that where I am you may also be. You know the
way that leads where I go?”
Leader: Let us all remember that we are in God’s holy Presence
“Lord,” said Thomas, “We do not know where You are going, how can we
O God of love and mercy, the people gathered here today/tonight ask for
know the way?”
your mercy and a deep faith. Help us to understand and to believe in the
words of your son, Jesus Christ, who said, “I am the Resurrection and the
Jesus told him, ”I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the
Life, whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.” (John 11:25)
Father but through Me.”
With these assuring words of our Master, Jesus Christ, we come to know that
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
death is not the end of life. Life never ends, it only changes.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
With faith in our hearts, we gather here today/tonight to pray for our beloved
brother/sister, (name of deceased), and for all his/her loved ones who will be
left behind. As one community, let us begin our paraliturgy: IN THE NAME
HOLY ROSARY
OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Leader: Please be seated as we recite a decade of the Holy Rosary
All: Amen.
SILENT REFLECTION
Reader 1: Lord help us to see death for what it really is:
The end of poverty and the beginning of riches; Leader: Let us now pray for our brother/sister, (name of deceased),
The end of frustration and the beginning of fulfillment; who was called from this earthly life to enjoy fullness of life in God’s eternal
The end of fear and the beginning tranquility; kingdom. Let us all say: Lord have mercy on your SON/DAUGHTER, (name
The end of pain and the beginning of joy; of deceased).
The end of weakness and the beginning of strength.
All: Lord have mercy on your SON/DAUGHTER, (name of deceased)
Reader 2: Let no grief over whelm us, or a sense of loss embitter us.
But out of sadness let there arise a new joy for so much is given to us. Cast Reader 4: Before he/she was formed in his/her mother’s womb, You
out all our fear and let not our hearts be troubled. Let your Spirit of peace knew him/her, You created him/her into Your own image and likeness, we
come alive within our experience and hurt, our sorrow and isolation, our implore You now to grant him/her eternal peace and happiness. Let us pray
sadness today and loneliness tomorrow. to the Lord.
Leader: Let us sing the ALLELUIA All: Lord have mercy on your SON/DAUGHTER, (name of deceased)
GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY
BEGOTTEN SON THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM MAY NOT PERISH Reader 4: In Baptism, You have given him/her the seed of eternal life
BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. so that one day, he/she will see You, his saving God, face to face. We beg
You to grant him/her eternal light. Let us pray to the Lord.
GOSPEL
All: Lord have mercy on your SON/DAUGHTER, (name of deceased)
Reader 3: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.
Reader 4: We humbly commend you (name of deceased) whom You
have called out of this mortal life. You loved him/her always with great love.
Now that You have freed him/her from all evils of this earth, bring him/her
into Your paradise where there is no more grief or mourning or sadness but Leader: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
peace and joy with Your Son and the Holy Spirit. Let us pray to the Lord.
All: As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without
All: Lord have mercy on your SON/DAUGHTER, (name of deceased) end. AMEN.
Reader 4: We thank You for all the blessings You have given to our (Repeat three times > Eternal Rest... until Glory Be)
brother/sister, (name of deceased), in his/her mortal life. We pray that he/she
may be able to glorify you with the life that he/she lived and the way he/she Leader: IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER (+) AND OF THE SON
made use of his/her blessings. Let us pray to the Lord. AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
All: Lord have mercy on your SON/DAUGHTER, (name of deceased) All: Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER Note: Please return this copy to the Music and Praise Chorale. Thank you.
Leader: Together let us pray the LORD’S PRAYER.
Reader 5: (to be read by a relative of the deceased)
We pray for the healing of all unhappy feelings (reader’s relation to the
deceased) death now leaves in our hearts. Be with us Lord, during our
moments of sorrow and loneliness. You are our rock, our fortress and our
strength. We trust in You and hope in Your glorious resurrection. We lift up to
You our grief and sorrow confident that You will change our mourning to
rejoicing that our beloved (reader’s relation to the deceased) now rests in Your
peace.
All: Amen.
CLOSING PRAYER
Leader: Eternal rest grant unto (name of deceased) O Lord.
All: And let Your perpetual light shine upon him/her.
Leader: May he/she rest in peace.
All: Amen.
Leader: May the soul of (name of deceased) and the souls of all the
faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
All: Amen.
