Catholic

Eternal Rest (Prayer for the Faithful Departed)

A short prayer for the dead rooted in the Requiem Mass, prayed for anyone who has died and especially for the souls in Purgatory.

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Praying for Those Who Can No Longer Pray for Themselves

This short prayer takes its opening words from the historic Requiem Mass (the Mass for the Dead), whose Latin opening — Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine ("Grant them eternal rest, O Lord") — gave the entire Requiem liturgy its name. Praying for the dead rests on the Church's teaching on Purgatory: that some who die in God's friendship still need final purification before entering the joy of heaven (CCC 1030-1032), and that the prayers of the living can genuinely help them (2 Maccabees 12:46 is cited as the classic scriptural basis). It is commonly prayed at wakes, funerals, on All Souls' Day (November 2), and any time a Catholic hears of a death.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

For One Person

Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him/her. May his/her soul, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Helper

  1. This is one of the simplest ways to respond faithfully to news of a death — even a stranger's — when you don't know what else to say or pray.
  2. Many Catholics pray this whenever passing a cemetery, hearing a siren, or seeing a memorial — small habitual moments of intercession for the dead.
  3. It pairs naturally with the Eternal Rest indulgence traditionally associated with visiting a cemetery, especially during the first week of November.

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