Prayers for the Dying
When someone we love is dying, we want to be present, to comfort them, to help them in any way we can. One of the most powerful things we can do is pray—for a peaceful passage, for God's mercy, and for eternal rest.
These traditional Catholic prayers have accompanied countless souls on their final journey. They can be prayed at the bedside, in the chapel, or wherever you are. Even if the dying person is unconscious, prayers can still be heard spiritually and offer them comfort.
Important: If possible, call a priest to administer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and Last Rites. These sacraments provide tremendous grace for the dying. Don't wait until the last moment—priests can come at any hour.
Prayer of Commendation
This traditional prayer commends the soul to God:
Go forth, Christian soul, from this world
in the name of God the almighty Father, who created you,
in the name of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who suffered for you,
in the name of the Holy Spirit, who was poured out upon you.
Go forth, faithful Christian.
May you live in peace this day,
may your home be with God in Zion,
with Mary, the virgin Mother of God,
with Joseph, and all the angels and saints.
Amen.
Litany for the Dying
Pray responsively if others are present, or pray all parts yourself:
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for him/her.
Holy angels of God, pray for him/her.
St. Joseph, patron of the dying, pray for him/her.
All holy saints of God, pray for him/her.
From all evil, deliver him/her, O Lord.
From every sin, deliver him/her, O Lord.
From eternal death, deliver him/her, O Lord.
By Your coming among us, deliver him/her, O Lord.
By Your suffering and cross, deliver him/her, O Lord.
By Your death and rising to new life, deliver him/her, O Lord.
Lord Jesus, receive [Name] into Your kingdom.
Amen.
Prayer of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
A beautiful traditional prayer, often repeated:
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you.
Amen.
Psalm 23 - The Lord Is My Shepherd
A deeply comforting psalm to read aloud:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Prayer Immediately After Death
Into your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brother/sister [Name].
In this life you embraced him/her with your tender love; deliver him/her now from every evil and bid him/her eternal rest.
The old order has passed away: welcome him/her 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.
Amen.
Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him/her.
May he/she rest in peace. Amen.
May his/her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.