FOR THE DAY OF ALL SOULS 

(2 NOV)

PRAYERS (traditional language)

FOR ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED

In peace let us pray to the Lord.
    Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord: Grant, we beseech thee, to thy whole Church in paradise and on earth, thy light and thy peace.
    Grant that all those who have been baptized into Christ's death and resurrection may die to sin and rise to newness of life, and that through the grave and gate of death we may pass with him to our joyful resurrection.
    Grant to us who are still in our pilgrimage, and who walk as yet by faith, that thy Holy Spirit may lead us in holiness and righteousness all our days.
    Grant to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that we may be cleansed from all our sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind.
    Grant to all who mourn a sure confidence in thy fatherly care, that, casting all their grief upon thee, they may know the consolation of thy love.
    Give courage and faith to those who are bereaved, that they may have strength to meet the days ahead in the comfort of a reasonable and holy hope, in the joyful expectation of eternal life with those they love.
    Help us, we pray, in the midst of things we cannot understand, to believe and trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to life everlasting.
    Grant us, with all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, to have our consummation and bliss in thine eternal and everlasting glory, and, with all thy saints, to receive the crown of life which thou dost promise to all who share in the victory of thy Son Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Father of all, we pray to thee for those we love, but see no longer: Grant them thy peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and in thy loving wisdom and almighty power, work in them the good purpose of thy perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, we pray thee to set thy passion, cross, and death, between thy judgement and our souls, now and in the hour of our death. Give mercy and grace to the living, pardon and rest to the dead, to thy holy Church peace and concord, and to us sinners everlasting life and glory; who with the Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest, one God, now and ever.

Lord Jesus Christ, who by thy death didst take away the sting of death: Grant to us thy servants so to follow in faith where thou hast led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in thee, and awake after thy likeness; for thy tender mercies' sake.

O Almighty God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, who by a voice from heaven didst proclaim, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord: Multiply, we beseech thee, to those who rest in Jesus the manifold blessings of thy love, that the good work which thou didst begin in them may be made perfect unto the day of Jesus Christ. And of thy mercy, O heavenly Father, grant that we, who now serve thee on earth, may at last, together with them, be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; for the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
 

FOR A DEPARTED FRIEND

Gravestone of my wife's great-great grandparents; in Mendham, NJ

Into thy hands, O merciful Savior, we commend thy servant N., now departed from the body. Acknowledge, we, humbly beseech thee, O Lord, a sheep of thine own fold, a lamb of thine own flock, a sinner of thine own redeeming. Receive (him/her) into the arms of thy mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light.

O God, whose mercies cannot be numbered: Accept our prayers on behalf of thy servant N., and grant (him/her) an entrance into the land of light and joy, in the fellowship of thy saints; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Remember thy servant, O Lord, according to the favor which thou bearest unto thy people; and grant that, increasing in knowledge and love of thee, (he/she) may go from strength to strength in the life of perfect service in thy heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty God, we remember this day before thee thy faithful servant N., and we pray that, having opened to (him/her) the gates of larger life, thou wilt receive (him/her) more and more into thy joyful service, that (he/she) may win with thee and all thy servants everywhere the eternal victory, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Into thy hands, O Lord, we commend thy servant, our dear (brother/sister), as into the hands of a faithful Creator and most merciful Savior, beseeching thee that (he/she) may be precious in thy sight. Wash (him/her), we pray thee, in the blood of that immaculate Lamb that was slain to take away the sins of the world; that, whatsoever defilements (he/she) may have contracted in the midst of this earthly life being purged and done away, (he/she) may be presented pure and without spot before thee; through the merits of Jesus Christ thine only Son our Lord.
 

FOR THOSE WHO MOURN

    Lord, Jesus Christ, the Resurrection and the Life:
    Thou didst console Martha and Mary in their distress; draw near to us who mourn, and dry the tears of those who weep.
    Thou didst weep at the grave of thy friend Lazarus; comfort us in our sorrow.
    Thou didst raise the dead to life; give to our (brother/sister) eternal life.
    Thou didst promise paradise to the thief who repented; bring our (brother/sister) to the joys of heaven.
    Our (brother/sister) was washed in Baptism and annointed with the Holy Spirit; give (him/her) fellowship with all thy saints.
    (He/She) was nourished with thy Body and Blood; grant (him/her) a place at the table in your heavenly kingdom.
    Comfort us in our sorrows at the death of our (brother/sister); let our faith be our consolation, and eternal life our hope.

Almighty God, Father of all mercies and giver of comfort: Deal graciously, we pray, with all who mourn; that, casting all their care upon thee, they may know the consolation of thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty God, look with pity upon the sorrows of thy servants for whom we pray. Remember them, Lord, in mercy; nourish them with patience; comfort them with a sense of thy goodness; lift up thy countenance upon them; and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 

PRAYERS (contemporary language)

FOR ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED

    In peace let us pray to the Lord.
    Almighty God, who have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Grant to your whole Church in paradise and on earth, your light and your peace.
    Grant that all those who have been baptized into Christ's death and resurrection may die to sin and rise to newness of life, and that through the grave and gate of death we may pass with him to our joyful resurrection.
    Grant to us who are still in our pilgrimage, and who walk as yet by faith, that your Holy Spirit may lead us in holiness and righteousness all our days.
    Grant to your faithful people pardon and peace, that we may be cleansed from all our sins, and serve you with a quiet mind.
    Grant to all who mourn a sure confidence in your fatherly care, that, casting all their grief upon you, they may know the consolation of your love.
    Give courage and faith to those who are bereaved, that they may have strength to meet the days ahead in the comfort of a reasonable and holy hope, in the joyful expectation of eternal life with those they love.
    Help us, in the midst of things we cannot understand, to believe and trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to life everlasting.
    Grant us, with all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, to have our consummation and bliss in your eternal and everlasting glory, and, with all your saints, to receive the crown of life which you promise to all who share in the victory of your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Father of all, we pray to you for those we love, but see no longer: Grant them your peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and in your loving wisdom and almighty power, work in them the good purpose of your perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, we pray you to set your passion, cross, and death, between your judgement and our souls, now and in the hour of our death. Give mercy and grace to the living, pardon and rest to the dead, to your holy Church peace and concord, and to us sinners everlasting life and glory; who with the Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest, one God, now and ever.

Lord Jesus Christ, who by your death have taken away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you, and awake after your likeness; for your tender mercies' sake.

O Almighty God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, who by a voice from heaven proclaimed, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord: Multiply, we pray, to those who rest in Jesus the abundant blessings of your love, that the good work which you have begun in them may be made perfect unto the day of Jesus Christ. And of your mercy, O heavenly Father, grant that we, who now serve you on earth, may at last, together with them, be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
 

FOR A DEPARTED FRIEND

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant N., now departed from the body. Acknowledge, we, humbly beseech you, O Lord, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive (him/her) into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light.

O God, whose mercies cannot be numbered: Accept our prayers on behalf of your servant N., and grant (him/her) an entrance into the land of light and joy, in the fellowship of your saints; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Remember your servant, O Lord, according to the favor which you bear to your people; and grant that, increasing in knowledge and love of you, (he/she) may go from strength to strength in the life of perfect service in your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty God, we remember before you today your faithful servant N., and we pray that, having opened to (him/her) the gates of larger life, you wilt receive (him/her) more and more into your joyful service, that (he/she) may win with you and all your servants everywhere the eternal victory, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend your servant, our dear (brother/sister), as into the hands of a faithful Creator and most merciful Savior, beseeching you that (he/she) may be precious in your sight. Wash (him/her), we pray you, in the blood of that immaculate Lamb that was slain to take away the sins of the world; that, with every defilement (he/she) may have contracted in the course of this earthly life purged and done away, (he/she) may be presented pure and wiyout spot before you; through the merits of Jesus Christ your only Son our Lord.
 

FOR THOSE WHO MOURN

    Lord, Jesus Christ, the Resurrection and the Life:
    You consoled Martha and Mary in their distress; draw near to us who mourn, and dry the tears of those who weep.
    You wept at the grave of Lazarus, your friend; comfort us in our sorrow.
    You raised the dead to life; give to our (brother/sister) eternal life.
    You promised paradise to the thief who repented; bring our (brother/sister) to the joys of heaven.
    Our (brother/sister) was washed in Baptism and annointed with the Holy Spirit; give (him/her) fellowship with all thy saints.
    (He/She) was nourished with your Body and Blood; grant (him/her) a place at the table in your heavenly kingdom.
    Comfort us in our sorrows at the death of our (brother/sister); let our faith be our consolation, and eternal life our hope.

Almighty God, Father of all mercies and giver of comfort: Deal graciously, we pray, with all who mourn; that, casting all their care upon you, they may know the consolation of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty God, look with pity upon the sorrows of your servants for whom we pray. Remember them, Lord, in mercy; nourish them with patience; comfort them with a sense of your goodness; lift up your countenance upon them; and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.