Spiritual Guidance
A Treasury of Inspired & Inspiring Words
Part 5 / A Litany for the Dead

A Litany for the Dead

Let us pray for those who have passed through the gates of death
and await God's abundant mercy:

For those who died from sickness, disease or addiction,
For those who died in fire, floods or natural disasters,
For those who died from hunger, thirst or malnutrition, we pray:
Be merciful, O Lord, and take them to yourself.

For those who died slowly, painfully or from prolonged illness,
For those who died in shame or guilt,
For those who died in poverty-stricken or dehumanizing conditions, we pray:
Be merciful, O Lord, and take them to yourself.

For those who died suddenly or unexpectedly,
For those who died by violence, abuse or neglect,
For those who died at the hands of loved ones, we pray:
Be merciful, O Lord, and take them to yourself.

For those who died in times of war,
For those who died in acts of terrorism,
For those who died by execution, we pray:
Be merciful, O Lord, and take them to yourself.

For those who died at birth,
For those who died in the womb and by abortion,
For those who died prematurely in their youth, we pray:
Be merciful, O Lord, and take them to yourself.

For those who died by suicide, in despair or without hope,
For those who died unreconciled with another or family, with the church or with God,
For those who died alone or unloved, unmourned or forgotten, we pray:
Be merciful, O Lord, and take them to yourself.

For those who died in sorrow or regret,
For those who died amidst broken promises and unfulfilled dreams,
For those who died in accidental or tragic circumstances, we pray:
Be merciful, O Lord, and take them to yourself.

For those who died as innocent victims,
For those who died for the sake of others,
For those who died defending life and protecting the innocent, we pray:
Be merciful, O Lord, and take them to yourself.

For those who died in witness to the truth and justice,
For those who died in witness to faith, hope and love,
For those who died peacefully surrounded by family and friends, we pray:
Be merciful, O Lord, and take them to yourself.

For those who died prayerfully in the hope of rising again,
For those who died fortified by the Sacraments of the Church and nourished by the Bread of Life,
For those who have died from our family or from among our friends, especially… we pray:
Be merciful, O Lord, and take them to yourself.

Let us pray.
To you, O God, the dead do not die, in death our life is changed, not ended. Hear our prayers and command the souls of our servants to dwell with Abraham and Sarah, your friends, and be raised at last on the great day of judgment. In your mercy cleanse them of any sin which they may have committed through human frailty. We ask this through Christ, our Risen Lord. Amen.

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