Prayer for the Dying (Short Form)

Praying for the dying is one of the oldest and most loving works of Christian charity. The final hours of life can bring great physical and spiritual struggle, and the Church has always surrounded the dying with prayer, the sacraments, and the intercession of Our Lady and the saints.

This short prayer appeals to Jesus through His own agony in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross. It can be said at a hospital bedside, in hospice, or at home with a dying loved one, and also for the thousands of people around the world who will die today without anyone praying for them. If someone is near death, call a priest as well so they can receive the Last Rites.

The Prayer

O most merciful Jesus, by the agony Thou didst suffer in the Garden and on the Cross, have mercy on the dying. Amen.

Traditional prayer for the dying; classic manuals, public domain.