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Two women in mourning embrace at a grave marked with a stone cross, one hanging a wreath on it (William-Adolphe Bouguereau, The Day of the Dead, 1859)

Catholic Prayers for the Dead and the Grieving

 

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The Day of the Dead (1859), William-Adolphe Bouguereau. Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux. Public domain.

 

Love doesn't end at the grave, and neither does prayer. From the earliest centuries Christians have prayed for those who have died. They wrote prayers on the walls of the catacombs, remembered the dead at every Mass, and kept vigil at their graves. Scripture calls it "a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins" (2 Maccabees 12:46).

The Church teaches that those who die in God's friendship, but not yet fully purified, are certain of heaven and pass through a final cleansing first. We call this purgatory. Our prayers, the Mass, and small sacrifices can help them on their way home. Praying for them is one of the spiritual works of mercy, and a quiet way of staying close to the people we love.

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Prayers for a Loved One Who Has Died

  • Eternal Rest Prayer: the short traditional prayer for the dead, for a graveside, a funeral, or the end of the day.

  • Prayer for a Departed Soul: a traditional prayer for a deceased father or mother, asking God's mercy and the hope of meeting again.

  • Prayer for the Living and the Dead: asking the Father, through the Precious Blood of Jesus, for mercy on everyone, living and departed, in the communion of saints.

Prayers for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

Novenas and Devotions

  • Holy Souls Novena: nine days of prayer for the souls in purgatory, often prayed October 24 to November 1 so that it ends on the eve of All Souls Day.

  • Gregorian Masses: an old custom of having thirty Masses said on thirty days in a row for one person who has died. It is named after Pope St. Gregory the Great. Ask your parish or a religious community if they can arrange them.

  • Find more novenas: see the Novenas page for how to pray a novena.

Keep these prayers free for everyone who is grieving: support Daily Catholic Prayers starting at $5.

Prayers at the Hour of Death

Prayers for Those Who Grieve

  • For parents who have lost a child: the Holy Innocents, the infant martyrs of Bethlehem, are often remembered by families grieving a little one.

  • In sorrow, turn to Mary: Our Lady of Sorrows stood at the foot of the Cross and knows the grief of losing a child. St. Monica and her son St. Augustine also show us how to mourn with hope.

All Souls Day and November

If you'd like to help keep this site going, you can support Daily Catholic Prayers starting at $5.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Catholics pray for the dead?

Because we believe that death doesn't break the bond of love in the Body of Christ. The Church on earth, the saints in heaven, and the souls in purgatory are one family, the communion of saints. Those who die in God's grace but are not yet fully purified pass through purgatory before they enter heaven. Scripture praises praying for the dead (2 Maccabees 12:46), and the Church has done it from the beginning, above all at Mass. The Catechism also recommends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance for the dead (CCC 1030–1032).

What is the Eternal Rest prayer?

It is the best-known Catholic prayer for the dead, taken from the old Requiem Mass:

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

For one person, say "grant unto him" or "grant unto her." Many Catholics add "May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace." It is often prayed at night prayers, when passing a cemetery, or when hearing of a death. See the full Eternal Rest Prayer.

When is All Souls Day?

All Souls Day, the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, is on November 2, the day after All Saints Day. In 2026 it falls on a Monday. It is not a holy day of obligation, but going to Mass is a beautiful way to pray for your dead. From November 1 to 8, a Catholic who devoutly visits a cemetery and prays for the dead can gain a plenary indulgence for the souls in purgatory once a day. The usual conditions apply: sacramental confession, Holy Communion, prayer for the Pope's intentions, and freedom from attachment to sin.

Can I have a Mass said for someone who died?

Yes. It is one of the greatest things you can do for someone who has died. Call or visit your parish office and give the name of the person. Ask for a date such as the anniversary of the death or a birthday if you like. It is customary to give the priest a small stipend. The usual amount is set locally, and the parish office can tell you. You can also have Masses said for the living, and you are always welcome to attend the Mass you requested.

Can I pray for someone who was not Catholic, or who died suddenly?

Yes. We may pray for anyone who has died, and leave them to God's mercy, which is greater than we can imagine. At Mass the Church prays for all the dead, including those whose faith is known to God alone. Even after a death by suicide, the Catechism teaches that we should not despair of that person's salvation, because God can provide in ways known only to Him (CCC 2283). Pray for them with confidence.

If these prayers help you, you can support Daily Catholic Prayers, a private passion project, starting at $5.

Catholic Prayers for the Dead and the Grieving

 

Cover: William-Adolphe Bouguereau, The Day of the Dead (1859), Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux. Public domain.

Love doesn't end at the grave, and neither does prayer. From the earliest centuries Christians have prayed for those who have died. They wrote prayers on the walls of the catacombs, remembered the dead at every Mass, and kept vigil at their graves. Scripture calls it "a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins" (2 Maccabees 12:46).

The Church teaches that those who die in God's friendship, but not yet fully purified, are certain of heaven and pass through a final cleansing first. We call this purgatory. Our prayers, the Mass, and small sacrifices can help them on their way home. Praying for them is one of the spiritual works of mercy, and a quiet way of staying close to the people we love.

Prayer is also a comfort for those left behind. If you are grieving, you don't need special words. Begin with one short prayer, and let the Church pray with you. November is traditionally the month of the Holy Souls. It opens with All Saints Day on November 1 and All Souls Day on November 2, and it is a good time to visit a grave, light a candle, or have a Mass said for someone you miss.

Daily Catholic Prayers is a private passion project. If this page helps you pray for someone you love, you can support the site starting at $5.

Prayers for a Loved One Who Has Died

  • Eternal Rest Prayer: the short traditional prayer for the dead, for a graveside, a funeral, or the end of the day.

  • Prayer for a Departed Soul: a traditional prayer for a deceased father or mother, asking God's mercy and the hope of meeting again.

  • Prayer for the Living and the Dead: asking the Father, through the Precious Blood of Jesus, for mercy on everyone, living and departed, in the communion of saints.

Prayers for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

Novenas and Devotions

  • Holy Souls Novena: nine days of prayer for the souls in purgatory, often prayed October 24 to November 1 so that it ends on the eve of All Souls Day.

  • Gregorian Masses: an old custom of having thirty Masses said on thirty days in a row for one person who has died. It is named after Pope St. Gregory the Great. Ask your parish or a religious community if they can arrange them.

  • Find more novenas: see the Novenas page for how to pray a novena.

Prayers at the Hour of Death

Prayers for Those Who Grieve

  • For parents who have lost a child: the Holy Innocents, the infant martyrs of Bethlehem, are often remembered by families grieving a little one.

  • In sorrow, turn to Mary: Our Lady of Sorrows stood at the foot of the Cross and knows the grief of losing a child. St. Monica and her son St. Augustine also show us how to mourn with hope.

All Souls Day and November

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Catholics pray for the dead?

Because we believe that death doesn't break the bond of love in the Body of Christ. The Church on earth, the saints in heaven, and the souls in purgatory are one family, the communion of saints. Those who die in God's grace but are not yet fully purified pass through purgatory before they enter heaven. Scripture praises praying for the dead (2 Maccabees 12:46), and the Church has done it from the beginning, above all at Mass. The Catechism also recommends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance for the dead (CCC 1030–1032).

What is the Eternal Rest prayer?

It is the best-known Catholic prayer for the dead, taken from the old Requiem Mass:

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

For one person, say "grant unto him" or "grant unto her." Many Catholics add "May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace." It is often prayed at night prayers, when passing a cemetery, or when hearing of a death. See the full Eternal Rest Prayer.

When is All Souls Day?

All Souls Day, the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, is on November 2, the day after All Saints Day. In 2026 it falls on a Monday. It is not a holy day of obligation, but going to Mass is a beautiful way to pray for your dead. From November 1 to 8, a Catholic who devoutly visits a cemetery and prays for the dead can gain a plenary indulgence for the souls in purgatory once a day. The usual conditions apply: sacramental confession, Holy Communion, prayer for the Pope's intentions, and freedom from attachment to sin.

Can I have a Mass said for someone who died?

Yes. It is one of the greatest things you can do for someone who has died. Call or visit your parish office and give the name of the person. Ask for a date such as the anniversary of the death or a birthday if you like. It is customary to give the priest a small stipend. The usual amount is set locally, and the parish office can tell you. You can also have Masses said for the living, and you are always welcome to attend the Mass you requested.

Can I pray for someone who was not Catholic, or who died suddenly?

Yes. We may pray for anyone who has died, and leave them to God's mercy, which is greater than we can imagine. At Mass the Church prays for all the dead, including those whose faith is known to God alone. Even after a death by suicide, the Catechism teaches that we should not despair of that person's salvation, because God can provide in ways known only to Him (CCC 2283). Pray for them with confidence.

 

If these prayers help you, you can support Daily Catholic Prayers, a private passion project, starting at $5.

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