Death and dying are parts of life. While some people fear them, others draw inspiration from death.
As nurses, it’s inevitable for us to see some of our patients die and their families deeply grieve for them. Although we can’t bring back their loved ones, there are still ways for us to provide comfort, strength and guidance to the families our patients left behind.
Here are 10 powerful prayers for the departed.
For the recently deceased
In your hands, O Lord,
we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters.
In this life you embraced them with your tender love;
deliver them now from every evil
and bid them eternal rest.
The old order has passed away:
welcome them 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.
Prayer for the souls in purgatory
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Prayer for deceased relatives and friends
Almighty Father, source of forgiveness and salvation, grant that our relatives and friends who have passed from this life may, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints, come to share your Eternal happiness through Christ our Lord. Amen
Prayers for the deceased for forgiveness and peace and for mourners
Lord Jesus, our Redeemer, You willingly gave Yourself up to death so that all people might be saved and pass from death into a new life. Listen to our prayers; look with love on Your people who mourn and pray for their dead brother/sister.
Lord Jesus, You alone are holy and compassionate; forgive our brother/sister his/her sins.
By dying You opened the gates of life for those who believe in You; do not let Your brother/sister be parted from You, but by Your glorious power give him/her light, joy, and peace in heaven where You live for ever and ever. Amen.
My brother (sister) in faith, I entrust you to God Who created you.
May you return to the One Who formed you from the dust of this earth.
May Mary, the angels, and all the saints come to meet you as you go forth from this life.
May Christ Who was crucified for you bring you freedom and peace.
May Christ, the Son of God, Who died for you take you into His kingdom.
May Christ, the Good Shepherd, give you a place within His flock.
May He forgive your sins and keep you among His people.
May you see your Redeemer face to face and enjoy the sight of God forever. Amen.
Prayer for a deceased friend
I commend you, my dear to almighty God, and entrust you to your Creator.
May you rest in the arms of the Lord who formed you from the dust of the earth.
May holy Mary, the angels, and all the saints welcome you now that you have gone forth from this life.
May Christ who was crucified for you, bring you freedom and peace.
May Christ who died for you admit you into his garden of paradise.
May Christ, the true Shepherd, embrace you as one of his flock.
May he forgive all your sins and set you among those he has chosen.
May you see your Redeemer face to face and enjoy the vision of God, forever.
Prayer for unexpected death
Heavenly Father we know and believe that our times are in Your hands, but Lord it’s so often such a shock to us when a dear loved one meets with a sudden or unexpected death – through an accident or perhaps due to some unforeseen tragedy, which takes the life of someone they loved – long before it would be expected.
Lord, we bring before You today those who are having to go through such a tragic loss and pray that You would be very close to each one that is in mourning today over such a loss – and are perhaps confused or even angry that such a devastating occurrence has overtaken them – without any apparent warning.
You are the God of all comfort Who comforts us in time of need and we pray that for those that are facing such a difficult trial today. Uphold them we pray, and ask that You draw very close to them … raise up we pray, the right people to minister to them and to be a genuine comfort and support at this time of tragedy and grief.
Lord, we don’t understand why our loved ones should suddenly be removed from us through a sudden, unexpected death – but Lord we trust You to soothe away the hurt in time – for shall not the God of all the earth do right…. In Jesus name, we pray,
Amen.
Prayer for deceased parents
O God, Who has commanded us
to honor our father and mother,
have compassion in Thy mercy,
on the souls of my father and mother;
forgive them their sins,
and grant that I may see them
in the joy of eternal brightness.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer after violent death
Father, we bring before You those that have had the devastating experience of having someone close to them that they know and love, suffer a sudden, violent and needless death. Lord how we grieve for those that are having to experience this right now, and we pray that in Your grace You would look down with pity and mercy and meet them right at their point of need.
Lord, You are the one Who was sent to heal the broken-hearted and comfort those that mourn and are heavy-laden. You are the One Who promised that Your grace is sufficient for every eventuality – even for those having to face the sudden and violent death of someone close to them. Draw near to them we pray and lift them up into You arms of love and carry them during this time of suffering and grief for You have promised that underneath are Your everlasting arms.
Lord, as we lift up in prayer those that are having to come to terms with the sudden and violent death of a loved one – we pray that You would use this tragedy to be the thing that starts to draw each suffering soul into the tender arms of their Saviour – the Lord Jesus Christ, in Whose name we pray,
Amen.
Prayer for a deceased brother, relative or friend
You are, O God,
quick to pardon and desire man’s salvation.
In Your goodness we ask You to grant our deceased brothers,
relatives, and friends everlasting happiness.
With the help of Blessed Mary ever Virgin
and all Your saints,
we ask this through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer to say on the day of a person’s death
O God, Whose property is always to have mercy and to spare, we humbly beseech Thee for the soul of Thy servant N…, which Thou hast this day commanded to depart out of this world, that Thou wouldst not deliver it into the hands of the enemy, nor forget it unto the end, but wouldst command it to be received by the Holy Angels, and conducted to Paradise, its true country; that as in Thee it hath hoped and believed, it may not suffer the pains of hell, but may take possession of eternal joys.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
See Also: 10 Inspiring Songs To Help With Grief
Share these beautiful prayers to friends or family who need them.
♥ Connect with NurseBuff on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter!
www.nursebuff.com
Christians have called for prayers of peace in Sudan after the death of Vice President John Garang triggered riots in the capital city of Khartoum on Monday, killing an estimated 36 people.
Director of communication for the Persecution Project Foundation (PPF) Matthew Chancey said: “Pray that a spirit of peace will prevail. The comprehensive peace agreement in Southern Sudan can open many doors to establish an important Christian beachhead in one of the largest Muslim countries in the world.”
Mr Chancey also praised the work of President Garang in supporting and protecting Christianity in Sudan: “President Garang was instrumental in keeping Islamic law from being enforced in Southern Sudan, clearing the way for more Christian missions and freedom of conscience.”
“Garang was extremely supportive of PPF’s efforts to start our Radio Peace project, Sudan’s only Christian radio station. His commitment to Christian education resulted in the founding of the Nakwatom Heritage Academy (another PPF-supported ministry), which provides an explicitly Christian education to hundreds of orphans in southern Sudan. His death is a tragic loss, but we trust in a Sovereign God who reigns over all governments of the earth.”
Garang was killed in a helicopter crash on Saturday near the Sudan-Kenya border. Just three weeks earlier, swathes of supporters had swarmed Garang when he took up his office as Vice President, with many in both Sudan and the international community hopeful that the peace advocate would follow in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela in South Africa to see in a new era of peace in Sudan.
Garang was expected to lead the peaceful reintegration of southern Sudan, a primarily Christian and animist region which has suffered economic devastation after 20 years of civil war with the northern Islamic government. Two million people have died in the conflict owing to hunger and disease.
A curfew was imposed by the Sudanese government from 6:00pm Monday to 6:00am Tuesday in order to restore calm to the capital.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged on Monday for people to remain calm and to see through the historic peace deal signed in January by Garang.
Mr Annan expressed his own regret at the death of the former southern rebel leader. “It was with great sorrow that I learned about the death of Vice President Garang,” he said, calling Mr Garang “a man who had lived and fought for peace and one united Sudan.”
“And just as he was on the verge of achieving what he has lived and fought for, he is taken away from us,” said Mr Annan. “But what is important is tat the Sudanese continue with the process of reconciliation and the process of peace.”
Garang, the leader of the former rebel Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), was a key figure in the peace process to end the great north-south conflict, signing a peace deal with the Khartoum government in January earlier this year.
Mr Annan said: “I hope that spirit, that legacy from Garang, will stay with all the people of Sudan, whether they are from the north or the south, or the east or west.
“They should make peace irreversible in Sudan and work to bring stability to this troubled land.”
www.christiantoday.com
