Catholic Prayers for the Deceased & Departed
Praying for the dead is one of the most ancient and constant practices of the Catholic Church — a spiritual work of mercy that benefits both the living and the dead. These prayers gather the most widely used Catholic prayers for the deceased: the Eternal Rest, the Prayer of St. Gertrude, and prayers for All Souls Day and November.
The Month of November
November is the month the Catholic Church dedicates to praying for the dead. It begins with All Saints Day on November 1 and All Souls Day on November 2 — the two days when the Church most intensely focuses on the communion between the living and the dead. Throughout November, Catholics are encouraged to pray for the souls in purgatory, visit cemeteries, have Masses offered for deceased loved ones, and gain indulgences applicable to the holy souls.
The Eternal Rest Prayer
The Requiem aeternam is the oldest and most universal Catholic prayer for the dead — ancient in origin, prayed at funerals, gravesides, anniversaries of death, and at the end of the Rosary. It asks God to grant eternal rest and perpetual light to those who have died.
The Prayer of St. Gertrude
The Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great is prayed specifically for the souls in purgatory, offering the Precious Blood of Christ on their behalf. Attributed to a 13th-century mystical vision, it has been prayed by Catholics for over 700 years.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.
Eternal Rest Prayer: Ancient liturgical form. Public domain.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Catholic prayer for the dead?
- The most universal Catholic prayer for the dead is the Eternal Rest Prayer — Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. It is prayed at funerals, gravesides, on death anniversaries, and at the end of the Rosary.
- When do Catholics pray for the dead?
- Catholics are encouraged to pray for the dead throughout the year, especially during November — the month the Church dedicates to the dead. All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2) are the most important days. Catholics also pray for the dead at funerals, on death anniversaries, and when visiting a cemetery.
- What is the Catholic prayer for the dead in Spanish?
- The Eternal Rest Prayer in Spanish begins Dales, Señor, el descanso eterno — Give them, Lord, eternal rest. Use the EN/ES toggle on this page to switch between English and Spanish.
- Does the Catholic Church teach that purgatory is real?
- Yes. The existence of purgatory is defined Church teaching, affirmed by the Councils of Florence and Trent and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraphs 1030-1032). Catholics believe that those who die in God's grace but still need purification benefit from the prayers of the living.
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