Prayers for the Dead

We are now in the middle of the festival of the dead. It began on October 31st, All Hallows Eve,  Samhain, Halloween etc. Today is All Saint's Day. Tomorrow,  All Soul's Day. A history of these feast days would be book worthy, so I won't go into that. It should suffice to say that these days are celebrated as when the spirits of the dead can be contacted and fed.  In honour of the Mighty Dead that walk among us now,  I will here present a number of prayers which can be used for them. Praying for the Dead is meant to give them comfort and solace in their condition. There are many dead spirits in the world that cling to their traumas and cannot untangle themselves from their own suffering. Prayer serves as a means to uplift them into "the light", thereby freeing them from their pain. This can be used to elevate Ancestors and to help wandering or cemetery spirits. They are preferably prayed over nine days,  inserting the spirits name into the prayer where apropos.

23rd Psalm (kjv)

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Litany of the Dead (no. 1)

Lord, have mercy on us,
Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ hear us,
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.

God the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.

Holy Trinity, one God,
Have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

St. Michael,
pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

All ye angels and archangels,
pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

All ye orders of blessed spirits,
pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

St. Joseph,
pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

All ye holy patriarchs and prophets,
pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

All ye holy apostles and evangelists,
pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

All ye holy martyrs,
pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

All ye holy bishops and confessors,
pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

All ye holy doctors,
pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

All ye holy priests and Levites,
pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

All ye holy monks and hermits,
pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

All ye holy virgins and widows,
pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

All ye saints of God,
pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

Be merciful,
Spare them, O Lord

Be merciful,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.

From all evil,
O Lord, deliver them.

From the rigor of Thy justice,
O Lord, deliver them.

From the power of the devil,
O Lord, deliver them.

From long-enduring sorrow,
O Lord, deliver them.

From cruel flames,
O Lord, deliver them.

From horrible darkness,
O Lord, deliver them.

From dreadful weeping and wailing,
O Lord, deliver them.

Through Thy holy nativity,
O Lord, deliver them.

Through Thy most sweet name,
O Lord, deliver them.

Through Thy most profound humiliations,
O Lord, deliver them.

Through Thy infinite love,
O Lord, deliver them.

Through Thy bloody sweat,
O Lord, deliver them.

Through Thy scourging,
O Lord, deliver them.

Through Thy crowning with thorns,
O Lord, deliver them.

Through Thy carrying of the cross,
O Lord, deliver them.

Through Thy most cruel death,
O Lord, deliver them.

Through Thy five most holy wounds,
O Lord, deliver them.

In the day of judgment,
We sinners, beseech Thee, hear us.

Thou Who forgavest Magdalen,
and didst grant the prayer of the thief,
we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst be pleased to deliver
the souls of our parents, relations,
friends, and benefactors,
from the pains of hell,
we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst be pleased to have mercy
on those of whom no special remembrance
is made on earth,
we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst be pleased to grant them all
the pardon and remission of their sins,
we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst be pleased to receive them
into the company of the blessed,
we beseech Thee, hear us.

King of awful majesty,
we beseech Thee, hear us.

Son of God, we beseech Thee,
hear us.

Lamb of God,
who takest away the sins of the world,
grant unto them eternal rest.

Lamb of God,
who takest away the sins of the world,
grant unto them eternal rest.

Lamb of God,
who takest away the sins of the world,
grant unto them rest everlasting.

Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

Lord, have mercy,
Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy,
From the gate of hell,
deliver their souls, O Lord.

O Lord, hear my prayer.
And let my cry come unto Thee.

LET US PRAY:

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful,
grant unto the souls of Thy servants departed
the remission of all their sins;
that, by pious supplications,
they may obtain the pardon
which they have always desired.
Grant this, O God,
Who livest and reignest for ever and ever,

Amen.

O eternal God, Who,
besides the general precept of charity,
hast commanded a particular respect for parents,
kindred, and benefactors;
grant, we beseech Thee, that,
as they were the instruments
by which Thy providence bestowed on us our birth,
education and innumerable other blessings,
so our prayers may be the means to obtain for them
a speedy release from their excessive sufferings,
and admittance to Thine infinite joys.
Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord,
And let the perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace.

Amen.

Litany of the Dead (no 2)

Lord have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy on us.
Jesus, receive our prayers.
Lord Jesus, grant our petitions.

O God the Father, Creator of the world,
Have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.

O God the Son, Redeemer of mankind,
Deliver the souls of the faithful departed,

O God the Holy Ghost, perfector of the elect,
Acomplish the bliss of the faithful departed.


Blessed Virgin Mary, who, by the special privilege of grace, wast triumphantly assumed into the Kingdom of Thy Son,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed. *


Blessed Angels, who, ordering aright the first act of your will, were fixed forthwith in unchangeable happiness, *

Blessed Patriarchs, who were filled with joy when the Desired of Nations put an end to your captivity, *

Blessed Prophets, who, after patiently awaiting the arrival of the Messias, were at length consoled by a visit from Him in person, *

Blessed Saints, who, at the glorious Resurrection of Our Saviour, were translated from Limbo to the visible Presence of God, *

Blessed Apostles, who at the last day shall sit to judge the twelve tribes of Israel, *

Blessed Disciples of Our Lord, who followed His steps in the paths of perfection, *

Blessed Martyrs, who passed through the sea of your own blood, entering immediately into the Land of Promise, *

Blessed Confessors, who despised the vanity of the earth, and placed your affections on the joys of heaven, *

Blessed Virgins, who, with your lighted lamps, awaited the coming of the heavenly Spouse, *

O Holy Saints, who, being freed from all irregular attachment to creatures, were perfectly fitted for immediate union with your Creator, *


Be merciful, O Lord, and pardon their sins.
Be merciful, O Lord, and hear their prayers.


From the shades of death, where the light of Thy countenance shineth not,
Deliver them, O Lord. **


From the evils to which immortification in this world must expose them in the other, **

From Thy displeasure, provoked by negligence and ingratitude, **

From the pains of purgatory, so justly inflicted upon unexpiated sins, **

From the torments incomparably greater than the bitterest anguish of this life, **

By the multitude of Thy mercies, ever compassionate to human frailties, **

By the virtue of Thy Cross, whereon Thou reconciledst the world to Thy Father, **

By Thy victorious descent into hell, to break the chains of death, **

By Thy glorious Resurrection from the tomb, to open the Kingdom of Heaven, **

By Thy triumphant Ascension into heaven, to lead captivity captive, **

By Thy dread coming to judge the world, **

We sinners: Beseech Thee to hear us.


That it please Thee to hasten the day when Thy faithful shall be delivered from the mansions of sorrow,
We beseech Thee to hear us. ***


That it please Thee to shorten the time of their expiation, and to admit them speedily into Thy heavenly sanctuary, ***

That it please Thee, through the prayers and good works performed in Thy Church, to receive them into Thy eternal tabernacles, ***

That it please Thee to accept, in atonement for their sins, the infinite value of Thy unbloody Sacrifice, ***

That the blessed view of Jesus may comfort them, and His unfading glory shine upon them, ***

That the whole Church Triumphant may soon celebrate their deliverance; and the choirs of angels sing new hymns of Joy, on their never ending happiness, ***

That we ourselves may share in their triumph, and unite with all the citizens of heaven in eternal alleluias, ***

Son of God: We beseech Thee to hear us.


Lamb of God, Who shalt come with glory to judge the living and the dead:
Give rest to the souls of the faithful departed.

Lamb of God, at Whose Presence the heavens and the earth shall be moved:
Give rest to the souls of the faithful departed.

Lamb of God, in Whose book of life the names of Thy elect are inscribed:
Give rest to the souls of the faithful departed.

Antiphon: Deliver us, O Lord, from eternal death, in that tremendous day when the heavens and the earth shall be moved, whilst Thou shalt come to judge the world by fire. We tremble and are sore afraid at the discussion which shall take place, and at Thy future wrath, when the heavens shall be moved, and the earth, when Thou shalt come to judge the world by fire. That day is a day of wrath, of calamity, of misery: a great and most bitter day: when Thou shalt come to judge the world by fire.


V. Give them, O Lord, eternal rest:
R. And let perpetual light shine upon them. Amen.


Let us pray.

Grant to Thy servants departed, O Lord, we beseech Thee, Thy mercy, that they who prayed that Thy will be done, may not receive punishments for their misdeeds but that, even as here below the true faith united them to the ranks of the faithful, so in heaven by Thy mercy they may have fellowship with the choirs of angels. Through Christ Our Lord. R. Amen.


Orison to petition God on behalf of the good spirits who come to this world seeking prayers so as to be purified from the evils committed in this world, or restitute some debt or robbery.

(Original footnote suggests praying the Creed and Act of Contrition afterwards)

Leave, Christian Soul, this world, in the name of God the Father Almighty, who created thee; in the name of Jesus Spiritual Son of the Living God, who suffered for thee; in the name of the Holy Spirit, who copiously communicates with thee. Be gone form this body or place where thou lingers, for the Lord now receives thee in His kingdom; Jesus, hear my prayer and be my support as thou are the support of the Saints, Angels, and Archangels; of the Thrones and Dominions; of the Cherubim and Seraphim; of the Prophets, the Saintly Apostles and the Evangelists; of the Saintly martyrs, Confessors, Monks, Religious men and Hermits, of the Saintly Virgins and wives of Jesus Christ and of all Saints of God, who may now give thee a place of rest and enjoyment of peace in the hoy city lf celestial Zion, where thou may praise Him for centuries. Amen.

LET US PRAY

Merciful God, Clement God, God who according to the greatness of thy infinite mercy forgives the sins of this spirit who bears the pain of having committed them, and give him full absolution of past guilt and offenses. Look down with thy eye of mercy in this servant who roams this world pining; open for him, Lord, the gates of Heaven, hear him and grant him forgiveness of all his sins for full-heartedly does he ask this of thee through hi humble confession. Renew and divide, O Merciful Father, the faults and ruins of this soul, an the sins he made and contracted, either by his weakness or by the cunnings and trickeries of the Devil. Admit him and take him back into the body of thy triumphant church. As a living member of it, redeemed by the precious blood of thy son, Feel compassion, Lord, for his moaning; let his tears and his sobbing move thee; let his, and our, supplications soften thee. Support and succor he who places his hope in nothing other than thy mercy, and admit him in thy friendship and grace, by the love thou hast for Jesus Christ, Thy Beloved Son, who lives and reigns with thee for all the centuries of centuries. Amen.

O Soul, atoning for thy faults, I commend thee to God All Mighty, my dearest brother, to him who I ask to support and favor thee as His creature, so as, having paid with death the dues of this life, may thou see the Lord, the sovereign artifice, who from the dust of the earth created thee. When thy soul leaves its body, may the luminous army of Saints come to greet thee and accompany thee, defend thee and celebrate thee; the glorious college of the Saintly Apostles favor thee, being judges for thy cause; the triumphant legions of the Invincible martyrs support thee, the most noble company of the illustrious Confessors receive thee in their midst, and with the soft fragrance of the lilies they carry, symbols of the softness of their virtues, comfort thee; The choirs of the Saintly Virgins, joyful and gay, receive thee; may all of that blessed celestial and courteous company with open arms of true friendship give thee entrance into the glorious bosom of the Patriarchs; may the face of thy redeemer Jesus Christ be appeasable and merciful to thee and may He give thee a place amongst those who are always in His presence. Never will thou taste the horror of the eternal darkness, or the crackling of its flames, nor the sentences that torment the condemned. May Cursed Satan surrender with all his allies, and, when thou passes before them, accompanied by the Angels, let the miserable tremble and flee fearful into the thick darkness of his shadowy residence.

Go, Soul; let thy martyrdom end, for thou no longer belongs to this corporeal world, but rather to the celestial! Thou art free, for if God is favorable to thee, all the enemies who bother Him will be routed; let them run from His presence; vanish like smoke in the air and as wax in the fire, these rebellious and cursed demons; and the joyful just, happily with thee sit at the table of their God. Let the infernal armies be confounded and run, and let the ministers of Satan not dare stop thy path into Heaven. Let Christ, who was crucified for thee, free thee from Hell; let him free thee from those torments thou suffered in this world, tormenting other and being tormented.

Christ, who gave his life for thee, may Christ, Son of the Living God, place thee amongst the meadows and forests of Paradise, which never fade nor wither, and as a true shepherd may he recognize thee as a sheep of his flock. May he absolve thee of all thy sins, and may He sit thee by His right hand among the chosen and predestined; Let God make thee so happy that always assisting in His presence, may thou know with blessed eyes the truth manifest of His divinity, and in the company of the courteous of Heaven may thou enjoy the sweetness of His eternal contemplation for all centuries of centuries. Amen.

Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of death.
Amen.

Glory Be


Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.


Any prayer you use,  begin and end with the Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, and glory be.