The\nChurch prays for the dead, and this prayer says much about the reality of the\nChurch itself. It says that the Church continues to live in the hope of\neternal life. Prayer for the dead is almost a battle with the reality of death\nand destruction that weighs down upon the earthly existence of man. This is and\nremains a particular revelation of the Resurrection. In this prayer Christ\nHimself bears witness to the life and immortality to which God calls every\nhuman being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gathering in the Presence of the Body<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When the family first gathers around the body,\nbefore or after it is prepared for burial, all or some of the following prayers\nmay be used. It is most fitting that family members take part in preparing the\nbody for burial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All make the Sign of the Cross: <\/em>In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of\nthe Holy Spirit. Then one member of the family reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n My brothers and sisters, Jesus says: “Come\nto me, all you who labor and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.\nShoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and\nyou will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden\nlight.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The body may then be sprinkled with holy water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Lord God lives in his holy temple Then one member of the family may say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n With God there is mercy and fullness of\nredemption. Then this prayer is said: Into your hands,\nO Lord, All may sign the forehead of the deceased with\nthe Sign of the Cross. One member of the family says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blessed are those who have died in the Lord; V. Eternal rest grant unto him (her), O Lord. V. May he (she) rest in peace. V. May his (her) soul and the souls of all the\nfaithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. All make the Sign of the Cross as one member of\nthe family says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n May the love of God and the peace Lord Jesus, our Redeemer, Lord Jesus, holy and compassionate, Prayers at the Graveside<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Aside from the time of mourning, the month of\nNovember, including especially All Saints’ day and All Souls’ day, is a\ntraditional time for visiting graves, as is the anniversary of death. Some or\nall of the following prayers may be used at the graveside of a family member or\nfriend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All make the Sign of the Cross. The leader\nbegins:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Praise be to God our Father, who raised Jesus All respond:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blessed be God for ever.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The following Scripture text may be\nread: 2 Cor 5: 1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent,\nshould be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with\nhands, eternal in heaven.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n After a time of silence, all join in prayers of\nintercession, or in one of the litanies or other prayers. All then join hands\nfor the Lord’s Prayer: Our Father.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Then the leader prays:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lord God, or:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lord Jesus Christ, V. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, V. May they rest in peace. V. May their souls and the souls of all the\nfaithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. All make the Sign of the Cross as the leader\nconcludes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n May the peace of God, The Church prays for the dead, and this prayer says much about the reality of the Church itself. It says that the Church continues to live in the hope of eternal life. Prayer for the dead is almost a battle with the reality of death and destruction that weighs down upon the earthly existence of man. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":15929,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[153],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nR.<\/strong> Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nyet abides in our midst.
\nSince in Baptism N.<\/strong> became God’s temple,
\nand the spirit of God lived in him (her),
\nwith reverence we bless his (her) mortal body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nLet us pray as Jesus taught us: Our Father.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nwe humbly entrust our brother (sister) N.<\/strong>
\nIn this life you embraced him (her)
\nwith your tender love;
\ndeliver him (her) now from every evil
\nand bid him (her) enter eternal rest.
\nThe old order has passed away:
\nwelcome him (her), then, into paradise,
\nwhere there will be no sorrow,
\nno weeping or pain,
\nbut the fullness of peace and joy
\nwith your Son and the Holy Spirit
\nfor ever and ever.
\nR.<\/strong> Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nlet them rest from their labors,
\nfor their good deeds go with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nR.<\/strong> And let perpetual light shine upon him (her).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nR.<\/strong> Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nR.<\/strong> Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nof the Lord Jesus Christ
\nbless and console us
\nand gently wipe every tear from our eyes:
\nin the name of the Father,
\nand of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
\nR.<\/strong> Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nyou willingly gave yourself up to death,
\nso that all people might be saved
\nand pass from death into a new life.
\nListen to our prayers;
\nlook with love on your people
\nwho mourn and pray for their brother (sister).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nforgive N.<\/strong> his (her) sins.
\nBy dying you opened the gates of life
\nfor those who believe in you:
\ndo not let our brother (sister) be parted from you,
\nbut by your glorious power
\ngive him (her) light, joy, and peace in heaven,
\nwhere you live for ever and ever.
\nR.<\/strong> Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nChrist from the dead. Blessed be God for ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nwhose days are without end
\nand whose mercies are beyond counting,
\nkeep us mindful that life is short and the hour of death is unknown.
\nLet your Spirit guide our days on earth
\nin the ways of holiness and justice,
\nthat we may serve you in union with the whole Church,
\nsure in faith, strong in hope, perfected in love.
\nAnd when our earthly journey is ended,
\nlead us rejoicing into your kingdom,
\nwhere you live for ever and ever.
\nR.<\/strong> Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nby your own three days in the tomb,
\nyou hallowed the graves of all who believe in you
\nand so made the grave a sign of hope
\nthat promises resurrection,
\neven as it claims our mortal bodies.
\nGrant that our brother (sister) N.
\nmay sleep here in peace
\nuntil you awaken him (her) to glory,
\nfor you are the resurrection and the life.
\nThen he (she) will see you face to face
\nand in your light will see light
\nand know the splendor of God,
\nfor you live and reign for ever and ever.
\nR.<\/strong> Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nR.<\/strong> And let perpetual light shine upon them.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nR.<\/strong> Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nR.<\/strong> Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nwhich is beyond all understanding,
\nkeep our hearts and minds
\nin the knowledge and love of God
\nand of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
\nR.<\/strong> Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"