Catholic Funeral Prayers for the Wake, Mass and Burial

Catholic funeral prayers accompany the person who has died, and those who mourn, from the wake to the grave. The Church prays for the soul of the deceased, gives thanks for their life, and proclaims hope in the resurrection of Jesus. Below are traditional and simple prayers for each moment: the wake or vigil, before the Funeral Mass, during the Mass, at the graveside, and in the days afterward.

For the order of the funeral itself, see the Catholic Funeral Mass order of service.

Prayers at the wake (vigil)

At the vigil, family and friends gather around the body, often at the funeral home, to pray. A priest, deacon or lay leader may lead a short service with readings and prayers, and many families pray the Rosary together (see the prayers of the Rosary, and the Sorrowful Mysteries).

A traditional prayer for the day of death or burial:

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 called out of the world, that thou wouldst not deliver it up into the hands of the enemy, nor forget it unto the end; but command it to be received by thy holy angels, and to be carried to Paradise, its true country; that as in thee it had faith and hope, it may not suffer the pains of hell, but may take possession of everlasting joys: through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

At the end of each decade of the Rosary, or at the close of the vigil:

Eternal rest grant unto him (her), O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him (her).
May he (she) rest in peace. Amen.

A prayer before the Funeral Mass

For the family, written for this page:

Lord Jesus, today we bring (name) to your altar for the last time.
Receive him (her) with mercy.
Give us strength to pray this Mass with faith,
to listen to your word with hope,
and to entrust our loved one to you with peace. Amen.

Prayers of the Faithful at the Funeral Mass

The Universal Prayer at a funeral usually prays for the deceased, for the family, for all who mourn, for the sick and dying, for all the faithful departed, and for the community. Use our ready-made Prayers of the Faithful for a funeral Mass, our Prayers of the Faithful for a grandparent’s funeral, or learn how to write funeral Prayers of the Faithful.

Prayers at the graveside

At the burial, the priest or deacon leads the Rite of Committal. Families may also pray, before or after:

O God, by whose mercy the souls of the faithful find rest, grant to all thy servants here and elsewhere, that have slept in Christ, the full pardon of their sins; that being discharged from all guilt, they may rejoice with thee for all eternity: through the same Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

From the Gospel of John:

Jesus said to her: I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, although he be dead, shall live:
And every one that liveth, and believeth in me, shall not die for ever. Believest thou this?

A family prayer at the grave, written for this page:

Lord, we lay the body of (name) in this resting place.
Watch over this grave until the day of resurrection.
May we who remain live in such a way
that we will be reunited in your kingdom,
where there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor pain. Amen.

Prayers in the days after the funeral

The Church encourages prayer for the dead long after the funeral: on the seventh and thirtieth days, on the anniversary, and every November. A traditional prayer for one lately deceased:

Absolve, we beseech thee, O Lord, the soul of thy servant N. that, being dead to the world, he may live to thee: and whatever he hath committed in this life through human frailty, do thou of thy most merciful goodness forgive: through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Have Masses offered for the soul of your loved one (Mass intentions for the dead), and see our prayers for deceased loved ones for prayers for a mother, father, spouse or child.

A prayer for those who mourn

Written for this page:

God of all consolation, you know the sorrow in our hearts.
Be close to (names of the family) in their grief.
Comfort them with the hope of the resurrection,
surround them with friends who will help them,
and give them peace in the days ahead. Amen.

How to give a eulogy at a Catholic funeral

If your parish allows words of remembrance at the Funeral Mass, they come after Communion and should be brief (three to five minutes):

Speak about the person’s faith and character, not only events.
Choose one or two stories that show who they were.
Thank God for their life and mention the hope of the resurrection.
Write it down and read it; emotions can make improvising difficult.
Save longer tributes, humor and slideshows for the wake or the reception.

Frequently asked questions

What prayer is said at a Catholic funeral?

The Funeral Mass includes the Church’s prayers for the deceased, the Universal Prayer, the Eucharistic Prayer with a remembrance of the dead, and the Final Commendation. The family and friends often pray the Rosary at the wake and the “Eternal rest” prayer throughout.

Can a layperson lead the vigil?

Yes. A deacon or trained lay minister may lead the Vigil for the Deceased when a priest is not available.

What can I say to a grieving Catholic family?

“I am sorry for your loss; I will pray for (name).” Many Catholics give a Mass card, promising that Mass will be offered for the deceased. See Mass cards.

More funeral pages

Texts and sources

Traditional prayers for the day of burial, for one lately deceased and for all who rest in the cemetery: Patrick F. Moran, The Catholic Prayer Book and Manual of Meditations (1883), Prayers for the Dead, public domain (Wikisource).
Scripture: John 11:25–26, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
Order of Christian Funerals (structure of the vigil and committal; described).
The other prayers were written for this page.