Prayer for a Deceased Father: Catholic Prayers for Dad

When your father dies, the Church invites you to keep loving him by praying for his soul, asking God to forgive his sins and bring him into eternal life, and to ask God the Father, “of whom all paternity in heaven and earth is named,” to comfort you and your family. Below are prayers for a deceased father: a traditional prayer of the Church for a man who has died, prayers for the day of his death, the funeral and the anniversary, a prayer to St. Joseph, patron of a happy death and of fathers, and prayers for those who grieve.

A short prayer for my father, written for this page:

Heavenly Father, I entrust to you my father, (name).
Thank you for his life, his work and his love for us. Forgive his sins and failings,
and welcome him into your house, where there are many mansions. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. Amen.

A traditional prayer for a deceased father

This prayer of the Church for a man who has died, from a Catholic prayer book of 1883, can be said every day. Say your father’s name where you see “N.”:

Hear, we beseech thee, O Lord, our prayers, which we humbly address to thy mercy, that the soul of thy servant N., which thou hast called out of this world, may be received into the region of light and peace, and be numbered amongst the blessed: through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Then pray: Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen. See the Eternal rest prayer.

A prayer for my father and mother

If both your parents have died, this prayer of the Church commends them together:

O God, who hast commanded us to honour our father and mother, have mercy on the souls of my father and mother; and grant that I may see them in the glory of eternity, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers for the day of his death and the funeral

Written for this page.

Lord, my father has died, and the house feels empty.
I thank you for everything he gave us and for the ways he showed your fatherly love.
Receive him into your mercy, and let him hear your words: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Amen.

At the funeral

Lord, we commend to you our father, (name).
As he cared for us in this life, care for him now in your eternal home,
and keep our family united in faith and love until we meet again. Amen.

A prayer to St. Joseph for a deceased father

St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus and patron of a happy death,
you died in the arms of Jesus and Mary.
Pray for my father, (name), that he may find mercy and rest in God, and pray for all fathers. Amen.

See the St. Joseph prayer.

Prayer on the anniversary of his death

Lord, today we remember my father, who died on this day.
If he still needs your mercy, purify him quickly and bring him into your light.
Help me to honor him by living the good he taught me. Amen.

Scripture for the loss of a father

When Jacob died, his son Joseph grieved (Genesis 50:1, Douay-Rheims):

And when Joseph saw this, he fell upon his father’s face weeping and kissing him.

St. Paul on hope for those who have died (1 Thessalonians 4:12–13, Douay-Rheims):

And we will not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that are asleep, that you be not sorrowful, even as others who have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again; even so them who have slept through Jesus, will God bring with him.

Prayer for comfort in grief

Lord, I miss my father: his voice, his advice, his presence.
Heal the sorrow of my heart, forgive anything left unsaid between us,
and help me to trust that in you nothing good is ever lost. Amen.

How to help your father’s soul

Have a Mass offered for him, especially on the anniversary of his death. See Mass intentions for the dead.
Pray the Rosary or a novena for the dead for him.
Visit his grave and pray there, especially from November 1 to 8, when a plenary indulgence for the dead can be gained under the usual conditions.
Do a good work in his memory, such as helping someone in need.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good Catholic prayer for a deceased father?

The traditional prayer above for a man who has died, followed by “Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.” Having a Mass offered for him is the greatest prayer.

Can I pray for my father if he was not religious?

Yes. You may pray for anyone who has died and entrust them to God’s mercy.

What can I write in a card for someone who lost their father?

A simple message such as “I am praying for your father and for you” or “May he rest in peace and may God comfort your family” is always welcome.

More prayers for the dead

Texts and sources

Patrick F. Moran, The Catholic Prayer Book and Manual of Meditations (1883), Prayers for the Dead, public domain (Wikisource).
Genesis 50:1 and 1 Thessalonians 4:12–13 (Douay-Rheims).