All Souls' Day Prayers
What Is All Souls' Day?
On All Souls' Day, Catholics commemorate and pray for the holy souls in Purgatory, the faithful departed undergoing purification of "temporal punishments" before entering heaven. All Souls' Day falls on November 2. These All Souls' Day Prayers relate to these themes, including praying for departed friends, family, and others in Purgatory.
More info: All Souls' Day.
Catholic Collect from the Mass for the Dead
[For all our departed brothers and sisters] Merciful Father, hear our prayer and console us.
As we renew our faith in Your Son, whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His resurrection, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Requiem Aeternam
Eternal Rest grant unto them (him/her), O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them (him/her). May they (he/she) rest in peace.
In Latin: Requiem aeternam dona eis (ei), Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis (ei). Requiescant (-at) in pace. Amen.
Benedictine Collect for All Souls' Day
We suppliants, O Lord, pour forth our prayers for the souls of Thy servants and handmaids, that Thou wouldst mercifully pardon whatsoever they have committed through human frailty and graciously bring their sufferings to an end. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
From the Benedictine Diurnal
Invocation for the Souls in Purgatory
My God, bestow Thy blessings and Thy mercies on all persons and on those souls in Purgatory for whom I am in charity, gratitude, or friendship bound and have the desire to pray.
Amen.
Prayer for Departed Parents
O God, who has commanded us to honor our father and mother: in your mercy have pity on the souls of my father and mother and forgive them their trespasses; and make me to see them again in the joy of everlasting brightness.
Amen.
From the Roman Missal
Prayer for a Departed Man
Incline Thine ear, O Lord, unto our prayers, wherein we humbly pray Thee to show Thy mercy upon the soul of Thy servant [N.], whom Thou hast commanded to pass out of this world, that Thou wouldst place him in the region of peace and light, and bid him be a partaker with Thy Saints. Through Christ our Lord,
Amen.
From the Roman Missal
Prayer for a Departed Woman
We beseech Thee, O Lord, according to Thy loving-kindness, have mercy upon the soul of Thy handmaiden [N.], and now that she is set free from the defilements of this mortal flesh, restore her to her heritage of everlasting salvation. Through Christ our Lord,
Amen.
From the Roman Missal
Prayer to Our Suffering Savior for the Holy Souls in Purgatory
O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, have mercy on these Blessed Souls. Have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel scourging, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross to Calvary, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel Crucifixion, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most bitter agony on the Cross, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
O most sweet Jesus, through the immense pain which Thou didst suffer in breathing forth Thy Blessed Soul, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.
(Recommend yourself to the Souls in Purgatory and mention your intentions here)
Blessed Souls, I have prayed for thee; I entreat thee, who are so dear to God, and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for me a miserable sinner, who is in danger of being damned, and of losing God forever.
Amen.
Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1697-1787), from his Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory
Lithuanian All Souls' Day Prayer
Dear souls of the dead, you are still remembered by my family; you are most worthy of our perpetual remembrance, especially you, my grandparents, my parents, also our relatives, children, and everyone whom death took away from our home. I invite you to this annual feast. We pray that this feast be agreeable to you, just like the memory of you is to us.
Amen.
Compiled by David Bennett
Updated 10-25-2018