The Mystery of Death and Christian Funerals - #9

The Presider at a funeral Mass chooses prayers offered at the funeral Mass. The Order of Christian Funerals provides 47 prayer texts for the dead and 15 prayer texts for the mourners. Presiders choose the prayer that will express the sentiments of the assembly. Here's a sampling of the prayers for the dead.

2. General Prayer: Lord in our grief we turn to you. Are you not the God of love who opens your ears to all? Listen to our prayers for your servant (name), whom you have called out of this world; lead him/her to your kingdom of light and peace and count him/her among the saints in glory. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

4. General Prayer: Into your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brother/sister (N.). In this life you embraced him/her with your tender love; deliver him/her now from every evil and bid him/her enter eternal rest. The old order has passed away: welcome him/her then into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but the fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

7. General Prayer: Almighty God and Father, by the mystery of the cross, you have made us strong; by the sacrament of the resurrection you have sealed us as your own. Look Kindly upon your servant (N.), now freed from the bonds of mortality and count him/her among your saints in heaven We ask this..

25 A baptized child: Lord, in our grief, we call upon your mercy: open your ears to our prayers and one day unite us again with (N.), who, we firmly trust, already enjoys eternal life in your kingdom. We ask this....

27; A young person: Lord, your wisdom governs the length of our days. We mourn the loss of (N.), whose life has passed so quickly, and we entrust him/her to your mercy. Welcome him/her into your heavenly dwelling and grant him/her the happiness of everlasting youth. We ask this...

30. A parent: God of our ancestors in faith, by the covenant made on Mount Sinai you taught your people to strengthen the bonds of family through faith, honor, and love. Look kindly upon (N.), a father/Mother who sought to bind his/her children to you. Bring him/her one day to our heavenly home where the saints dwell in blessedness and peace. We ask this ...

34. A wife: Eternal God, you made the union of man and woman a sign of the bond between Christ and the Church. Grant mercy and peace to (N.), who has united in love with her husband. May the care and devotion of her life on earth find a lasting reward in heaven. Look kindly on her husband and family/children as now they turn to your compassion and love. Strengthen their faith and lighten their loss. We ask this...(The same prayer, with appropriate changes, is prayed for the a husband who has died).

38. An elderly person: God of mercy, look kindly on your servant (N.) who has set down the burden of his/her years. As he/she served you faithfully through his/her life, may you give him/her the fullness of your peace and joy. We give thanks for the long life of (N.), now caught up in your eternal love. We make our prayer in the name of Jesus who is our risen Lord now and forever. Amen.