The Eternal Rest prayer is the Church's short prayer for those who have died. Catholics pray it at funerals, at the cemetery, when they hear of a death, and whenever they remember a loved one who has gone before them.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
For One Person
When praying for one person, the words change slightly:
Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him/her. May he/she rest in peace. Amen.
May his/her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
When to Pray It
- When you hear that someone has died
- At wakes, funerals, and burials
- When visiting a cemetery
- On the anniversary of a loved one's death
- During November, the month the Church dedicates to the souls of the faithful departed
- After Grace After Meals, which traditionally ends with a prayer for the faithful departed
Why Catholics Pray for the Dead
The Church teaches that those who die in God's friendship, but are not yet fully purified, undergo a final purification before entering heaven. This is called purgatory (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1030–1032).
Our prayers, sacrifices, and especially the Mass, can help them. Praying for the dead is an ancient practice, already found in the Old Testament:
"It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins." (2 Maccabees 12:46, Douay-Rheims)
Praying for those who have died is also an act of love. The bond between us is not broken by death.
What It Means
- "Eternal rest": the peace of being with God forever, free from all suffering
- "Perpetual light": the light of God's face, which the saints see in heaven
- "Rest in peace": the source of the familiar letters R.I.P., from the Latin Requiescat in pace
In Latin (Requiem Aeternam)
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace. Amen.
The Requiem Aeternam is also the opening chant of the traditional Mass for the Dead, which is why a funeral Mass is often called a Requiem.
All Souls' Day and Undas
The Church remembers all the faithful departed on All Souls' Day, November 2, the day after All Saints' Day. In the Philippines, these days are known as Undas, when families gather at the graves of their loved ones to clean them, light candles, and pray.
From November 1 to 8, the Church grants a plenary indulgence, applicable to the souls in purgatory, to those who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray for the dead, under the usual conditions: Confession, Holy Communion, prayer for the Pope's intentions, and freedom from attachment to sin.