Introduction
Funeral prayers can be a source of peace, hope, and encouragement for families and friends as they grieve the passing of a loved one. It is through prayer that mourners can express their faith and seek reassurance.
Below is a collection of prayers and verses that you might include in a funeral card or tribute.
About Funeral Cards
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Funeral card may also refer to a funeral program, which is a pamphlet containing the order of service and the details of events that will take place during the funeral service.
The funeral card is printed on decorative paper and can be designed according to a theme you prefer. They are often filled with religious references containing prayers, scriptures, and verses depending on the religion of the deceased.
There is also room for you to personalize a funeral card by adding favorite portraits of the deceased, poems, passages and other personal details of tribute.
Although a funeral card is not required, it can help those who attend the funeral service to follow along with the ceremony. It will also encourage participation during the service.
After the funeral, mourners can keep the cards as a remembrance of the person who died.
Funeral Cards vs Memorial Cards
Funeral cards are often associated with memorial cards that are available at memorial services. However, they serve slightly different purposes.
Funeral Service vs Memorial Service
First, let’s distinguish between a funeral service and a memorial service.
- A funeral service usually takes place with the body of the deceased present, while a memorial service takes place without the body present.
- Funeral services may refer to the traditional burial service or the ceremony conducted in a chapel. It is usually conducted a few days after the death has occurred.
- On the other hand, memorial services are gatherings meant to memorialize the life of the deceased and can take place any time. They often take place well after burial or interment and do not include the body.
- A funeral service is a traditional structured ceremony and often includes a wake, visitation, prayer services, and Mass. Whereas a memorial service is more modern and can be personalized and hosted by the family.
Depending on religion, funeral cards most often need religious poems and prayers derived from the Scripture. Memorial cards, on the other hand, can include secular poems and prayers that are not directly from the Bible.
Funeral cards can be made into booklets or pamphlets depending on the extent of the content that will be included. Funeral cards also tend to be more devotional because they center around the religious rites in celebration of the deceased.
Cremation services and funerals differ from normal services because there is no body present, making memorials the more popular choice.
Funeral Cards vs Prayer Cards
The practice of giving out funeral cards to those who attend the funeral service came from the old tradition of the Catholic Church providing prayer cards. (See this article you’re interested in Catholic funeral hymns as well.)
Prayer cards usually bear images of saints or religious scenes and verses and prayers to commemorate special moments.
Prayer cards are also distributed at funerals but they do not feature the information of the person who died. It may bear a few details of the deceased such as the names and relevant dates, but its purpose is more to serve as a reminder to pray for the soul of the departed.
Funeral cards are more extensive in detail, and often feature photos of the deceased instead of other religious images. Aside from prayers and verses, it may also include poems or other relevant details relating to the deceased.
Popular Funeral Card Prayers
Here are some of the favorite prayers featured in funeral cards. Your funeral director or professional will also be a good source for inspiration.
A Prayer For The Dead
God our Father,
Your power brings us to birth,
Your providence guides our lives,
and by Your command we return to dust.
Lord, those who die still live in Your presence,
their lives change but do not end.
I pray in hope for my family,
relatives and friends,
and for all the dead known to You alone.
In company with Christ,
Who died and now lives,
may they rejoice in Your kingdom,
where all our tears are wiped away.
Unite us together again in one family,
to sing Your praise forever and ever.
Amen.
Heavenly Father
Heavenly Father,
you have not made us for darkness and death,
but for life with you for ever.
Without you we have nothing to hope for;
with you we have nothing to fear.
Speak to us now your words of eternal life.
Lift us from anxiety and guilt
to the light and peace of your presence,
and set the glory of your love before us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Lord Of All We Praise You
Lord of all, we praise you
for all who have entered into their rest
and reached the promised land where you are seen face to face.
Give us grace to follow in their footsteps
as they followed in the way of your Son.
Thank you for the memory of those you have called to yourself:
by each memory, turn our hearts from things seen to things unseen,
and lead us till we come to the eternal rest
you have prepared for your people,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Psalm 121
I will lift mine eyes unto the hills
from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord,
which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:
he that keepeth thee
will not slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is thy keeper:
the Lord is thy shade upon thy hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil;
He shall preserve thy soul.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out
and thy coming in from this time forth,
and even for evermore.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
he leadeth me beside still waters.
He restoreth my soul;
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;
for thou art with me.
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me
in the presence of mine enemies;
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life;
and I will dwell in
the house of the Lord forever.
Prayers that Name the Loved One
Some prayers are designed to mention the name of the person who died. Personalizing the prayer can be meaningful and help mourners connect as they pray for the soul of the departed.
Merciful Father And Lord Of All Life
Merciful Father and Lord of all life,
we praise you that we are made in your image
and reflect your truth and light.
We thank you for the life of your child – – – – – – – ,
for the love he/she received from you
and showed among us.
Above all, we rejoice at your gracious promise
to all your servants, living and departed,
that we shall rise again at the coming of Christ.
And we ask that in due time
we may share with our brother/sister that clearer vision,
when we shall see your face in the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Death Of Someone We Love
The death of someone we love and care about Is like the death of part of us. No one else will ever call out from within us Quite the same responses, the same feelings or actions or ideas. Their death is an ending of one part of a story. Lord as we look back over – – – – – – – -‘s life We ask what we have received, what we can appropriate
And continue on in our own lives and what must be laid to rest. Our love for his/her reminds us that our sharing In one another’s lives brings both support and pain. Our being parted from him/her reminds us of our own mortality And that your love is enduring.
We thank you that our love for – – – – – – – draws us together And gives us a new appreciation of one another And of the beauty and fragility of relationships Which mirror your grace and goodness to us.
Lord, time’s tide may wash his/her footprints from the shore But not our love for him/her nor the influence of his/her life upon our own Nor the ways in which they will ever be a sign for us Of those things which really matter-which are eternal. Hear this prayer for your love’s sake. Amen.
Lord God Creator Of All
Lord God, creator of all,
you have made us creatures of this earth
but have also promised us a share in life eternal:
receive our thanks and praise
that, through the passion and death of Christ,
your child – – – – – , our brother/sister,
whom we commend into your hands today,
shares with your saints in the joy of heaven,
where there is neither sorrow nor pain
but life everlasting.
Alleluia.
Amen.
God Our Father
God our Father,
we thank you that you have made each of us
in your own image,
and given us gifts and talents with which to serve you.
We thank you for – – – – – – ,
the years we shared with him/her,
the good we saw in him/her,
the love we received from him/her.
Now give us strength and courage
to leave him/her in your care,
confident in your promise of eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayers for Loss of Family Members and Friends
Many bereavement prayers are written specifically to a member of the family. The prayer may feature the mention of a parent, sibling, child, or a friend. Choosing a funeral prayer according to kinship can help personalize the funeral card and capture the life of the deceased in the form of a prayer.
Prayers for Loss of Father
Prayer for Father 1
May the light of Jesus and the Angels bring Peace and Salvation to my father. May he rest in peace knowing that his soul belongs to GOD and GOD only. No demon, no devil, no principality, no evil spirit has access to his light and salvation. All is well with us DAD go home and rest. We love you and one day soon we will see you in HEAVEN!
Prayer for Father 2
Dear Father, I thank You for taking care of my father during their life on Earth. I thank You for giving them the opportunity to bring me into this world and I likewise thank You for the opportunity to have this prayer. I rejoice over the life that he led while alive and for the good deeds he accomplished. Lord God, I thusly pray for the soul of my deceased father and that You take care of him on his way to Your holy Kingdom. I thank you for listening to my prayers oh Lord, Amen.
Prayers for Loss of Mother
Prayer for Mother 1
O God, Who has commanded us
to honor our father and mother,
have compassion in Thy mercy,
on the souls of my father and mother;
forgive them their sins,
and grant that I may see them
in the joy of eternal brightness.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer for Mother 2
I commend you mother to Almighty God, and entrust you to your creator. May you rest in the arms of the Lord who formed you from the dust of the earth.
Please watch over our family in these difficult times.
May Holy Mary, the angels and all the saints welcome you now that you have gone forth from this life. May Christ who was crucified for you, bring you freedom and peace. May Christ who died for you, admit you into his garden of paradise. May Christ, the true Shepherd embrace you as one of his flock. May he forgive all your sins, and set you among those he has chosen.
Prayers for Loss of a Child
Prayer for a Child 1
God of all mystery, whose ways are beyond understanding,
lead us, who grieve at this untimely death,
to a new and deeper faith in your love,
which brought your only Son Jesus
through death into resurrection life.
We make our prayer in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Prayer for a Child 2
Lord God,
ever caring and gentle
we commit to your love this little one,
quickened to life for so short a time.
Enfold him/her in eternal life.
We pray for his/her parents
who are saddened by the loss of their child.
Give them courage
and help them in their pain and grief.
May they all meet one day
in the joy and peace of your kingdom.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
Prayer for Loss of Sister/Brother
Prayer for a Brother or Sister 1
As far as I remember, my brother/sister has been with me through all the ups and downs of life. We ate and played together, gave advice to each other and kept no secret from one another. Now, seeing as he/she is gone, I pray that he/she finds everlasting life and eternal happiness in Your powerful embrace. I pray You watch over his/her wife/husband/children/investments on Earth and let Your gaze shift not oh Lord. I thank You for this prayer session and in Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer for a Brother or Sister 2
Lord God above, we, Your humble children kneel before you today in reverence. We know You’re the greatest and You’re the king of all kings. So, we pray You uplift our heart and soul so that we may cast away our sorrows oh Lord. Give us the strength to surpass this situation. No one dies without Your say-so and thus, we rejoice over this triumph and we pray You be with our deceased brother/sister. We thank you for the answered prayer and in Jesus name, Amen.
Prayers for Loss of Friend
Prayer for a Friend 1
Dearest Jesus, who wept at the death of your friend
and taught that they who mourn shall be comforted,
grant us the comfort of your presence in our loss.
Send Your Holy Spirit to direct us
lest we make hasty or foolish decisions.
Send Your Spirit to give us courage
lest through fear we recoil from living.
Send Your Spirit to bring us your peace
lest bitterness, false guilt, or regret take root in our hearts.
The Lord has given.
The Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Amen.
Prayer for a Friend 2
I commend you, my dear [name] to almighty God, and entrust you to your Creator. May you rest in the arms of the Lord who formed you from the dust of the earth. May holy Mary, the angels, and all the saints welcome you now that you have gone forth from this life. May Christ who was crucified for you, bring you freedom and peace. May Christ who died for you admit you into his garden of paradise. May Christ, the true Shepherd, embrace you as one of his flock. May he forgive all your sins and set you among those he has chosen. May you see your Redeemer face to face and enjoy the vision of God, forever. Amen.
Funeral Prayers of Emotion
Many prayers vary according to theme, feelings, and emotions. Some prayers express sorrow and ask for peace for the soul of the deceased. Some prayers ask for the guidance of God in accepting the death of the person and hope for the grieving families to heal from the loss.
This list will help you if you want to express a particular theme in your funeral card.
Funeral Prayers for Acceptance
Prayer 1
God our Father,
Your power brings us to birth,
Your providence guides our lives,
and by Your command we return to dust.
Lord, those who die still live in Your presence,
their lives change but do not end.
I pray in hope for my family,
relatives and friends,
and for all the dead known to You alone.
In company with Christ,
Who died and now lives,
may they rejoice in Your kingdom,
where all our tears are wiped away.
Unite us together again in one family,
to sing Your praise forever and ever.
Amen.
Prayer 2
Lord God,
you are attentive to the voice
of our pleading.
Let us find in your Son
comfort in our sadness,
certainty in our doubt,
and courage to live through this hour.
Make our faith strong
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer 3
Lord God above, we, Your humble children kneel before you today in reverence. We know You’re the greatest and You’re the king of all kings. So, we pray You uplift our heart and soul so that we may cast away our sorrows oh Lord. Give us the strength to surpass this situation. No one dies without Your say-so and thus, we rejoice over this triumph and we pray You be with our deceased brother/sister. We thank you for the answered prayer and in Jesus name, Amen.
Prayers for Grieving
Prayer 1
Father,
you know our hearts and share our sorrows.
We are hurt by our parting from those whom we loved:
when we are angry at the loss we have sustained,
when we long for words of comfort,
yet find them hard to hear,
turn our grief to truer living,
our affliction to firmer hope
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer 2
Our eyes, Lord, are wasted with grief;
you know we are weary with groaning.
As we remember our death
in the dark emptiness of the night,
have mercy on us and heal us;
forgive us and take away our fear
through the dying and rising of Jesus your Son.
Amen.
Prayer 3
Lord, have mercy
on those who mourn
who feel numb and crushed
and are filled with the pain of grief,
whose strength has given up
You know all our sighing and longings:
be near to us and teach us to fix our hope on you
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Funeral Prayers for Peace
Prayer 1
We thank You Lord for the passing of our brother/sister. We exalt Your name for the good life he/she lived. We pray oh Lord, that everlasting life be given unto him or her. And as he or she abides in Your garden, let Your angels touch what he/she cannot touch again. Father, be with his/her soul and may he/she rest in perfect eternal peace. Amen.
Prayer 2
Go forth, Christian soul, from this world
in the name of God the almighty Father,
who created you,
in the name of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,
who suffered for you,
in the name of the Holy Spirit,
who was poured out upon you,
go forth, faithful Christian,
May you live in peace this day,
may your home be with God in Zion,
with Mary, the virgin Mother of God,
with Joseph, and all the angels and saints.
Prayer 3
All praise and glory are yours, Lord our God,
for you have called us to serve you in love.
Bless all who have grown old in your service
and give N. strength and courage
to continue to follow Jesus your Son.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers from the Bible
Bible passages can serve as meaningful prayers for the soul of the deceased. Many Bible verses highlight death, resurrection, and God’s mercy for the departed. Scriptures help in bringing peace, comfort, and hope to families and friends as they mourn the death of a loved one.
Here are some common Bible passages that can be used as prayer and included in your funeral card.
John 14:27
Holy God, Your Word says peace You leave with me and Your peace You give to me. You do not give to me as the world gives, but what You give us is eternal and never fades. So during this funeral, I pray that I do not become troubled and I pray that I do not become afraid. I ask You to surround me with an overwhelming peace as I mourn my loss. I pray that I do not become crippled by the pain, but let my heart not be troubled, Amen.
Isaiah 41:10
Awesome God, I will not fear for You are with me! I will not be dismayed because You are my God! I know that You will strengthen me, because Your word tells me that in my weakness I am made strong. I know that my help comes from You. Lord, uphold me with Your righteous hand, I thank You for never letting me go. During this funeral, I thank You that I am not alone in my pain and sadness. I have You by my side, Amen.
Psalm 46:1-10
God of heaven, You are my refuge and my strength; You are my ever-present help in this difficult time. During this funeral, I will not be afraid even though it feels like my world is falling apart. Despite the way I am feeling, I must be still and know that You are my God. You are with me Father, and I know that You are my fortress. I will not be shaken by what I experience. You will be exalted among the nations and You will be exalted in the earth, Amen.
1 Corinthians 15:50-52
Oh Lord, I thank You because I can place my hope in You. Flesh and blood cannot inherit Your kingdom, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Father, we will not all sleep but we will be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. The trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed! Lord, during this funeral, I thank You because I know that at the sounding of the trumpet, I will see my loved one again in Your glory, Amen.
Philippians 4:7
King of Glory, I declare that the peace that comes from You transcends all understanding and will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus! Lord, during this funeral, I need You in this difficult time Lord and I need You for divine strength and comfort. It is only by Your grace and mercy that I will find peace in my pain, so help me Father. Help me to feel Your presence even as I grieve. King of healing, fill my heart Amen.
Short Bible Verses
Adding short Bible verses can help inspire faith and hope in eternal life. Short Biblical passages can encourage mourners in accepting the death of their loved one and remind them that they are now united with God.
You can add these short Bible verses to your selected prayers, or use them by themselves.
Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Proverbs 12:28
In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.
Psalm 46:1-2
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
For further selections from the Bible, continue reading here.
Other Types of Prayers
Prayers can also vary depending on use (such as obituaries and eulogies), as well as the final disposition of the person who died.
Obituary Prayers
When you prepare an obituary for your loved one, it can be fitting to include a prayer. The length of the prayer will depend on where you publish the obituary.
For instance, for a local paper, you may want to include a short prayer as the price will vary according to length. A longer prayer can be used if the obituary will be posted on a website or sent out as emails.
Prayer 1
Oh Father of mercies, and God of all comfort,
Thou hast often invited us to thyself in kindness.
It manifests our depravity that we think of Thee so little
In our hour of ease and prosperity!
But we are now before Thee in affliction and distress.
Yet we rejoice to know that
Thou art a very present and an
All-sufficient help in trouble.
Prayer 2
Our heavenly father, our family prays that You will find mercy on the soul of our brother and friend. We pray that with his unexpected death, his soul may find peace that he has lived a good life and did his best serving his family, workplace and loved ones while he was on earth. We also earnestly seek for the forgiveness of all his sins and all of his shortcomings. May he find assurance that his family will remain strong and steadfast in serving the Lord as he moves forward in his journey to eternal life with Christ, his Lord and Savior. Dear Father, take His soul into Your kingdom and let perpetual light shine upon him, may he rest in peace. Amen.
Cremation Prayers
Some prayers are appropriate for cremation ceremonies. If there is a committal service where you bury the ashes of the person who died, you can include a cremation prayer in your funeral card. This will allow other mourners to join you in praying upon the interring of the ashes.
Listed below are some of the prayers appropriate for cremation.
Prayer 1
Eternal God, you have shared with us the life of ______________ Before she was ours, she was yours. For all that ________________ has given us to make us what we are, for that of her which lives and grows in each of us, and for her life that in your love will never end, we give you thanks.
As now we offer _________________ back into your arms, comfort us in our loneliness, strengthen us in our weakness, and give us courage to face the future unafraid. Draw those of us who remain in this life closer to one another, make us faithful to serve one another, and give us to know that peace and joy which is eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer 2
O God, in whom we live and move and have our being, we thank you for the life of ________________. We are grateful for all the ways (s)he has touched the lives of those around /herhim. Her/His death brings sorrow and grief to us who love her/him. Grant us your blessing in this hour, and enable us so to put our trust in you that our spirits may grow calm and our hearts be comforted. Lift our eyes beyond the shadows of earth, and help us to see the light of eternity. So may we find grace and strength for this and every time of need; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer 3
God, we commend to You the spirit of _______ and commit his/her earthly remains to their final resting place – earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. May You bless him/her. May You keep him/her. And may Your countenance shine upon him/her and bring him/her everlasting peace. Amen.
FAQ
A funeral card usually includes a photo of the deceased, name, birthdate date of death, and the funeral program title. It may also include poems, quotes, and other readings that are often religious in nature. Other common details are the date and location of the service, the order of the service, names of those who will participate in the service, selections of music, obituary or biography, interment details, and information about the funeral reception.
You can make your own funeral card or have it done by a professional or a printing service company.
Funeral cards are often religious in nature with poems and prayers that are God-centered and derived from the scripture. Funeral cards are also lengthier and may provide the order of service for the funeral.
Memorial cards can be personalized more and include secular poems and prayers that are not directly from the Bible. Memorial cards are generally smaller and contain fewer details about the deceased and the service.
Prayer cards came from an old Catholic tradition of giving small cards that feature images of saints or religious scenes and prayers to celebrate special moments. They do not always feature information about the deceased (or it may be limited to name and dates.)
Funeral cards are also religious, but they focus more on the person who died. Aside from prayers and verses, funeral cards also contain poems and other personal details about the deceased.
Conclusion
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