A Litany for the Dead

For use on All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2), and during times of mourning.

God the Father,

Have mercy on your servants.

God the Son,

Have mercy on your servants.

God the Holy Spirit,

Have mercy on your servants.

Holy Trinity, One God,

Have mercy on your servants.

From all evil, from all sin, from all tribulation,

Good Lord, deliver them.

By your holy Incarnation, by your Cross and Passion, by your precious Death and Burial,

Good Lord, deliver them.

By your glorious Resurrection and Ascension, and by the Coming of the Holy Spirit,

Good Lord, deliver them.

We sinners beseech you to hear us, Lord Christ: That it may please you to deliver the souls of your servants from the power of evil and from eternal death,

We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please you mercifully to pardon all their sins,

We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please you to grant them a place of refreshment and everlasting blessedness,

We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please you to give them joy and gladness in your kingdom, with your saints in light.

We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servants. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, sheep of your own fold, lambs of your own flock, sinners of your own redeeming. Receive them into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light.  Amen.

Rest eternal grant them, O Lord:

And let light perpetual shine upon them

May their souls, X and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.

[From The Book of Common Prayer, 1979]