Prayer Before a Funeral
A prayer for those gathering to bury a loved one — honest about grief, grounded in the resurrection, and asking for the grace of hope.
The Prayer Before a Funeral is for those gathering to bury a loved one. It is honest about grief, grounded in the resurrection and asks for the grace of hope. The Church sees a funeral as an act of faith as well as farewell. This prayer can be said at home before leaving, or quietly in the car. It helps you remember that death does not have the last word. If you are asked to speak or read, keep a short copy in your pocket. Light a candle for the person at home. The Church promises eternal rest to those who trust in God's mercy.
Pray this prayer, and save your favourites, in the Sacred Novenas app
Open in the app App StoreGoogle PlayPrayer Before a Funeral
Lord God of mercy,
we gather in the shadow of death
and we do not know what to say.
We mourn [name].
We miss what was, and grieve what will never be.
We are angry and sad and confused and afraid —
all at once, all together, in ways we cannot always name.
And yet we come here, to You,
because we have nowhere else to go
where grief is truly received.
We believe — help our unbelief —
that You wept at the tomb of Lazarus.
That You know what loss feels like from the inside.
That the resurrection is not a word that erases grief
but a promise that carries it.
Receive [name] into Your mercy.
Whatever was unfinished, unspoken, unforgiven —
let Your mercy cover it.
Comfort those who mourn.
Steady those who must stand and speak and hold others up
when they themselves are breaking.
May we leave here today
with something that was not here before —
not the absence of grief,
but the quiet presence of hope.
Through Christ, who conquered death
not by avoiding it, but by passing through it.
Amen.
Frequently asked questions
When should I pray the Prayer Before a Funeral?
Pray it the night before and just before the funeral begins.
How do I pray the Prayer Before a Funeral?
Read it with the family, name the person, and then take a deep breath before you walk in.
Who is the Prayer Before a Funeral for?
Mourners, pallbearers, readers and anyone attending a funeral.
Pray this prayer, and save your favourites, in the Sacred Novenas app
Open in the app App StoreGoogle Play