Prayer for a Deceased Father or Mother

O God, Who has commanded us
to honour 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.

A Prayer for Dealing with Grief in the Present Moment

Bl. Pope John XXIII

Every day I need you, Lord, but this day especially I need some extra strength to face whatever is to be... This day more than any other day I need to feel You near, to fortify my courage and to overcome my fear. By myself, I cannot meet the challenge of the hour. There are times when human creatures need a higher Power to help them bear what must be borne. And so, dear Lord, I pray that you will hold on to my trembling hand and be with me today.

A Simple Prayer for the Deceased I

Thou goest thy way, and I go mine. Apart, yet not afar;
Only a thick veil hangs between the pathways where we are.

"God keep watch 'tween thee and me;"

This is my prayer;
He looketh thy way. He looketh mine.
And keeps us near.

Although our paths be separate, and thy way is not mine,
Yet coming to the mercy seal my soul will meet with thine.

"God keep watch 'tween thee and me," I'll whisper there;
He blesseth thee, he blesseth me,
And we are near.

A Simple Prayer for the Deceased II

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine.

O GENTLEST HEART of Jesus, ever present in the Blessed Sacrament, ever consumed with burning love for the poor souls, have mercy on the soul of Thy servant. Be not severe in Thy judgments, but let some drops of Thy Precious Blood fall upon the devouring flames and do Thou, O Merciful Savior, send Thy angels to conduct the deceased to a place of refreshment, light, and peace. Amen.

Miscarriage Prayer

Mother M. Angelica (reprinted from EWTN)

My Lord, the baby is dead!

Why, my Lord -- dare I ask why? It will not hear the whisper of the winds or see the beauty of its parents' face -- it will not see the beauty of Your creation or the flame of a sunrise. Why, my Lord?

"Why, My child -- do you ask 'why'? Well, I will tell you why.

You see, the child lives. Instead of the wind he hears the sound of angels singing before My throne. Instead of the beauty that passes he sees everlasting Beauty -- he sees My face. He was created and lived a short time so the image of his parents imprinted on his face may stand before Me as their personal intercessor. He knows secrets of heaven unknown to men on earth. He laughs with a special joy that only the innocent possess. My ways are not the ways of man. I create for My Kingdom and each creature fills a place in that Kingdom that could not be filled by another. He was created for My joy and his parents' merits. He has never seen pain or sin. He has never felt hunger or pain. I breathed a soul into a seed, made it grow, and called it forth. "

I am humbled before you, my Lord, for questioning Your wisdom, goodness, and love. I speak as a fool -- forgive me. I acknowledge Your sovereign rights over life and death. I thank You for the life that began for so short a time to enjoy so long an Eternity.

Loss of Child

Mysterious Lord of Life and Death,
a very part of my own life
has died in the death of my child.
My soul is weighed down with sorrow and
bears the wound of a lifelong scar.
Send me Your angel of consolation
for the pain is heavy and deep.

Help me, Lord,
for I do not seek to understand
the why of this mystery of death
as much as I desire to accept it
in a holy way and to be healed
and once again whole. Amen

A Simple Prayer for the Deceased - Loss of Child

Lord God, you entrusted N. to our care and now you embrace him / her in your love.

Take N. into your keeping together with all children who have died.

Comfort us, your sorrowing servants, who seek to do your will and to know your saving peace.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Serenity Prayer

GOD grant me...

SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change;
COURAGE to change the things I can; and
WISDOM to know the difference...

Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardships as the pathway to peace, taking as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will, that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen.

Prayer to St. Joseph

St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.

O St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son, all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power, I may offer my Thanksgiving and Homage to the most Loving of Fathers.

O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath.

St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us. Amen.

The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto you O Virgin of virgins, my mother! To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.

Resurrection Prayer

Most merciful Father, we commend our departed into your hands. We are filled with the sure hope that our departed will rise again on the Last Day with all who have died in Christ. We thank you for all the good things you have given during our departed's earthly life.

O Father, in your great mercy, accept our prayer that the Gates of Paradise may be opened for your servant. In our turn, may we too be comforted by the words of Faith until we greet Christ in glory and are united with you and our departed.

May he rest in peace, and rise with Christ.

The Twenty-Third Psalm

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the 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.

A Prayer for Healing

Lord, You invite all who are burdened to come to You.
Allow Your healing hand to heal me.

Touch my soul with Your compassion for others.
Touch my heart with Your courage and infinite love for all.
Touch my mind with Your wisdom, that my mouth may always proclaim Your praise.

Teach me to reach out to You in my need, and help me to lead others to You by my example.

Most loving Heart of Jesus, bring me health in body and spirit that I may serve You with all my strength.

Touch gently this life which You have created, now and forever. Amen.

Healing Prayer to St. Jude

Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, friend of Jesus, I place myself in your care at this difficult time. Pray for me; help me know that I need not face my troubles alone. Please join me in my need, asking God to send me consolation in my sorrow, courage in my fear, and healing in the midst of my suffering. Ask our loving God to fill me with the grace to accept whatever may lie ahead for me and my loved ones, and to strengthen my faith in God's healing power. Thank you, St. Jude, for the promise of hope you hold out to all who believe, and inspire me to give this gift of hope to others as it has been given to me. Amen.