Prayer of the Church

For the faithful departed — Requiem aeternam

For the dead, at every Rosary and every grave

LatinEnglish

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine,
et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Requiescant in pace. Amen.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace. Amen.

SourcePrayer of the Church · For the dead, at every Rosary and every grave

The history of this prayer

The Requiem aeternam comes from an ancient book, 4 Esdras (2:34-35), and was adopted as the introit of the Mass for the dead — hence the name “Requiem Mass”. Over the centuries it became the short prayer Catholics say for those who have died: at funerals, in cemeteries, on passing a grave, and in many places after each decade of the Rosary.

November is the month of the holy souls in purgatory, and 2 November is All Souls' Day. Praying for the dead is a work of mercy, taught already in Scripture (2 Maccabees 12:46).

Frequently asked questions

What prayer is said for the dead?

“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.” For one person: “unto him/her… upon him/her… May he/she rest in peace.”

Does praying for the dead help the souls in purgatory?

Yes. The Church teaches that prayer, above all the Mass, almsgiving and indulgences help the souls being purified (Catechism, 1032).

Where does the name “Requiem” come from?

From the first Latin word of the prayer, “Requiem aeternam”, “eternal rest”, which opens the Mass for the dead.

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