From the Commendation of the Soul in the Roman Ritual

Proficiscere — Prayer for the Dying

"Go forth, Christian soul": said at the bedside of the dying

LatinEnglish

Proficiscere, anima christiana, de hoc mundo,
in nomine Dei Patris omnipotentis, qui te creavit;
in nomine Iesu Christi, Filii Dei vivi, qui pro te passus est;
in nomine Spiritus Sancti, qui in te effusus est;
in nomine gloriosae et sanctae Dei Genetricis Virginis Mariae;
in nomine beati Ioseph, inclyti eiusdem Virginis Sponsi;
in nomine Angelorum et Archangelorum;
in nomine Thronorum et Dominationum;
in nomine Principatuum et Potestatum;
in nomine Virtutum, Cherubim et Seraphim;
in nomine Patriarcharum et Prophetarum;
in nomine sanctorum Apostolorum et Evangelistarum;
in nomine sanctorum Martyrum et Confessorum;
in nomine sanctorum Monachorum et Eremitarum;
in nomine sanctarum Virginum et omnium Sanctorum et Sanctarum Dei:
hodie sit in pace locus tuus, et habitatio tua in sancta Sion.
Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum.

Go forth, O Christian soul, out of this world,
in the name of God the Father almighty, who created thee;
in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, who suffered for thee;
in the name of the Holy Spirit, who was poured forth upon thee;
in the name of the glorious and holy Mother of God, the Virgin Mary;
in the name of blessed Joseph, the illustrious spouse of the same Virgin;
in the name of the Angels and Archangels;
in the name of the Thrones and Dominations;
in the name of the Principalities and Powers;
in the name of the Virtues, the Cherubim and the Seraphim;
in the name of the Patriarchs and Prophets;
in the name of the holy Apostles and Evangelists;
in the name of the holy Martyrs and Confessors;
in the name of the holy Monks and Hermits;
in the name of the holy Virgins and of all the Saints of God:
may thy place be this day in peace, and thine abode in holy Sion.
Through the same Christ our Lord.

Amen.

SourceFrom the Commendation of the Soul in the Roman Ritual · "Go forth, Christian soul": said at the bedside of the dying

The history of this prayer

"Proficiscere, anima christiana" is one of the oldest prayers of the Roman liturgy for the dying. It belonged to the Commendation of the Soul (Ordo commendationis animae) of the Roman Ritual, said by the priest or by those present as death draws near, and it remains in the present rite of Pastoral Care of the Sick and the dying.

The prayer sends the soul forth with the authority of the Trinity, of Our Lady, of Saint Joseph and of the whole court of heaven, and asks that its place be "this day" in peace, in holy Sion, the heavenly Jerusalem. Tradition says it at the bedside, after the Litany of the Saints or other prayers, while the dying person is still alive; any of the faithful may say it, not only a priest.

Saint John Henry Newman put these words in the mouth of the priest at the dying man's bedside in his poem The Dream of Gerontius (1865), later set to music by Edward Elgar. Whenever there is time, do not forget to call a priest for the sacraments: confession, anointing and viaticum.

Frequently asked questions

Can a layperson pray the Proficiscere?

Yes. It is a prayer of the Church that any of the faithful may say beside the dying; a priest should still be called for the sacraments.

When is "Go forth, Christian soul" prayed?

As death draws near, at the bedside, while the person is still alive.

More prayers: Every Catholic's prayers

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