Below is the complete text of 25 funeral prayers from various religions and traditions, written in full for use during a funeral service. Each includes its source and a detailed explanation of its meaning for mourners.
The Lord’s Prayer
Source: Christian Bible, Matthew 6:9-13
“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.”
Meaning: A foundational Christian prayer, it reassures mourners of God’s guidance, forgiveness, and eternal kingdom. It offers solace in believing the deceased is embraced in divine love and care.
Psalm 23
Source: Hebrew Bible, Psalm 23
“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.”
Meaning: This psalm is a source of deep comfort, portraying God as a protective shepherd. It reassures mourners that the departed has been led to eternal peace and that God remains with the living in their grief.
See also: Psalm 23
Ave Maria (Hail Mary)
Source: Catholic Tradition
“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”
Meaning: This prayer honors Mary and seeks her intercession, offering hope that she will guide the deceased toward eternal peace. It comforts mourners with the belief in Mary’s compassionate prayers.
Islamic Funeral Dua
Source: Islamic Tradition
“O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those present and those absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allah, whoever you keep alive, keep him alive in Islam, and whoever you cause to die, cause him to die in faith. O Allah, do not deprive us of the reward for this, and do not let us go astray after this.”
Meaning: This prayer emphasizes Allah’s mercy and the continuity of faith in life and death. It provides comfort by affirming the Islamic belief in forgiveness and an eternal afterlife under God’s care.
Jewish Mourner’s Kaddish
Source: Jewish Tradition
“Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name throughout the world which He has created according to His will. May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the life of the entire house of Israel, speedily and soon; and say, Amen. May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity. Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen. May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.”
Meaning: This prayer praises God’s greatness and affirms faith in His divine plan. Reciting it strengthens communal bonds and comforts mourners by focusing on the eternal connection between God and humanity.
Serenity Prayer
Source: Reinhold Niebuhr, 20th Century
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
Meaning: A modern prayer, it encourages mourners to find peace in acceptance, strength to face challenges, and wisdom in navigating grief. It helps the bereaved embrace life’s uncertainties with faith and resilience.
Native American Great Spirit Prayer
Source: Various Indigenous Traditions
“Oh, Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds, and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me! I come before you, one of your many children. I am small and weak. I need your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in beauty and remember the lessons you have taught me. Make me wise, so that I may understand the things you have taught my people and cherish the life you have given me.”
Meaning: This prayer reflects the deep connection between Indigenous traditions and nature. It comforts mourners by emphasizing the cyclical nature of life and the enduring presence of the departed in the natural world.
Hindu Mantra for Peace
Source: Hindu Scriptures
“Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti”
Meaning: A simple yet profound mantra, it invokes peace for the individual, the community, and the universe. For mourners, it serves as a meditative focus, promoting inner calm and acceptance of the eternal cycle of life.
Irish Blessing
Source: Celtic Tradition
“May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”
Meaning: A hopeful farewell prayer, it assures mourners of God’s care for the deceased and offers comfort with the promise of an eventual reunion in eternal peace.
Buddhist Metta Prayer
Source: Buddhist Tradition
“May all beings be happy, may all beings be free from suffering, may all beings never be separated from the happiness that knows no sorrow, and may all beings live in equanimity.”
Meaning: Rooted in compassion, this prayer fosters peace and interconnectedness. It reminds mourners of the universal nature of love and impermanence, offering hope for the deceased’s journey to enlightenment.
Anglican Funeral Collect
Source: Book of Common Prayer
“O God, whose mercies cannot be numbered: Accept our prayers on behalf of thy servant, and grant them entrance into the land of light and joy, in the fellowship of thy saints. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Meaning: This prayer reflects hope in God’s infinite mercy and the promise of eternal life. It reassures mourners that the deceased is welcomed into a realm of peace and joy, uniting them with the saints.
Prayer for the Faithful Departed
Source: Catholic Tradition
“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”
Meaning: A deeply meaningful prayer for Catholics, it asks for eternal peace for the departed and reflects trust in God’s mercy. It brings comfort by affirming the hope of unending peace and rest in God’s presence.
Lakota Funeral Prayer
Source: Lakota Tribe
“Do not stand at my grave and weep; I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning’s hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there, I did not die.”
Meaning: This poetic prayer offers solace by portraying the spirit of the deceased as present in nature. It helps mourners find comfort in the continuing presence of their loved one through the natural elements.
Sikh Ardas
Source: Sikh Scriptures
“Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh. O Waheguru, grant eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to the grieving family. May we all find solace in your divine will.”
Meaning: This prayer emphasizes the Sikh belief in divine will and eternal peace. It comforts the bereaved by seeking God’s blessing on the soul’s journey and offering strength to the mourning family.
Tibetan Buddhist Prayer for the Dead
Source: Tibetan Buddhist Tradition
“May the light of wisdom guide you to liberation. May compassion accompany you in the Bardo, and may you attain enlightenment. May your journey through the intermediate state be free from fear and suffering.”
Meaning: This prayer guides the deceased through the transitional state (Bardo) toward enlightenment. It provides mourners with hope and reassurance that their loved one is supported by compassion and wisdom on their spiritual path.
Shinto Norito Prayer
Source: Shinto Tradition
“We humbly ask the kami to guide the departed soul to a place of peace and to watch over the family in their grief. May the spirit of the deceased find harmony in the eternal realm.”
Meaning: This prayer reflects the Shinto belief in the guidance of kami (spirits) and harmony between the living and the departed. It comforts mourners with the idea of ongoing spiritual connection and peace.
Unitarian Universalist Blessing
Source: Unitarian Universalist Tradition
“Spirit of life and love, comfort us in our grief and loss. May we find peace in the love we shared and strength in the memories we cherish. May the departed find rest.”
Meaning: This inclusive prayer emphasizes shared humanity and the enduring power of love. It offers solace to mourners through the idea of collective healing and the belief in peace for the deceased.
Traditional African Prayer
Source: African Spiritual Traditions
“Ancestors, we call upon you to guide our loved one to the next realm. Surround us with your strength as we honor their memory. Let their spirit find eternal rest among you.”
Meaning: Reflecting African traditions, this prayer calls upon ancestral spirits to guide and protect the deceased. It provides comfort through the belief in the enduring bond between the living and the ancestors.
Greek Orthodox Kontakion for the Departed
Source: Greek Orthodox Church
“Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting. You alone are immortal, the creator and maker of mankind; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to the earth we shall return, as you ordained when you created me, saying, ‘You are dust, and to dust you shall return.’ All of us go down to the dust, yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.”
Meaning: This prayer emphasizes the Orthodox Christian belief in resurrection and eternal life. It comforts mourners by acknowledging human mortality while affirming hope in Christ’s promise of life everlasting.
Zoroastrian Prayer for the Departed
Source: Zoroastrian Tradition:
“May the soul of the departed be united with Ahura Mazda in eternal light and truth. May they find rest and joy in the house of song, and may we find strength in their memory.”
Meaning: This prayer reflects the Zoroastrian focus on light, truth, and eternal life. It offers peace to mourners through the belief that the soul is guided to a place of divine joy and harmony.
Baha’i Prayer for the Departed
Source: Bahá’í Writings
“O my God! This is Thy servant who hath believed in Thee and in Thy signs. He hath turned unto Thee, detached from all save Thee, and steadfast in Thy Cause. Thou art verily of those who show mercy the most merciful. Deal with him, O Thou Forgiving One, as one who hath entered Thy heavenly kingdom.”
Meaning: This prayer calls on God’s mercy and forgiveness, reflecting the Bahá’í belief in an eternal soul. It comforts mourners with the assurance that the deceased has entered a realm of divine peace.
African-American Spiritual Prayer
Source: African-American Christian Tradition
“Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home. I looked over Jordan, and what did I see? A band of angels coming after me, coming for to carry me home.”
Meaning: This prayer expresses hope for heavenly peace and salvation. It comforts mourners by celebrating the journey to eternal life and the belief in angelic guidance for the departed.
Pagan Funeral Prayer
Source: Neo-Pagan Tradition
“The earth returns what it has borrowed. May your spirit find its place in the eternal circle of life. May your journey to the Summerland be gentle, and may you find peace in the embrace of the Goddess.”
Meaning: This prayer reflects the Pagan view of life’s cyclical nature and the unity of all things. It comforts mourners by affirming the deceased’s return to the earth and their continuation in the eternal cycle.
Hindu Funeral Chant (Antyeshti)
Source: Hindu Scriptures
“Lead me from the unreal to the real, lead me from darkness to light, lead me from death to immortality. Om shanti, shanti, shanti.”
Meaning: This chant emphasizes the soul’s journey toward liberation (moksha). It comforts mourners by focusing on spiritual progress and the belief that the soul transcends physical death.
Norwegian Viking Prayer
Source: Norse Pagan Tradition
“Odin, watch over this soul as they journey to Valhalla. May their deeds honor their spirit, and may they find peace in the halls of the gods.”
Meaning: Rooted in Norse beliefs, this prayer celebrates the bravery of the deceased and their passage to Valhalla. It comforts mourners with the idea of eternal honor and unity with the divine.
