Prayers for the Sick and Dying
PRAYER FOR THE SICK
ALMIGHTY and eternal God, the everlasting Salvation of them that believe, hear us on behalf of Thy sick servant, N., for whom we implore the aid of Thy pitying mercy, that, with his bodily health restored, he may give thanks to Thee in Thy church. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYER FOR A SICK PERSON NEAR DEATH
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, preserver of souls, Who dost correct those whom Thou dost love, and for their amendment dost tenderly chastise those Whom Thou dost receive, we call upon Thee, O Lord, to bestow Thy healing, that the soul of Thy servant, at the hour of its departure from the body, may by the hands of Thy holy angels be presented without spot unto Thee. Amen.
PRAYERS FOR THE DYING
O MY God, I offer Thee all the holy Masses which will be said this day throughout the whole world for poor sinners who are now in their death agony and who will die this day. May the Precious Blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ obtain for them mercy. Amen.
(Ind. of 300 days. — Pius X. Dec. 18, 1907.)
O MOST merciful Jesus, lover of souls, I pray Thee by the agony of Thy most Sacred Heart, and by the sorrows of Thy immaculate Mother, wash in Thy Blood the sinners of the whole world who are now in their agony, and are to die this day. Amen. Heart of Jesus, once in agony, have mercy on the dying.
(Ind. of 300 days, each time. — Pius IX. Feb. 2, 1850.)
PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH FOR THE DYING
EVERLASTING Father, for the sake of the love which Thou didst bear to St. Joseph, whom Thou didst choose above all to occupy Thy place on earth, have mercy on us and on those who are dying. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, etc.
Everlasting Son of God, for the sake of Thy love toward St. Joseph, who didst protect Thee so faithfully on earth, have mercy on us and on those who are dying. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, etc.
Everlasting Divine Spirit, for the sake of Thy love toward St. Joseph, who so carefully protected Mary, Thy most holy and beloved spouse, have mercy on us and on those who are dying. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, etc.
(Ind. of 300 days, once a day.— Leo XIII. May 17, 1884.)
THE LITANY FOR THE DYING
| LORD, have mercy. | ||
| Christ, have mercy. | ||
| Lord, have mercy. | ||
| Holy Mary, pray for him. | ||
| All ye holy Angels and Archangels, | Pray for him. | |
| Holy Abel, | ||
| All ye Choirs of the Just, | ||
| Holy Abraham, | ||
| St. John the Baptist, | ||
| St. Joseph, | ||
| All ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets, | ||
| St. Peter, | ||
| St. Paul, | ||
| St. Andrew, | ||
| St. John, | ||
| All ye holy Apostles and Evangelists, | ||
| All ye holy Disciples of the Lord, | ||
| All ye holy Innocents, | ||
| St. Stephen, | ||
| St. Lawrence, | ||
| All ye holy Martyrs, | ||
| St. Sylvester, | ||
| St. Gregory, | ||
| St. Augustin, | ||
| All ye holy Bishops and Confessors, | ||
| St. Benedict, | ||
| St. Francis, | ||
| St. Camillus, | ||
| St. John of God, | ||
| All ye holy Monks and Hermits, | ||
| St. Mary Magdalen, | ||
| St. Lucy, |
All ye holy Saints of God,
Make intercession for him.
Be merciful,
Spare him, O Lord.
Be merciful,
O Lord, deliver him.
Be merciful,
O Lord, deliver him.
| From Thy wrath, | O Lord, deliver him. | |
| From the peril of death, | ||
| From an evil death, | ||
| From the pains of hell, | ||
| From all evil, | ||
| From the power of the devil, | ||
| Through Thy birth, | ||
| Through Thy cross and passion, | ||
| Through Thy death and burial, | ||
| Through Thy glorious resurrection, | ||
| Through Thine admirable ascension, | ||
| Through the grace of the Holy Ghost the Comforter, | ||
| In the day of judgment, |
We sinners,
Beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou spare him,
We beseech Thee, hear us.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
A PRAYER TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
To Be Said by the Dying Person, or by Another for Him.
WE adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
O GOD, Who for the redemption of the world didst vouchsafe to be born, to be circumcised, to be rejected by the Jews, to be betrayed with a kiss by the traitor Judas, to be bound with cords, to be led as an innocent Jamb to the slaughter, and in the sight of Annas, Caiphas, Pilate, and Herod, to be treated with indignity, to be accused by false witnesses, to be afflicted with scourges and reproaches, to be spit upon, to be crowned with thorns, to be beaten with blows, to be struck with a reed, to have Thy face veiled, to be stripped of Thy garments, to be nailed to the cross and raised high thereon, to be ranked among thieves, to be offered gall and vinegar to drink, and to be pierced with a lance: Do Thou, O Lord, by these Thy most holy pains, which I, though unworthy, now call to mind, and by Thy holy cross and death, deliver me (or this Thy servant, N.) from the pains of hell, and vouchsafe to lead me (or him) whither Thou didst lead the good thief who was crucified with Thee. Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen.
THREE DEVOUT PRAYERS USEFUL FOR THE DYING
To be recited with three Our Fathers, and three Hail Marys in the agony of death. First is said:
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Our Father, Hail Mary.
Let us Pray
O LORD Jesus Christ, by Thy most sacred agony and by the prayer which Thou didst pour forth for us on the Mount of Olives, where Thy sweat became as drops of blood running down upon the earth, I beseech Thee to offer up the many drops of Thy bloody sweat, which in Thy fearful anguish Thou didst most abundantly shed for us, and graciously to present them to Thy almighty Father, to be set against the many sins of this Thy servant, N., and mercifully deliver him in this hour of his death from all the pains and sufferings which he fears he may justly have deserved for his sins. Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, God, forever and ever. Amen.
A second time is said:
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Our Father, Hail Mary.
O LORD Jesus Christ, Who didst vouchsafe to die upon the cross for us, I beseech Thee to offer up to Thy almighty Father all the bitter pains and sufferings which Thou didst endure for us upon the cross, especially in that hour when Thy most holy soul quitted Thy most sacred body; and present them in behalf of this Thy servant, N., and deliver him in this hour of death from all the pains and sufferings which he fears he may justly have deserved for his sins. Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest God, forever and ever. Amen.
A third time is said:
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Our Father, Hail Mary.
O LORD Jesus Christ, Who by the mouth of Thy prophet hast said: “With everlasting love, I have loved thee: therefore have I drawn thee graciously’: I beseech Thee to offer up this same love which drew Thee down from heaven to earth, there to endure all the bitterness of Thy passion, and present it to Thy almighty Father for the soul of this Thy servant, N., and deliver him from all the pains and sufferings which he fears he has deserved for his sins. And save his soul in this hour of his departure. Open unto him the gates of life, and make him to rejoice with Thy saints in glory everlasting. And do Thou, O most merciful Lord Jesus Christ, Who hast redeemed us by Thy most Precious Blood, have mercy on the soul of this Thy servant, and vouchsafe to introduce him into the ever green and pleasant places of paradise, that he may live unto Thee in undivided Jove, and never be separated from Thee and Thine elect. Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest God, forever and ever. Amen.