The Eternal Rest Prayer
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Traditional English version, from the Latin Requiem aeternam.
Pray the Eternal Rest Prayer every day with a reminder.
Start praying with Rosary & MercyKey takeaways
- Catholics pray for the dead because souls may need purification (CCC 1030-1032).
- The prayer comes from the Mass for the Dead (the Requiem).
- November is the month of the Holy Souls, with All Souls Day on November 2.
What is the Eternal Rest Prayer?
The Eternal Rest prayer comes from the Latin Requiem aeternam, the entrance chant of the Mass for the Dead. The Church prays for those who have died, trusting in God's mercy and in the communion of saints.
When to pray it
Catholics pray it at funerals and wakes, on the anniversary of a death, throughout November, and often at the end of the Rosary for the deceased. Many say it at the grave.
Questions people ask
Why pray for the dead?
The Church teaches that souls in purgatory are being purified and can be helped by prayer (CCC 1030-1032). The practice appears in 2 Maccabees 12:45.
What is All Souls Day?
November 2, the day set aside to pray for all the faithful departed.
Is it a prayer for any dead person?
Yes. Catholics pray it for family, friends and anyone who has died. The Church does not claim to know who is in purgatory, so we pray for all.
Related prayers
Pray through what you are reading, every day, with a gentle reminder.
Start praying with Rosary & MercySources: 2 Maccabees 12:43-46 · Catechism of the Catholic Church 1030-1032, 1055, 1689 · USCCB