What to pray at the bedside

For the hours when someone is leaving.

When someone is dying, the family often does not know what to do. The Church does. These are the prayers of commendation — said aloud, slowly, at the bedside, whether or not the person appears to hear. Hearing is thought to be the last sense to go.

First, Call a Priest

Ask for the Anointing of the Sick, Viaticum (Communion for the journey) and the Apostolic Pardon. Do not wait until the last minutes; call while the person can still receive. In an emergency, any priest will come.

The Commendation

Go forth, Christian soul, from this world
in the name of God the almighty Father, who created you,
in the name of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who suffered for you,
in the name of the Holy Spirit, who was poured out upon you.

Go forth, faithful Christian.

May you live in peace this day,
may your home be with God in Zion,
with Mary, the virgin Mother of God,
with Joseph, and all the angels and saints. Amen.

Short Prayers to Repeat

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist him (her) in this last agony.

Into Your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Holy Mary, pray for him (her).
Saint Joseph, pray for him (her).
All holy men and women, pray for him (her).

Eternal rest grant unto him (her), O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him (her).

At the Moment of Death

Eternal rest grant unto him (her), O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him (her).
May he (she) rest in peace. Amen.

May his (her) soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

For Those Keeping Watch

Speak to them. Say the things that need saying — thank you, I forgive you, forgive me, I love you, you may go. Hold their hand. Pray the Rosary quietly if words run out. You do not have to do this well; you only have to be there.