What the Church prays over her dead

The Divine Office, prayed for those who have died.

The Office of the Dead is the form of the Liturgy of the Hours prayed for the departed — at a wake, on the day of a funeral, on All Souls’ Day, and in monasteries continually. It is where the Church’s language about death was formed.

The Shape of It

• Office of Readings — psalms and a reading, often from Job.
• Morning Prayer — with the Benedictus.
• Evening Prayer — with the Magnificat.
• Each hour concludes with prayers for the person who has died and for all the faithful departed.

The Antiphon

I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even though he die, shall live,
and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

The Prayer

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful,
grant to the souls of Your servants departed
the remission of all their sins,
that through our prayers they may obtain the pardon
they have always desired.
Who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.

About This Office

Anyone may pray it. A family keeping vigil the night before a funeral can pray Evening Prayer from the Office of the Dead together — it gives a shape to hours that otherwise have none. Ask your parish for a copy, or use any edition of the Liturgy of the Hours.