Weekly Prayers for the Faithful Departed

The Church offers us different prayers that we can say each day of the week for the faithful departed. These prayers are especially useful for offering a novena on behalf of the dead, or for praying during those seasons of the year designated by the Church at times of fervent prayer for the dead.

Sunday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood, which Thy divine Son Jesus shed in the Garden, deliver the souls in purgatory, and especially that one which is the most forsaken of all, and bring it into Thy glory, where it may praise and bless Thee for ever. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Eternal Rest, etc.

An Explanation of the Sunday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

On Sunday, we offer our prayer for the souls in Purgatory through the Precious Blood of Christ. We remember especially the most forsaken soul in Purgatory—the one who has no one else to pray for him.

Monday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood which Thy divine Son Jesus shed in His cruel scourging, deliver the souls in purgatory, and among them all, especially that soul which is nearest to its entrance into Thy glory, that it may soon begin to praise and bless Thee for ever. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Eternal Rest, etc.

An Explanation of the Monday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

We offer our prayer again through the Precious Blood of Jesus, especially that shed during his scourging, and we remember in a special way today that soul which is closest to leaving Purgatory and entering into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Tuesday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood of Thy divine Son Jesus that was shed in His bitter crowning with thorns, deliver the souls in purgatory, and among them all, particularly that soul which is in the greatest need of our prayers, in order that it may not long be delayed in praising Thee in Thy glory and blessing Thee for ever. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Eternal Rest, etc.

An Explanation of the Tuesday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

Christ shed His Precious Blood for us when He was crowned with thorns, and we offer our prayer today through that Blood for the soul in Purgatory that is most in need of our prayers.

Wednesday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood of Thy divine Son Jesus that was shed in the streets of Jerusalem whilst He carried on His sacred shoulders the heavy burden of the Cross, deliver the souls in purgatory and especially that one which is richest in merits in Thy sight, so that, having soon attained the high place in glory to which it is destined, it may praise Thee triumphantly and bless Thee for ever. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Eternal Rest, etc.

An Explanation of the Wednesday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

Today, we pray in a special way for that soul in Purgatory which has the greatest merit, and we offer our prayer through the Blood that Christ shed when He carried His Cross to Calvary.

Thursday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech Thee by the Precious Body and Blood of Thy divine Son Jesus, which He Himself on the night before His Passion gave as meat and drink to His beloved Apostles and bequeathed to His Holy Church to be the perpetual Sacrifice and life-giving nourishment of His faithful people, deliver the souls in purgatory, but most of all, that soul which was most devoted to this Mystery of infinite love, in order that it may praise Thee therefor, together with Thy divine Son and the Holy Spirit in Thy glory for ever. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Eternal Rest, etc.

An Explanation of the Thursday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

On Thursdays, we remember Christ's institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion at the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, and so we offer our prayer today through the Body and Blood of Christ. We offer it especially for the soul in Purgatory most devoted to the Eucharist.

Friday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood which Jesus Thy divine Son did shed this day upon the tree of the Cross, especially from His sacred Hands and Feet, deliver the souls in purgatory, and particularly that soul for whom I am most bound to pray, in order that I may not be the cause which hinders Thee from admitting it quickly to the possession of Thy glory where it may praise Thee and bless Thee for evermore. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Eternal Rest, etc.

An Explanation of the Friday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

Christ died on the Cross on Good Friday, and our prayer today is offered through the Blood He shed on that day. We remember especially that soul for whom we have the greatest obligation to pray—someone we knew who has died and who is in need of our prayers.

Saturday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech Thee by the Precious Blood which gushed forth from the sacred Side of Thy divine Son Jesus in the presence and to the great sorrow of His most holy Mother, deliver the souls in purgatory and among them all especially that soul which has been most devout to this noble Lady, that it may come quickly into Thy glory, there to praise Thee in her, and her in Thee through all the ages. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Eternal Rest, etc.

An Explanation of the Saturday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

As our week of prayer for the faithful departed comes to a close, we offer our prayer today especially for that soul in Purgatory most devoted to Mary, the Mother of God, and we offer it through the Precious Blood that she saw flow from her Son when the spear was thrust into His side on the Cross.