Grief & Loss
Prayer for a Departed Soul
For one who has gone before us.
This is a prayer for a departed soul — gathered for the moments when you need the right words. Below you'll find 3 traditions side by side, with scripture, a short note on each, and a few situational prayers for everyday use.
Compiled by the editors of A Prayer for Everything · Updated April 2026
Why pray this prayer
When you search for a prayer for a departed soul, you're rarely looking for theology — you're looking for words to carry something heavy. Naming what you feel, out loud or in silence, is itself an act of trust: that someone is listening, that the situation is not yours alone to fix.
The prayers below have been used by people in the same place you are now — frightened, hopeful, grieving, grateful, uncertain. Pick the one that meets you today. You can pray word-for-word, paraphrase it, or let a single line become your own.
Catholic Prayers for a Departed Soul
Drawn from the Catholic tradition, with reference to the Roman Missal, the writings of the saints, and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
A Prayer for a Departed Soul
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
Islamic Prayers for a Departed Soul
Drawn from the Islamic tradition of duʿāʾ, with reference to the Qur'an and the prayers of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
A Prayer for a Departed Soul
O Allah, forgive them and have mercy on them. Grant them ease and pardon them. Make their grave a garden from the gardens of paradise. Ameen.
Multi-faith Prayers for a Departed Soul
Written in plain, universal language so it can be prayed by anyone, in any tradition or none.
A Prayer for a Departed Soul
May they be held in light. May the love they gave keep flowering in the world they left behind. May we who remember them carry their best into our own days.
How to pray this prayer
- Find a quiet moment. Even 60 seconds is enough — first thing in the morning, last thing at night, or any pause in the day.
- Read the prayer once silently. Notice which line catches you. That line is yours today.
- Pray it aloud. Speaking the words — even in a whisper — makes the prayer feel less like reading and more like asking.
- Sit quietly for a moment after. Don't rush. Let the words settle. If a name or a face comes to mind, hold it there before you go on with your day.
When this prayer feels hard
Some days the words come easily. Other days you'll open this page and the prayer will feel hollow, or unanswered, or like you're talking to the ceiling. That doesn't mean you're praying wrong. It means you're a person.
When the prayer feels hard, try shortening it — even one honest line ("help me," "I don't understand," "thank you") is a complete prayer. If you're angry, pray angrily. If you're numb, pray the words anyway and let them do the work your feelings can't right now. Faith isn't measured by how the prayer feels in your mouth.