Prayer for the dead (Eternal rest)
From the funeral rite ("Requiem aeternam"). Prayed on All Souls' Day, November 2, and whenever someone who has died is remembered.
Also known as: Eternal Rest · Prayer for the Dead · Requiem aeternam
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.
Amen.
When to pray
On All Souls' Day, on anniversaries and when passing a cemetery.
Latin text
et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Requiescant in pace.
Amen.
Origin
The "Eternal Rest" prayer (Requiem aeternam) is an ancient Christian prayer for the dead, deeply rooted in the Roman liturgical tradition. It forms a central part of the Requiem Mass and the Office of the Dead, used in funeral rites and during commemorations for the faithful departed, such as All Souls' Day. Its text, invoking eternal rest and perpetual light, reflects the Church's belief in praying for the purification and salvation of souls in Purgatory. While its exact authorship is unknown, it has been a staple of Catholic devotion for centuries, evolving from early Christian funerary practices.
In other languages
Oração pelos falecidos (Português) · Oración por los difuntos (Español) · Preghiera per i defunti (L'eterno riposo) (Italiano) · Wieczny odpoczynek (Polski) · Panalangin para sa mga Yumao (Tagalog)