Remembering our Beloved Dead
Opening Prayer
God our Father, your power bring us to birth, your providence guides our lives, and by your command we return to dust.
Lord those who die still live in your presence, their lives change but do not end. I pray in hope for my family, relatives and friends, and for all the dead known to you alone.
In company with Christ, who died and now lives, may they rejoice in your kingdom, where all our tears are wiped away. Unite us together again in one family, to sing your praise forever and ever. Amen.
READINGS 1 Thessalonians 4:14
If We believe that Jesus died and rose again, God will bring forth with him from the dead those who have fallen asleep believing in him.
Sacred silence (indicated by a bell) - a moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church.
Psalm 51
Have mercy on me,
God, in your kindness.
In your compassion blot out my offense.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
My offenses truly I know them;
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done.
That you may be justified when you give
sentence
and be without reproach when you judge.
O see, in guilt I was born,
a sinner was I conceived.
Indeed you love truth in the heart;
then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.
O purify me, then I shall be clean;
O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,
that the bones you have crushed may revive. From my sins turn away your face and blot out all my guilt.
A pure heart create for me, O God,
put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
nor deprive me of your holy spirit.
Give me again the joy of your help;
with a spirit of fervor sustain me,
that I may teach transgressors your ways
and sinners may return to you.
O rescue me, God, my helper,
and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
For in sacrifice you take no delight,
burnt offering from me you would refuse;
my sacrifice, a contrite spirit.
A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.
In your goodness, show favor to Zion: rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice, holocausts offered on your altar. Amen.
INTERCESSIONS
Let us pray to the all-powerful Father who raised Jesus from the dead and gives new life to our mortal bodies, and say to him:
Lord, give us new life in Christ.
Father through baptism we have been buried with your Son and have risen with him in his resurrection,
- grant that we may walk in newness of life so that when we die, we may live with Christ for ever.
Lord, give us new life in Christ.
Provident Father, you have given us the living bread that has come down from heaven and which should always be eaten worthily,
- grant that we may eat this bread worthily and be raised up to eternal life on the last day.
Lord, give us new life in Christ.
Lord, you sent an angel to comfort your son in agony,
- give us the hope of our consolation when death draws near.
Lord, give us new life in Christ.
You delivered the three youths from the fiery furnace,
- free your faithful ones from the punishment they suffer for their sins.
Lord, give us new life in Christ.
God of the living and the dead, you raised Jesus from the the dead,
- raise up those who have died and grant that we may share eternal glory with them.
Lord, give us new life in Christ.
RITUAL: Write the names of your beloved dead in the sheet of paper. One by one, each make a silent prayer and offer the sheet of paper by burning it in the jar as provided.
THE OUR FATHER
Concluding Prayer
Father,
Source of forgiveness and salvation for all mankind, hear our prayer.
By the prayer of the ever-virgin Mary, may our friends, relatives, and benefactors who have gone from this world come to share eternal happiness with all your saints. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. AMEN
