Dearest Jesus, who wept at the death of your friend
and taught that they who mourn shall be comforted,
grant us the comfort of your presence in our loss.
Send Your Holy Spirit to direct us
lest we make hasty or foolish decisions.
Send Your Spirit to give us courage
lest through fear we recoil from living.
Send Your Spirit to bring us your peace
lest bitterness, false guilt, or regret take root in our hearts.
The Lord has given.
The Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
O sweet mother Mary,
who knew the sadness of mourning those your heart loved most,
Jesus, your Son,
and Joseph, your devoted spouse,
Pray for us in our time of loss.
Amen
Bless those who mourn
the death of relative or friend
and feel that with this loss
their lives are incomplete.
Bless those who mourn,
and fill these empty hearts
with pleasant memories,
the sound of laughter,
sunshine and happier days.
Bless those who mourn,
and heal their brokenness
with the soothing balm
of your gentle touch,
that they might know
shalom, wholeness, peace
Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. My heart is broken, my mind exhausted. I cry out to you and hardly know what to ask. All I can do is tell you how I feel and ask you to “keep track of all my sorrows. . . . [collect] all my tears in your bottle. each one in your book” as I pour them out to you. Amen
I offer this prayer to God to lift this burden of grief from my heart. Shine your eternal light onto my soul and let me feel the joy of your love. Guide me with your wisdom, so I may understand your plan. Let me lean upon your strength so I may grow strong once more and emerge from my loss with a renewed spirit of love and hope. Amen
Dear God, you know my heart. You know the sadness that fills it. You recognize how my grief has pushed all other emotions aside and weighs heavily on me. See me, God. Hear me, God. Please help me to accept that my [loved one's role] was called home so soon. Remove my anger and replace it with a greater acceptance of your will. I pray for your healing of my endless sadness and constant grief that prevents me from living. Help me to see the good in my life and refocus my attention on my family. Guide me to find new ways to cope with my loss that will renew my soul and refill my heart with your eternal love. Amen
The world has grown quiet since her/his voice has been silenced. Please help me rise above my sorrow, oh God. Imbue my spirit with your loving kindness and comfort. Fill my soul with your everlasting love. Send your angels to lift me up, oh God, so they can reveal your glory to me once more. Amen
Father, I pray for (name one or more) and others in my circle of family and friends who are grieving...
They're hurting for many reasons, and I ask You to help them through this season of loss. I reach out to You, the Father of compassion and the Source of every comfort, asking You to touch them with Your unfailing love and kindness. Be their God who comforts them as they're going through their struggles, and bring them through the tough things ahead. Come alongside them in their pain, and strengthen them so they'll one day be able to help others who face the same struggles. (2 Corinthians 1:3–4; Psalm 33:22; 1 Samuel 20:14a)
You're close to people whose hearts are breaking, those who are discouraged and have given up hope. May You who see their troubles and grief respond when they cry out. (Psalm 34:18; 10:14a, 17)
When they're hurting, help them find their joy in You, for it's Your joy that will be their strength. Help them to trust You as their God of hope. Fill them with Your joy, peace, and hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Help them experience the love, joy, and peace that are the results of His life in them, no matter what they're going through. (Nehemiah 8:10b; Romans 15:13; Galatians 5:22)
May they sense Your presence in this hour of need. In Jesus' name, Amen.