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Eternal Rest Prayer
The Eternal Rest prayer is a traditional Catholic prayer asking God to grant rest, light and peace to the faithful departed.
Pray
Eternal Rest
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
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“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord”
The prayer entrusts the dead to God and asks Him to bring them into the rest and peace of eternal life.
“Let perpetual light shine upon them”
Light expresses the hope of sharing forever in the presence and glory of God.
“May they rest in peace”
The final petition is simple and confident: that the departed may know the peace that comes from God.
In brief
Catholics pray Eternal Rest for those who have died, entrusting them to God's mercy and asking that they may enter the peace and light of eternal life.
Understand
What is this prayer?
Eternal Rest is one of the best-known short Catholic prayers for the dead. It asks God to grant the faithful departed rest and perpetual light.
Quick facts
- Latin name
- Requiem Aeternam
- Type
- Prayer for the dead
- Focus
- Mercy, rest and eternal life
- Common use
- Funerals, graves and remembrance
- November
- Especially associated with prayer for the faithful departed
Why Catholics pray it
Why it matters
Catholics believe death does not end the communion of the Church. Prayer for the dead expresses love, hope in the Resurrection and trust in God's mercy.
When to pray
When Catholics use it
It may be prayed after learning of someone's death, at funerals, when visiting a grave, during November, after meals, on anniversaries of death or whenever a deceased person comes to mind.
Meaning
What the words mean
The words ask God for rest rather than oblivion and for perpetual light rather than darkness. The prayer reflects Christian hope that death is not the final word.
History
Where this prayer comes from
Prayer for the dead has deep roots in Catholic worship and Christian tradition. The familiar Eternal Rest formula draws on the Church's ancient language of rest and light for the departed.
Scripture
Biblical connections
2 Maccabees 12:44–46
The biblical text describes prayer being offered for the dead in hope of resurrection and forgiveness.
John 11:25–26
Jesus identifies Himself as the Resurrection and the Life, grounding Christian hope beyond death.
Catholic teaching
Catechism connections
CCC 958
The Catechism describes prayer for the dead as an ancient practice of the Church and a way of helping them through intercession.
CCC 1032
The Catechism teaches that the Church has honoured the memory of the dead and offered prayers for them from the beginning.
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Common questions
Why do Catholics pray for the dead?
Catholics pray for the dead because they believe the bonds of the Church continue beyond death and that intercession for the departed is an ancient Christian practice.
When should I pray Eternal Rest?
It can be prayed whenever someone who has died comes to mind, and especially around funerals, anniversaries, graves and the month of November.
What does perpetual light mean?
It is traditional Christian imagery for the eternal light, peace and presence of God.
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