Every November, many Christians stop to remember the people they have loved and lost. If you are looking for an all souls day prayer for a mother, a father, a spouse, a child, or a friend who has died, you will find simple words below to pray at home, in church, or standing by a grave.
All Souls’ Day falls on November 2 each year. In 2026 it comes on a Monday, the day after All Saints’ Day (Sunday, November 1). Whether your grief is fresh or many years old, this day lets you say their names out loud, bring them before God, and hold on to the hope of the resurrection.
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” — John 11:25 (KJV)
A Short All Souls Day Prayer
Lord Jesus, today I remember all who have gone before me, especially (name). Thank you for the gift of their life and the love they gave. Hold them in your mercy and bring them into the light of your presence. Comfort those of us who miss them, and keep us in hope until we meet again. Amen.
What Is All Souls’ Day?
All Souls’ Day, officially the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, is when the Catholic Church prays for everyone who has died in Christ. All Saints’ Day on November 1 honors the saints in heaven; All Souls’ Day turns our hearts to all the faithful departed, including our own family and friends. The custom spread from the monastery of Cluny in France around the year 1000.
Catholics pray for the dead because they believe those who die in God’s friendship may still need final purification (purgatory), and that our prayers can help them. Some Anglican and Lutheran churches also remember the departed at this time, often by reading names aloud on All Saints’ Sunday. Many Protestant Christians do not pray for the dead; instead they remember loved ones with thanksgiving and rest in the hope of the resurrection.
Traditional All Souls Day Prayer: Eternal Rest
This short traditional prayer has been said by Catholics for centuries at funerals, at gravesides, and after grace at meals:
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Another popular devotion is the Prayer of St. Gertrude for the souls in purgatory, linked to the 13th-century nun St. Gertrude the Great. It is often shared online with a claim that it releases 1,000 souls each time it is prayed. That promise is a later tradition, not Church teaching, so it is best to pray it simply as an act of love and leave the results to God.
All Souls Day Prayers for Family Members
1. Prayer for a Parent Who Has Died
Father in heaven, today I remember my mother (or father), (name). Thank you for the life they gave me, for every meal, every lesson, and every time they forgave me. You know the good they did and the burdens they carried. Have mercy on them, Lord, and bring them fully into your peace. Where I left words unsaid, help me trust that your love fills the gap. Let me honor them by the way I live. Amen.
2. Prayer for a Husband or Wife
Lord, you joined our lives together, and now I walk on without my husband (or wife), (name). I miss their voice, their laugh, and the ordinary things we shared. Thank you for every year you gave us. I place them in your gentle hands and ask you to grant them eternal rest. When the house feels too quiet and the nights feel long, be my companion, and hold my heart until we are reunited in you. Amen.
3. Prayer for a Child Who Has Died
Loving God, my heart aches for my child, (name). No parent should have to bury a son or daughter, and I do not understand why this happened. Yet I know you hold every child close. Keep them safe in your arms and let your light shine on them forever. Sit with me in this pain, Lord. Comfort their brothers, sisters, and grandparents too, and give us hope that this is not the end of the story. Amen.
Prayers for Friends and the Forgotten
4. Prayer for Friends Who Have Passed
Lord Jesus, you called your disciples friends, and you wept at the grave of Lazarus. You know how much I miss my friend, (name). Thank you for the laughter, the help, and the honest talks we shared. Forgive whatever was left unfinished between us. Welcome them into your kingdom and let them rest in your love. Help me be a better friend to the people still in my life, and never take them for granted. Amen.
5. Prayer for Souls With No One to Pray for Them
Merciful Father, today I remember those who died alone, those who were forgotten, and those whose names no one says anymore. Some had no family, some lost touch, and some were simply overlooked. But you never forget anyone. Have mercy on them, Lord, and grant them eternal rest. Let my small all souls day prayer be a sign that they are still loved, and bring them into your light, where no one is alone again. Amen.
Prayers at the Cemetery and for Grieving Hearts
6. Prayer at a Cemetery Visit
Lord, I stand here at the resting place of (name). I bring flowers, a candle, and a heart full of memories. This grave holds their body, but you hold their soul. Thank you that death does not have the final word. Jesus, you rose from the tomb, and you promise life to all who trust in you. Grant eternal rest to my loved one and to everyone buried here. As I walk away, let me carry hope, not only sadness. Amen.
7. Prayer When Lighting a Candle
Lord Jesus, light of the world, as I light this candle I remember (name). Let this small flame be my prayer rising to you. In the darkness of loss, shine your light on my loved one and on all the faithful departed. Let perpetual light shine upon them, Lord. And when my own heart feels dark, remind me that your light can never be put out. Amen.
8. Prayer for Grieving Hearts
God of all comfort, this time of year brings our grief close to the surface. Some of us are crying for the first time, and some still cry after many years. Meet each of us where we are. Hold the widow, the orphan, the parent who lost a child, and the friend who feels forgotten. Send people who will sit with us and listen. Heal our hearts slowly and gently, and fill us with hope in your promises. Amen.
How to Observe All Souls’ Day
You do not need anything fancy to keep this day well. Here are simple ways families remember their dead:
- Visit the grave. Clean the headstone, leave flowers, and pray the Eternal Rest prayer. In the Philippines, many families gather at cemeteries around November 1 and 2 to share food and memories.
- Light a candle. If the grave is far away, light a candle at home beside a photo and pray.
- Write their names. Many parishes keep a Book of the Dead near the altar in November. At home, write names on a card and keep it in your Bible all month.
- Attend Mass or a church service. Catholic churches hold Masses for the faithful departed on November 2, and many churches read names aloud on All Saints’ Sunday.
- Reach out to someone grieving. A short text like “I am thinking of you and praying for you today” means a great deal. You can also share a prayer for a grieving family.
- Pray all month. Catholic tradition dedicates November to praying for the dead, so keep these prayers going alongside your other November prayers and blessings.
If your grief is heavy and not easing, or you are struggling to eat, sleep, or get through the day, please talk to a pastor, a grief counselor, or your doctor. Asking for help is not a lack of faith.
Short All Souls Day Prayers to Share
- Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. Amen.
- Lord, I remember (name) today with love. Hold them in your mercy. Amen.
- Jesus, you are the resurrection and the life. Keep our loved ones safe in you. Amen.
- Father, comfort every heart that is missing someone today. Amen.
- Lord, remember those who have no one to pray for them. Amen.
- Thank you, God, for the gift of (name)’s life. May they rest in peace. Amen.
- Lord, turn our tears into hope as we wait for the resurrection. Amen.
- Jesus, light of the world, shine on those we love and see no longer. Amen.
For more words of comfort, see this short prayer for the soul to rest in peace.
Bible Verses for All Souls’ Day
- John 11:25 – “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 – “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”
- Revelation 21:4 – “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
- Psalm 116:15 – “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”
- John 14:2 – “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
- Matthew 5:4 – “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
All verses quoted from the King James Version (KJV).
FAQs About All Souls Day Prayer
When is All Souls’ Day in 2026?
All Souls’ Day is on Monday, November 2, 2026. All Saints’ Day comes the day before, on Sunday, November 1. Many Catholics keep praying for the dead throughout November.
What is the most common all souls day prayer?
The traditional Eternal Rest prayer: “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.”
Can non-Catholics pray on All Souls’ Day?
Yes. Any Christian can remember the dead with love and thank God for their lives. Many Protestants do not pray for the dead, but they give thanks for them and take comfort in the resurrection. Choose words that fit your conscience and your church’s teaching. If someone you love is near the end of life now, this prayer for the dying may help.
A Final All Souls Day Prayer
Lord God, today we bring you every name written on our hearts. Thank you for the parents, spouses, children, and friends who loved us and shaped us. We entrust them to your mercy and ask that your perpetual light shine upon them. Comfort all who mourn this November, and until the day you wipe away every tear, keep us close to you and to one another. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 🙏
You may also like: Prayer for Emotional Healing, Prayer for Peace and Prayer for Hope.
More Prayers for Hard Times
- Prayer for Help
- Prayer for Test Results
- Healing Prayer for Myself
- Prayer for the Dying
- Prayer for a Grieving Family
- Prayer for the Soul to Rest in Peace
- Prayer for a Wayward Child
- Night Prayer for Protection
- Prayer to St. Jude
- November Prayers and Blessings
- Prayer for Healing
More Catholic Prayers and Saints
- Prayer to Mother Mary
- How to Pray the Rosary
- St. Michael Prayer
- Guardian Angel Prayer
- Prayer to St. Jude
- Prayer to St. Anthony
- Prayer to St. Joseph
- St. Rita Prayer
- St. Peregrine Prayer
- St. Joseph of Cupertino Prayer
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Prayer
Naeem Khan creates faith-based and inspirational content focused on prayers, blessings, and spiritual reflections, helping readers apply timeless messages of faith to everyday life.
Every prayer and scripture reference published on Infoz Prayer is reviewed for clarity, accuracy, and appropriate context before publication. Bible and Quran verses are quoted from established translations, and articles are updated regularly to keep information accurate and helpful.