Prayers for the dying?

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Is there a prayer for the dying?
There is a prayer for the dead (or two).
There is even a Mass for the dead.
And when do people say the prayer for the dying?
 
The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a good prayer to say for the dying. This prayer can be said anytime a person wishes to day it. It is a custom for many people to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 pm or 3am.
 
Definitely the Divine Mercy Chaplet. When you pray this, Jesus will stand between the Father and the dying.
 
Something like this but for the dead: Father of all, we pray to you for N., and for all those whom we love but see no longer. Grant to them eternal rest . Let light perpetual shine upon them. May his soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

I have a book with prayers for the dying but it is only a book with St Joseph devotions.
 
Thanks for the explanation :+1:t3:

So, to make sure that I understand you correctly, you’re not necessarily looking for something liturgical or attached to an indulgence?
 
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First of all there are no “official prayers” for the laity to say for the dying. The priest of course has specific prayers to use when he gives last rites (Anointing, last confessions, Apostolic Blessing, etc)

The US bishops have provided a page of suggested prayers for the dying here.

http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/bereavement-and-funerals/prayers-for-death-and-dying.cfm

One can also say the Divine Mercy Chaplet or the Rosary, both of which are often said when someone is dying. Or one can say any sincere prayer that one wishes, including just talking to God in your own words.
 
The official Roman Catholic liturgical book for this is “Pastoral Care of the Sick”. Part 2 of this is “Pastoral Care of the Dying”. The chapter headings are:

Chapter V Celebration of Viaticum
Chapter VI Commendation of the Dying
Chapter VII Prayers for the Dead
Chapter VIII Rites for Exceptional Circumstances.

Chapter VIII has these headings:
Continuous Rites of Penance and Anointing
Rite for Emergencies
Christian Initiation for the Dying

The introduction to Chapter VI Commendation of the Dying includes:

“213. Christians have the responsibility of expressing their union in Christ by joining the dying person in prayer for God’s mercy and for confidence in Christ. In particular, the presence of a priest or deacon shows more clearly that the Christian dies in the communion of the Church. He should assist the dying person and those present in the recitation of the prayers of commendation and, following death, he should lead those present in the prayer after death. If the priest or deacon is unable to be present because of other serious pastoral obligations, other members of the community should be prepared to assist with these prayers and should have the texts readily available to them.

214 . The minister may choose texts from among the prayers, litanies, aspirations, psalms, and readings provided in this chapter, or others may be added. In the selection of these texts the minister should keep in mind the condition and piety of both the dying person and the members of the family who are present. The prayers are best said is a slow, quiet voice, alternating with periods of silence. If possible, the minister says one or more of the brief prayer formulas with the dying person. These may be softly repeated two or three times.”

Here are some examples of the texts. Some of the short texts are:

“ Psalm 25:1
To you, Lord, I lift up my soul.”

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
assist me in my last agony.”

“John 17:24
I desire that where I am,
they also may be with me,
says the Lord Jesus.”

A reading is Matthew 25:1-13.

Under the heading “Prayer of Commendation” it has:

“220. When the moment of death seems near, some of the following prayers may be said.”

There are five prayers. One is the “Hail, holy Queen”. Prayer D is:

“ Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the world,
we pray for your servant N.,
and commend him/her to your mercy.
For his/her sake you came down from heaven;
receive him/her now into the joy of your kingdom.

For though he/she has sinned,
he/she has not denied the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
but has believed in God
and has worshiped his/her Creator.

R. Amen. ”

[Excerpts from the English translation of Pastoral Care of the Sick ©1982, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.]
 
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I remember reading an historical novel and one of the characters was actively dying, so the other characters started saying the “prayers for the dying”.

It’s in my head that it was the Te Deum
 
jesusmademe said:
Is there a prayer for the dying?
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Yes. Lots of them.
jesusmademe said:
And when do people say the prayer for the dying?
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I prayed the Litany of the Dying for my mother when she was in the hospital, on hospice and the day she passed away.

N.B. Even if a person just died, you can get a priest to anoint the person within 2 hours after death. He can still administer conditional last anointing. I prayed the Litany of the Dying just after she passed away.
 
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Margaret_Ann said:
N.B. Even if a person just died, you can get a priest to anoint the person within 2 hours after death. He can still administer conditional last anointing. I prayed the Litany of the Dying just after she passed away.
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From the General Introduction to Pastoral Care of the Sick:

“15. When a priest has been called to attend those who are already dead, he should not administer the sacrament of anointing. Instead, he should pray for them, asking that God forgive their sins and graciously receive them into the kingdom. But if the priest is doubtful whether the sick person is dead, he is to confer the sacrament, using the rite given in no. 269.”

[Excerpts from the English translation of Pastoral Care of the Sick ©1982, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.]
 
If I remember right, when JFK was assassinated, the priest did administer Extreme Unction to him even though part of his brain was shot out and he was probably dead.
 
The Litany of the Dying, Depart Christian Soul, the prayer of St. Dismas, and of course the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Psalms.
 
Divine Mercy Chaplet is prayed on a regular rosary.

Here’s how to pray it:

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
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