Have you ever wondered about what happens to the souls of our loved ones after they pass away? As Catholics, we believe that the souls of the faithful go to a place called Purgatory, where they are cleansed and made ready to enter Heaven.
The prayer for Eternal Rest, also known as the Requiem aeternam, is a powerful tool that can help our loved ones on this journey. Explore the significance and meaning of the Eternal Rest prayer and learn how it can be used to aid the souls of the faithful departed!
The Eternal Rest prayer is a request to God to hasten the progression of souls in Purgatory to Heaven, or to rest in the love of God the souls of the faithful departed in Paradise until the resurrection of the dead and the Last Judgement. This prayer is used within the Church, but also Anglicanism, Methodism, and Lutheranism.
The prayer is cited from 2 Esdras which reads:
“Therefore I say to you, O nations that hear and understand, “Wait for your shepherd; he will give you everlasting rest, because he who will come at the end of the age is close at hand. Be ready for the rewards of the kingdom, because perpetual light will shine on you forevermore.”
It’s important to note that the prayer for Eternal Rest is not only for the deceased but also for the living. It reminds us to be ready for the rewards of the kingdom and to always be in a state of grace, so that one day we may also rest in the love of God in Paradise. The prayer is a powerful reminder that death is not the end, but rather a new beginning in the eternal life with God.
To use the prayer for Eternal Rest, it can be recited alone or as part of a larger prayer service such as the traditional Catholic funeral mass. It can also be said at any time, for example, when visiting a loved one’s grave or simply as a daily devotion:
℣. Eternal rest, grant unto him/her, O LORD,
℟. And let perpetual light shine upon him/her.
℣. May he/she rest in peace.
℟. Amen.
The prayer for Eternal Rest is a powerful tool that can aid the souls of the faithful departed on their journey to Heaven. It is not only a prayer for the deceased but also for the living, reminding us to be ready for the rewards of the kingdom and to always be in a state of grace.
It is a prayer that can be recited alone or as part of a larger prayer service and can be said at any time as a daily devotion. Remembering our loved ones in prayer and asking for God’s mercy on their souls can bring comfort to us and aid them on their journey to eternal rest.
Pray for the souls of purgatory!
🙏
.We beg your prayers O Heavenly Father have mercy on us.We love you we praise you we bless you we Glorify.we give you thanks for your great glory.Your truly our Lord Of Lords and Kings of Kings.Thank you so much for your Grace.Bless us all God forever and ever amen
I thank you in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen