Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God,
rest in peace.
Amen.
CATHOLIC MEDIEVAL; ANCIENT LITURGICAL TRADITION
Eternal Rest
Also known as Prayer for the Dead · Requiem Aeternam · Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them
Other forms
Latin (Requiem Aeternam)
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine,
et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Fidelium animae,
per misericordiam Dei,
requiescant in pace.
Amen.
About this prayer
Eternal Rest is a short prayer for the souls of the dead, drawn from the opening of the Requiem Mass. Its Latin opening, 'Requiem aeternam,' gives the Requiem Mass its name. The prayer asks God to grant the departed eternal rest and to let perpetual light shine upon them. The concluding petition, 'May they rest in peace,' has become one of the most widely recognized phrases in the English language in connection with death, appearing on gravestones and memorials across the Christian world. The prayer reflects Catholic and Orthodox belief in a state after death (purgatory in Catholic theology) in which souls are purified before entering heaven, and in the efficacy of prayer and intercession for those souls.
When it's said
Eternal Rest is said at Catholic funerals, at graveside prayers, and whenever Catholics pray for the dead. It is standard practice to say it after hearing of someone's death. It appears in the Liturgy of the Hours at the conclusion of Night Prayer when praying for the dead. Many Catholics say it daily as part of their prayer for deceased family members and friends.
Notes on the text
The phrase 'faithful departed' refers to baptized Christians who have died. The theology underlying the prayer is the Catholic and Orthodox doctrine of the communion of saints, which holds that the living and the dead remain united in Christ and that the prayers of the living benefit the souls of the dead. Most Protestant traditions do not hold this doctrine and therefore do not use this prayer liturgically, though some Anglicans and Lutherans do.
Source
Ancient Christian liturgical tradition; drawn from the Requiem Mass, Latin form attested from the medieval period. English text in standard Catholic devotional use. Text from F.X. Lasance, The Blessed Sacrament Book, 1913. Public domain.
Last reviewed: May 2026 against primary source.