A full confession of one's life with true contrition and trust in God's mercy.
- Psalm 50: "A contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."
- St. Augustine: "Confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works."
Letting go of all earthly attachments and forgiving all.
- Matthew 6:21: "Where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also."
- Forgive all injuries and ask forgiveness from others.
Accept death in union with God's will and offering up your suffering.Suffering is not a punishment, but a mark of God's loving providence. As Padre Pio teaches, to bear trials and sorrows with patience is most pleasing to God, and even amidst the cross, the soul begins to taste a quiet and supernatural joy.
- Luke 23:46: "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."
- St. John of the Cross: "In the evening of life, we will be judged on love."
- Love - Union with Christ crucified
- Trust - Confidence in Divine Mercy
- Participation - Offering suffering with Christ
- Galatians 2:20: "I live, now not I; but Christ liveth in me."
- Death: it is certain; the soul leaves the body and awaits God's judgment.
- Judgment - the soul is judged immediately after death (Particular Judgment) and its eternal destiny (Heaven, Hell, Purgatory) is determined.
- Heaven - eternal vision and possession of God in the state of eternal happiness.
- Hell - the state of eternal separation from God, the punishment of those who die in mortal sin.
- Hebrews 9:27: "It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment."
- Confession (noted above)
- Holy Communion (Viaticum)
- Extreme Unction
- John 6:54: "He that eateth my flesh... hath life everlasting."
The Memorare: Remember, O most compassionate Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy assistance or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee I come, before thee I kneel, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy clemency hear and answer me. Amen.
Pray the Holy Rosary
Wear the Brown Scapular
Hail Holy Queen: Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, O most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.
Saint Joseph died in the arms of Jesus and Mary and is the Patron of a happy death.
O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in thee all my interests and desires. O Saint Joseph, do assist me by thy powerful intercession and obtain for me from thy Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below thy Heavenly power I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of fathers. O Saint Joseph, I never weary contemplating thee and Jesus asleep in thy arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near thy heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. Saint Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for us. Amen.
Protection against the enemy at the hour of death.
O GLORIOUS ARCHANGEL St Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, defend us in battle, and in the struggle which is ours against the principalities and Powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against spirits of evil in high places. Come to the aid of men, whom God created immortal, made in his own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil.
Fight this day the battle of the Lord, together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist thee, nor was there place for them any longer in Heaven. But that cruel, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan, who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with all his angels.
Behold, this primeval enemy and slayer of man has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the name of God and of his Christ, to seize upon, slay and cast into eternal perdition souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. This wicked dragon pours out, as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men of depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of blasphemy, and the pestilent breath of impurity, and of every vice and iniquity.
These most crafty enemies have filled and inebriated with gall and bitterness the Church, the spouse of the Immaculate Lamb, and have laid impious hands on her most sacred possessions.
In the Holy Place itself, where has been set up the See of the most holy Peter and the Chair of Truth for the light of the world, they have raised the throne of their abominable impiety, with the iniquitous design that when the Pastor has been struck, the sheep may be scattered.
Arise then, O invincible prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and bring them the victory.
The Church venerates thee as protector and patron; in thee holy Church glories as her defense against the malicious powers of this world and of hell; to thee has God entrusted the souls of men to be established in heavenly beatitude.
Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that they may quickly conciliate the mercies of the Lord; and beating down the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, do thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations
- St. Teresa of Ávila
- “I die because I do not die.”
- “Let nothing disturb you… God alone suffices.”
- “The soul's only desire should be to go to God.”
- “Hope, O my soul, hope. You know neither the day nor the hour.”
- “The longing to see God makes death sweet.”
- St. John of the Cross
- “In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone.”
- “Where there is no love, put love, and you will draw out love.”
- “The soul that walks in love neither tires nor grows weary.”
- “To come to the knowledge you have not, you must go by a way in which you know not.”
- “At the end, the soul finds rest only in God.”
- St. Thérèse of Lisieux (The Little Flower)
- “I am not dying; I am entering life.”
- “Everything is grace.”
- “I rely solely on God's mercy.”
- “I am not afraid to die; I am afraid of nothing.”
- “I go to Him with the trust of a child.”
- St. Teresa of the Andes
- “Death is the gate of life.”
- “I go to the One whom I have loved so much.”
- “Heaven is love, and I am going to Love.”
- “I long for the moment when I will see God.”
- “My joy is to know that soon I will be with Him forever.”
- St. Elizabeth of the Trinity
- “I am going to Light, to Love, to Life.”
- “Let yourself be loved.”
- “Everything passes; God never changes.”
- “My heaven begins on earth, in loving Him.”
- “The soul that surrenders to God fears nothing.”
- Bl. Titus Brandsma
- “God is a God of peace, not of fear.”
- “He who wants to win the world for Christ must have the courage to come into conflict with it.”
- “Even in suffering, God is near.”
- “My only strength is the Lord.”
- “I entrust my life and death to God.”
- St. Edith Stein (Teresa Benedicta of the Cross)
- “One cannot love too much.”
- “The world is in flames… but above all flames is the Cross.”
- “God leads every soul by a unique path.”
- “Suffering is the shortest way to union with God.”
- “I accept death in union with Christ.”
- Abandonment to God Father, I abandon myself into Thy hands; do with me what Thou will. Whatever Tbou may do, I thank Thee: I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only Thy will be done in me, and in all Thy creatures - I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into your hands I commend my soul; I offer it to Thee with all the love of my heart, for I love Thee, Lord, and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into Thy hands, without reserve, and with boundless confidence, for Thou art my Father. Amen.
- Act of Adoration Jesus, my God, I adore Thee, here present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar, where Thou waitst day and night to be our comfort while we await Thy unveiled presence in heaven. Jesus, my God, I adore Thee in all places where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved and where sins are committed against this Sacrament of Love. Jesus, my God, I adore Thee for all time, past, present and future, for every soul that ever was, is or shall be created. Jesus, my God, who for us has endured hunger and cold, labor and fatigue, I adore Thee. Jesus, my God, who for my sake has deigned to subject Thyself to the humiliation of temptation, to the perfidy and defection of friends, to the scorn of Thy enemies, I adore Thee. Jesus, my God, who for us has endured the buffeting of Thy passion, the scourging, the crowning with thorns, the heavy weight of the cross, I adore Thee. Jesus, my God, who, for my salvation and that of all mankind, was cruelly nailed to the cross and hung there for three long hours in bitter agony, I adore Thee. Jesus, My God, who for love of us did institute this Blessed Sacrament and offer Thyself daily for the sins of men, I adore Thee. Jesus, my God, who in Holy Communion became the food of my soul, I adore Thee.
Jesus, for Thee I live.
Jesus, for Thee I die.
Jesus, I am Thine in life and death. Amen.
- Act of Contrition O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and pains of hell. But mostly because I offend Thee my God, who art worthy and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.
- Act of Faith O my God, I firmly believe that Thou are one God in three Divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. I believe that Thy Divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which Thy Holy Catholic Church teaches, because Thou can neither deceive nor be deceived. Amen.
- Act of Hope O my God, relying on Thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen.
- Act of Charity (Love) O my God, I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and I ask pardon for all whom I have injured. Amen.
- Act of Oblation to the Sacred Heart My loving Jesus, out of the grateful love I bear thee, and to make reparation for my unfaithfulness to grace, I give Thee my heart, and I consecrate myself wholly to Thee; and with Thy help I purpose never to sin again. Amen.
- Act of Reparation Eternal Father, we offer Thee the Holy Face of Jesus covered with blood, sweat, dust and spittle in reparation for the crimes of communists, blasphemers, profaners of the Holy Name of Jesus and of the holy day of Sunday. May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, most mysterious and unutterable name of God be always praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified in heaven, onearth and under the earth, by all the creatures of God, and by the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ in the most holy sacrament of the altar. Amen.
- Act of Thanksgiving O my God, I thank Thee for all the favors Thou hast bestowed upon me. I give Thee thanks from the bottom of my heart for having created me, and for all the joys of life, and its sorrows, too, for the home Thou gavest me, for the loved ones with which Thou hast surrounded me, for the friends I have made through life.
My Lord, I thank Thee for guarding me always and keeping me safe; I thank Thee for giving me so often in the sacrament of Penance forgiveness for my sins; for offering Thyself in Holy Mass with all Thy infinite merits to the Father for me; for coming to me in Holy Communion, in spite of the coldness of my welcome; for the patient waiting in the adorable sacrament of the altar.
My Jesus, I thank Thee for having lived, suffered and died for me. I thank Thee for Thy love. I thank Thee, Lord, for preparing a place for me in heaven where I hope to be happy with Thee, and to thank Thee for all eternity. Amen.
- Interior Peace: Rest fully in God's Will - without fear.
John 14:27: "My peace I give unto you."
1 Corinthians 13:13: "And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity."
- Proper Catholic funeral rites
The Catholic Church has a rich tradition of funeral rites that include prayers, readings from Scripture, and the celebration of the Mass. These rites are designed to intercede for the deceased, provide comfort to the grieving, and commend the soul to God's mercy. The funeral Mass is a central part of these rites, where those left behind pray for the soul of the departed and hope for beloved resurrection with Christ. The Church also encourages burial in consecrated ground, which is a sign of the Christian's hope in the resurrection and eternal life. The Traditional Requium Mass, with its solemn prayers and chants, is particularly focused on the salvation of the soul and the mercy of God and is very emotionally powerful for the grieving family and friends. The hymn "Dies Irae" (Day of Wrath) is often sung during the Requiem Mass, reminding us of the final judgment and the need for God's mercy.
- Burial with the Brown Scapular (Carmelite tradition)
The devotion expresses a lifelong consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary and trust in her maternal protection - especially at the moment of death and after. it is symbolic of the soul's desire to be clothed in the virtues of Mary and to be under her care. The scapular is a sign of Mary's promise to save those who die wearing it from eternal damnation and to bring them safely into heaven. To be buried in the Brown Scapular signifies:
- Perseverance in Marian devotion until death
- Enrollment in the Carmelite family
- Hope in Mary's intercession at judgment
- A visible sign that the person died under her mantle of protection
- Prayers for the deceased at the gravesite (link)
- Gregorian Masses for the Holy Souls in Purgatory
This is thirty consecutive Masses offered for the soul of the deceased, based on the tradition of Saint Gregory the Great, these Masses are offered for the release of souls from Purgatory.- Monthly Masses for One Year - Have Mass offered each month for one year after death.
- Saint Gertrude prayer
O Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,
for all the holy souls in Purgatory,
for sinners everywhere,
for sinners in the Universal Church,
for sinners within our homes and within our families. Amen.- Prayers for the Holy Souls