About this prayer
This original Catholic devotional prayer was written for this companion. Pray it alone or with others, bringing the people and circumstances of your own life before God.
Prayer text
Merciful Jesus, remain beside those who are nearing death. Ease their pain, calm their fear and surround them with gentle care. Help them receive the presence of loved ones and the spiritual support they desire. Guide families and carers with compassion in difficult decisions. Where there is unfinished reconciliation, open a path toward peace. Let no one feel abandoned or treated as a burden, and sustain those keeping vigil through the hours of waiting. Grant what is truly good, and help me cooperate with your grace through wise and loving action. Keep me close to Jesus in hope and patience. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Extended community prayer
The original prayer above is unchanged. This separate community version includes additional intentions and responses. One person leads; everyone joins in the shared parts.
Let us gather in the presence of God, remembering those who pray with us and those who cannot be here. We bring our gratitude, our needs, and our willingness to care for one another.
God of love, unite our hearts in prayer and teach us to serve you together.
Merciful Jesus, remain beside those who are nearing death. Ease their pain, calm their fear and surround them with gentle care. Help them receive the presence of loved ones and the spiritual support they desire. Guide families and carers with compassion in difficult decisions. Where there is unfinished reconciliation, open a path toward peace. Let no one feel abandoned or treated as a burden, and sustain those keeping vigil through the hours of waiting. Grant what is truly good, and help me cooperate with your grace through wise and loving action. Keep me close to Jesus in hope and patience. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Community intentions
For those nearing death, grant relief from distress, loving companionship, and the comfort of your mercy.
Lord, hear our prayer, and help us become instruments of your mercy.
For families and caregivers keeping vigil, give gentleness, rest, and wisdom to honour the wishes and dignity of the person they love.
Lord, hear our prayer, and help us become instruments of your mercy.
Pause for silent prayer. Intentions may be offered aloud freely; no one is required to share.
For the intentions spoken and those held quietly in our hearts, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, receive our prayer and sustain us in your love.
Let us entrust ourselves and those for whom we have prayed to the Father.
Merciful Father, receive our prayer through Jesus Christ. Where we can offer help, make us willing; where we must wait, give us patience. Keep us attentive to one another beyond this gathering. May the grace of this prayer take root in our homes, our work, and our choices, so that your love becomes visible through our lives. Amen.