In this time of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is so hard to give Christian comfort and support in times of illness and bereavement. In nursing homes, in hospitals, and even in their own homes, it often is not possible to sit at the bedside of the sick.
Mindful of the feelings and needs:
- Of the sick and the dying
- Of loved ones and all who care for them
- Of those who mourn the dead
these short prayers might help.
Prayer
In joy and in sorrow, in life and in death,
in this world and in the next, our hope and our peace is in
the love and mercy of Jesus Christ,
who has promised to be with us always.
Jesus, I trust in you.
Each occasion we glimpse them
Each occasion we glimpse her, that turn of a head, that smile, the way he walked, his sense of humour, each time the pain we feel in our hearts.
In time, though, through the windows of our tears, we will see them and smile.
In time we will let go of sorrow.
In time beauty, music and remembered places will bring solace not pain.
In your time, God of all time, may what we have sown in pain be reaped in joy.
We seem to give them back to you God – Fr Bede Jarrett O.P.
We seem to give them back to you God, Who gave them to us.
Yet as you not lose them in the giving, So we do not lose them by their return.
Not as the world gives, do you give, O lover of souls.
What you give, you do not take away For what is yours is ours if we are yours.
And life is eternal and love is immortal, and death is only an horizon, and an horizon is nothing save the limit of our sights.
Lift us up, strong Son of God, that we may see further; cleanse our eyes that we may see more clearly:
draw us closer to yourself that we may know ourselves to be nearer to our loved ones who are with you.
And while you do prepare a place for us, prepare us also for that happy place, that where you are, we may also be for evermore. Amen
Prayer of the Bereaved – Source Unknown
Lord, at the moment nothing seems to be able to help the loss I feel.
My heart is broken and my spirit mourns.
All I know is that Your grace is sufficient.
This day, this hour Moment by moment I choose to lean on You, For when I am at my weakest Your strength is strongest.
I pour out my grief to You And praise You that on one glorious day When all suffering is extinguished and love has conquered We shall walk together again.
Prayer of the Bereaved – Source Unknown
Dearest Jesus, who wept at the death of your friend and taught that they who mourn shall be comforted, grant us the comfort of your presence in our loss.
Send Your Holy Spirit to direct us lest we make hasty or foolish decisions.
Send Your Spirit to give us courage lest through fear we recoil from living.
Send Your Spirit to bring us your peace lest bitterness, false guilt, or regret take root in our hearts.
The Lord has given.
The Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Amen.
Beyond life’s struggle now – Patrick Sayles
How the season change, how certain it is that summer gives way to autumn, and the falling of the leaves and the passing of so many things, and the tears of one who grieves.
Yet winter gives way to spring, new hope and life after suffering.
Lord, so it is, and as certain too the promise of new life in you after life’s woes and pains.
For our loved ones gone no more strains and suffering now, beyond life’s struggle there awaits the joy of your embrace.
Thank you, Lord. Amen.