121st Psalm

I will lift mine eyes unto the hills

from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord, which 

made heaven and earth. He will 

not suffer thy foot to be moved:

He that keepeth thee will not 

slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy 

keeper: The Lord is thy shade upon

 thy hand. The sun shall not smite 

thee by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve thee from 

all evil; He shall preserve thy 

going out and thy coming in from 

this time forth, and even for evermore.

• • • � •

Footprints

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonged to him, and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.”

The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

• � • � �

John 14: 1-3

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. There is more than enough room in My Father's home. 

If that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready,

 I will come and get you, So that you will always be with Me where I am.

• � • • •

Resurrection Prayer

Most Merciful Father, we commend 

our departed into Your hands. We 

are filled with the sure hope that 

our departed will rise again on the 

Last Day with all who have died in Christ.

We thank you for all the good things 

You have given during our departed’s earthy life.

O Father, in Your great mercy, 

accept our prayer that the Gates of Paradise 

may be opened for your servant.

In our turn, may we too be 

comforted by the words of faith 

until we greet Christ in glory 

and are united with you and our departed.

Through Christ Our Lord, 

Amen

• � • • •

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, Who art in heaven

Hallowed be Thy Name;

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil. Amen.

23rd Psalm

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; 

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: 

Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

• � • • •

God Saw

God saw you getting tired,

 and a cure was not to be,

 So He put his arms around you

and whispered, “Come to Me”. 

With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away.

Although we loved dearly,

 We could not make you stay.

 A golden heart stopped beating,

hard working hands at rest.

 God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.

• � • • •

Irish Blessing

May the road rise with you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields,

And until we meet again,

may God keep you in the

hollow of His hand.

• • � • •

Safely Home

I am home in heaven, dear ones;

Oh, so happy and so bright!

There is a perfect joy and

beauty in the everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over,

every restless tossing passed;

I am now at peace forever;

Safely home in Heaven at last.

And He came Himself to meet me.

In that way so hard to tread;

And with Jesus' arm to lean on,

Could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely,

For I love you dearly still;

Try to look beyond earth's shadows, 

Pray to trust our Father's Will.

When that work is all completed,

He will gently call you Home;

Oh, the rapture of that meeting,

Oh, the joy to see you come!

• • • • �

Serenity Prayer

God, grant me the serenity to 

accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and wisdom to know the difference.

• � • • •

Afterglow

I’d like the memory of me 

to be a happy one,

I’d like to leave an afterglow 

of smiles when life is done.

I’d like to leave an echo 

whispering softly down the ways,

of happy times and laughing 

times and bright and sunny days.

I’d like the tears of those who 

grieve, to dry before the sun, 

of happy memories that I leave 

when life is done.

• � • • •

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace.

The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy 

womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners now, 

and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

• • • • •

Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,

that never was it known that anyone 

who fled to thy protection, implored 

thy help, and 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 you I stand,

 sinful and sorrowful.

Oh Mother of the Word incarnate,

despise not my petitions, but 

in thy mercy, hear and answer me.

Amen.

• • � • •

Prayer of St. Francis of Asisi

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master; grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; 

to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; and it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

• • • • •

To Those I Love

When I am gone, release me,

let me go.

 You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears.

 Just be happy that we had these years. 

I gave you my love, you can only guess, 

How much you gave to me in happiness. 

I thank you for the love you each have shown,

 but now it’s time I traveled alone. So grieve a while for me,

 if grieve you must, 

then let your grief be comforted by trust. 

It’s only for a while that we must part, 

so bless the memories within your heart. 

I won't be far away, for life goes on,

so if you need me, call, and I will come.

Though you can't see or touch me, I'll be near.

And if you listen with your heart, you'll hear all of my love around you, soft and clear.

And then, when you must come this way alone,

Ill greet you with a smile, and say,

"Welcome Home."

• � • • •

Do Not Stand

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there. I do not sleep. 

I am a thousand winds that blow, 

I am the diamond glint on snow. 

I am the sunlight on ripened grain,

 I am the gentle autumn rain. 

When you wake in morning hush,

 I am the swift uplifting rush of encircling birds in flight.

I am the soft starlight at night. 

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

Do not stand there at my grave and cry. 

I am not there. I did not die.

• • • • •

I’m Free

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free; 

 I'm following the path God laid for me, 

 I took His hand when I heard Him call;

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day.

To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way;

I found that peace at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void;

then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss;

And yet, these things, I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow,

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life’s been full, I savored much;

good friends, good times,

a loved one’s touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,

Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your hearts and share with me,

God wanted me now, He set me free.

• • • • •

Peace Be Thine

God looked around His garden

And He found an empty place.

He then looked down upon this earth,

And saw your tired face.

He put His arms around you

And lifted you to rest.

God’s garden must be beautiful

He always takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering,

He knew you were in pain,

He knew that you would never

get well on earth again.

He saw that the road was getting rough,

And the hills were hard to climb,

So He closed your weary eyelids

And whispered “Peace be thine.”

It broke our hearts to lose you,

But you didn’t go alone,

For part of us went with you

The day God called you home.

• � • • •

Taps

Day is done, gone the sun,

From the lake, from the hills, 

from the sky;

All is well, safely rest, 

God is nigh.

Thanks and praise, for our days,

‘Neath the sun, ‘neath the stars, neath the sky;

As we go, this we know, 

God is nigh.

Amen

• � • • •

When I Must Leave

When I must leave you for a little 

while - Please do not grieve and 

shed wild tears and hug your sorrow

to you through the years. But start 

out bravely with a gallant smile:

and for my sake and in my name live  on and do all things the same. 

Feed not your loneliness on empty days, but fill each waking hour in useful ways. 

Reach out your hand in 

comfort and cheer and I in turn will 

comfort you and hold you near; 

and never, never be afraid to die,

For I am waiting for you in the sky.

• • • • •