Book of Common Prayer · Burial of the Dead (1662) · All versions
Benedictional of Archbishop Robert: blessings for the dead (written at Winchester in the late 10th century)
English translation by AnglicanGuide from the Latin. Read the Latin edition. Words in [brackets] are supplied or summarise omitted matter.
A bishop's blessing book. It gives a solemn blessing of the people at a Mass for the dead, and a shorter blessing "in a Mass for the dead".
Source: H. A. Wilson (ed.), The Benedictional of Archbishop Robert, HBS 24 (1903), pp. 56–57 and 152 (Internet Archive). Public domain (translation © AnglicanGuide).
Blessings for the Dead
A Blessing for the Dead
O God, whom the Catholic Church confesses as one Lord, threefold in Persons and one in coeternal and consubstantial Godhead, who art wont to give healing to the living and life after death: look graciously upon the prayers of all the faithful, which each of them, with heaped-up gifts, has brought to thee for the absolution of our departed brother, for his perpetual redemption. Amen.
And him whom thou didst will to redeem by the blood of thine only Son, and, redeemed, to cherish with the protection of the coeternal Spirit in the fields of earth, do thou bid, stripped of earthly contagion and snatched from the torments of hell, be joined to the companies of the saints, to be crowned among the stars. Amen.
Graciously consider the prayers of thy suppliants, and wholly release the guilt of each; that, set free from the stain of all vices and shone upon by the gift of the Holy Spirit, they may the more readily be heard for the departed. Amen.
Which vouchsafe to grant, who, one God in perfect Trinity, livest and art glorified for ever and ever. Amen.
A Blessing at a Mass for the Dead
May God, the life of the living and the hope of the dying, fill your desire with good things. Amen.
May he hear the prayers of your humility, and kindly accept what you devoutly do. Amen.
That you who today mercifully keep the memory of the faithful departed may come safely with them to eternal mercy. Amen.
Which may he vouchsafe to grant.