Queen Elizabeth II is being remembered in Catholic churches with official prayers and Masses that will continue through her funeral and the coronation of King Charles III.
Following the Queen’s death on Thursday, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops quickly developed and released on Friday liturgical prayers for the Queen’s passing. They include prayers for the late monarch, for the British monarch as Canada’s Head of State, for the Royal Family, and for the accession of Charles to the throne.
The Canadian bishops prepared the prayers with resources from the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and the Order of Christian Funerals, Revised Canadian Edition.
It was only seven months ago that Catholic bishops in England and Wales released prayers for the Queen’s platinum jubilee. The bishops said there should be prayers at Sunday Masses, with parishes including an intention in the Prayer of the Faithful and at the end of the Mass recite the “Prayer for the Queen.”
Parishes were also encouraged to sing the chant Domine, salvum fac, which in English reads, “O Lord, save Elizabeth, our Queen, and hear us on the day we call upon you.” The bishops’ instruction also proposed singing God Save the Queen – the national anthem of the United Kingdom.
In June Pope Francis sent his prayers and greetings for the Queen’s 70th anniversary, asking that “Almighty God will bestow upon you, the members of the Royal Family, and all the people of the nation blessings of unity, prosperity and peace.”
The Pope expressed his appreciation for her persevering and steadfast service to the good of the nation, “the advancement of its people, and the preservation of its illustrious spiritual, cultural and political heritage.”
Queen Elizabeth is being remembered for her public witness of her Christianity, often speaking about her faith in Jesus Christ. To mark her 90th birthday in 2016, she wrote a forward for the book The Servant Queen And The King She Serves that included personal thoughts on her Christian faith and her trust in Jesus Christ.
The Queen served not only as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, which separated from the Catholic Church in the 16th century, but as head of the Commonwealth through which she worked to foster ecumenical and interfaith relations. In 2010 she hosted Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Britain in 2010 and invited faith leaders to the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.
Below are the prayers from the CCCB, which the Archdiocese of Vancouver distributed to parishes Friday.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II
I. UNIVERSAL PRAYERS
Universal Prayer for Sunday, September 11, 2022
for the repose of the soul of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
For the people of the United Kingdom, Canada and the Commonwealth
on the death of Queen Elizabeth II, our Head of State;
and for the repose of her soul, as we commend her to God’s care.
We pray to the Lord.
Universal Prayer for Sunday, September 18, 2022
(if the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has taken place)
for King Charles III – as he prepares for his coronation
For the spirit of compassion for King Charles
as he pledges to work for peace and stability in the world upon his coronation;
and for those he advises in government.
We pray to the Lord.
Universal Prayer for the Sunday prior to (and after)
the coronation of King Charles III
For King Charles III, as he assumes the role of Head of State
of the United Kingdom, Canada and the Commonwealth;
and for God’s gifts of wisdom and right judgment
to inspire his decisions for the nations.
We pray to the Lord.
II. MASSES
For Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
A Mass for the Dead may be celebrated when the news of a death is first received or on the day of final burial, the first anniversary (GIRM, no. 381), even on days within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord, on days when an Obligatory Memorial occurs, and on weekdays, with the exception of Ash Wednesday and weekdays during Holy Week.
“Daily” Masses for the Dead may be celebrated on weekday in Ordinary Time, even in an Optional Memorial occurs, provided such Masses are actually applied for the dead.
Texts of the Roman Missal are found in Masses for the Dead (pages 1380-1385).
Readings are selected from those found in Lectionary: Ritual Masses, Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, Votive Masses, Masses for the Dead nos. 1011-1016 (pages 834-880).
For His Majesty King Charles III
A Mass for the Head of State may be celebrated to mark the coronation of King Charles III, using Collect 24. For the Head of State or Ruler (page 1275 Roman Missal: Third Edition) on a Mass for a weekday in Ordinary Time and, in the case of some real necessity or pastoral advantage, in the judgment of the rector of the church or the Priest celebrant himself, this Collect may be used in a celebration with the people on a day when an Obligatory Memorial occurs, or a weekday of Advent
up to and including 16 December.
III. PRAYERS FOR THE REPOSE OF THE SOUL OF HM QUEEN ELIZABETH II
For the happy repose of HM The Queen
Almighty God,
You are the author and sustainer of all human life;
grant that your servant, Elizabeth our Queen,
whom you granted a long and happy reign as Monarch of these lands
may be forgiven her sins and rewarded with that eternal life
promised to all those born again
in the water of baptism and power of your Spirit.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit
God, forever and ever,
Amen.
Eternal rest, grant to her O Lord,
And let Perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace.
Amen.
May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed,
Through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen
Psalm 121 – A Song of Ascents
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
From where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The Lord will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.
Canticle of Simeon
Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.
Prayers for the Dead – for an elderly person
God of endless ages,
from one generation to the next
you have been our refuge and strength.
Before the mountains were born
or the earth came to be,
you are God.
Have mercy now on your servant N.,
whose long life was spent in your service.
Give her a place in your kingdom,
where hope is firm for all who love
and rest is sure for all who serve.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit
God, forever and ever,
Amen.
God of mercy,
look kindly on your servant N.,
who has set down the burden of her years.
As she served you faithfully throughout her life,
may you give her the fullness of your peace and joy.
We give thanks for the long life of N.,
now caught up in your eternal love.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit
God, forever and ever, Amen.
Prayer for the Royal Family
Almighty God, source of all consolation,
we pray for the members of the Royal Family who mourn the loss
of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
Uphold them in your love
and pour out on them the consolation of your healing Spirit.
Let them find in your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ
comfort in their sadness,
certainty in their doubt
and courage to live through this hour.
We ask this through Christ our Lord
Amen.
Prayer for the King
O God, to whom every human power is subject,
Grant to your servant His Majesty the King
success in the exercise of his high office,
so that, always revering to you and striving to please you,
he may constantly secure and preserve
for the people entrusted to his care
the freedom that comes from civil peace.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit
God, forever and ever,
Amen.
