A SIMPLE DEVOTIONAL PRACTICE FOR THE DEAD
So, this might seem like a strange shift for some of you, but my intention is always to expose and shed light on aspects of spirituality we may not even know exists. One of them that I don’t think a lot of people know about is that the high church traditions of Christianity DO allow for prayers to the Dead. They tend to be devotional in nature where you are not praying directly TO the Dead, but in my book praying for someone is a close close second to that. Like the tradition of praying to the Saints. When we ask saints (who are largely the Dead also) to pray for us on an issue, we are praying to them, straight up.
This is a little different though. It is from the Catholic tradition and infused with my brand of Hoodoo and espiritismo as well. It is one simple method I could see someone using who is from Catholicism or who is open to its spiritual/devotional tools. Check it out!
Things needed:
*a white candle, any size
*a glass of tap water
*optional: holy water to anoint yourself
*optional: a bible or book of psalms
*a table with a white table cloth
*optional: a standing cross or crucifix
1. Anoint yourself with the holy water. If you are not Christian, you can simply dab the water on your forehead and the back of your neck.
2. Set up the table. If you use all the optional objects, then the cross goes in the rear center, the water glass in the center of the table, and the candle in front of the glass. The bible can go to the left or right corner of the table or just be held in your hands. If you want to have the bible open on the table, I recommend opening it to Psalm 23.
3. Recite the following prayers:
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.
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. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be,
world without end.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Like the seed buried in the ground, you have produced the harvest of eternal life for us; make us always dead to sin and alive to God. Amen.
After this point, I recommend you spend time either in meditation and recollection of this deceased person if it was someone you know, or speak/pray from your heart to them. This does not need to be formal. It should be like having a conversation with a good friend.
You can let the candle burn down completely, sort of as an offering of light to them and to God, or snuff it out and relight the next time you pray.
