One of the worst things that can happen in life is the death of a child. It is extremely difficult to survive such grief, while maintaining faith in the providence of the Lord and not destroying your family. However, the Lord never sends people an unbearable burden. Every test given to him, even as severe as the death of a child, a person is able to endure. To survive this difficult time, to come to terms with the loss, not to become discouraged and not to lose faith in the Lord, prayer for the deceased child helps.
How and where to pray?
The prayer of parents for the deceased children, like any other, can be said in one's own words. You can ask God for mercy on the soul of the deceased at any time of the day or night, the church does not impose any restrictions on the manifestation of grief.
But, although many people prefer to be alone with their grief, at home, you need to find the strength in yourself to visit the temple and pray in front of the icons. There is a special atmosphere in the churches, this energyhas a beneficial effect on the nervous system, it helps to calm and pacify. Praying in the church before the image, a person fills his heart with grace. Despair gives way to bright sadness and eternal memory. In addition, in the temple you can always submit a note with a request to commemorate the deceased and put a candle in front of the icon.
When is it necessary to pray?
Of course, the prayer for the deceased children is read by their relatives daily, and sometimes several times a day. Each person turns to the Lord, asking him for mercy for the soul of the deceased with the frequency that his heart tells him.
However, in Orthodoxy there are traditions associated with the commemoration of the dead. It is necessary to pray for the deceased child on the third, ninth and fortieth days after his death.
To whom to turn in prayer? How to pray for those who have not been baptized?
Prayer of parents for deceased children is traditionally addressed to the Lord himself. Only God can ease the ordeal of the soul of the deceased and allow it to reach the Kingdom of Heaven. However, in addition to the Lord, motherly prayer is addressed to the Mother of God.
The Mother of God is the intercessor and heavenly patroness of all women who grieve for their dead children. Prayer brings comfort to her and gives her strength to live on. Prayer is addressed to her for deceased children who did not receive the sacrament of baptism, for babies who died when they were born or died before birth, in the womb. Although the church commemoration, as well as the funeral service for children who did not receive the sacraments of baptism, did notheld. But nothing can prevent parents from praying for them to the Almighty or the Mother of God.
A mother's prayer for deceased children who were not baptized might be:
“Lord God, our Heavenly Father! Do not leave me, your servant (proper name) without your mercy! I ask you, God, for the soul of my child, called by you before the beginning of the earthly path. Have mercy, Lord, accept him into your Kingdom and endow him with eternal joys. Amen"
How to pray for a dead son?
The death of a boy, especially the firstborn, is invariably experienced more acutely than the death of a daughter. This is due to the fact that subconsciously it is the sons who are perceived as heirs, continuers of the clan.
You can pray for the soul of your deceased son like this:
“Lord Jesus, the most merciful Almighty! Your craft is inscrutable, but you sent me a difficult test! Do not leave me, Lord, in terrible grief, help me endure it. I beg you, O Most Merciful God, not only for myself, but for the soul of my son, whom you have called. Receive his soul in the host of angels, for it is sinless and pure. During his lifetime, he did not have bad intentions, did not commit bad deeds. Have mercy, God Almighty, send consolation and accept the soul of my son into your Kingdom, grant him eternal joy! Amen"
Of course, praying for dead children brings relief to parents. But not everyone finds the strength for long prayers, not everyone comes to mind with the right words. In this case, a short memorial prayer helps to cope with grief. It could be like this:
“God, all-merciful! Remember the soul of your servant (name of the child) who died untimely. Do not leave my son with your mercy, grant him eternal life in your Kingdom! Amen"
How to pray for a dead daughter?
Of course, the prayer for the deceased children, or rather its content, does not depend on whether inconsolable parents ask the Lord for the soul of their son or daughter. However, it is often important for mothers and fathers to find a text in prayer books that mentions the gender of the child. The designation of this nuance in the finished text makes the prayer less impersonal, closer to the grieving people, as if expressing the terrible grief of loss they experience.
Of course, you can avoid searching for the most perceptible text by turning to the Almighty with a request for mercy for the soul of a deceased child in your own words. All prayers were once composed by people, so it is not unusual to ask God the way you want without resorting to ready-made options.
You can pray for the deceased daughter in front of the image of the Mother of God like this:
“Holy Mother of God, comforter, filled with compassion! I ask you for intercession and help. Beg our Lord for mercy for the soul of my daughter (name of the child), called by him. Endow her with the joys of the Kingdom of Heaven and save her from all kinds of sorrows and ordeals. Do not allow the abyss in eternal torment, but grant joys. I ask you, Mother of God, and for myself, slave (proper name). Send me great consolation, moderate my sorrow and terrible anguish. Do not let fall into despondency and strengthenmy faith. Grant me strength and humility. Amen"
