Pa-Siyam: a 9-Day Novena to Light the Way for the Dead

At this time of the pandemic, there have been countless families and individuals who have lost their loved ones, in an untimely manner, to Covid-19.  While others may have lost family members to natural causes or other illnesses but because of the lockdown, they are not able to mourn properly, or attend the wake to be with their deceased relative. I also lost my uncle in June due to natural but because we could not travel to his hometown, we were not able to go to his funeral. For families who have been affected by the Covid-19 and losing their loved ones to coronavirus, the journey might have been doubly difficult, not to say cruel. I could not imagine having to let the afflicted member suffer alone in their death bed, die alone and be cremated without allowing the bereaved family members to be by their side through the entire ordeal.

This Novena for the Dead, to be prayed for 9 consecutive days can help our transitioned loved ones in their journey to the other side. They need the light of our love to help them find their way to the Divine.  At the end of this Prayer, I also included a personal prayer for you to  ease the grief of loss and assist in your healing.

This Novena for the Dead (Source: NovenaPrayers.Com), to be prayed for 9 consecutive days, can help our transitioned loved ones in their journey to the other side.  This novena is, I believe,  a perfect substitute, although shorter, to the Philippine’s traditional “Pa-Siyam” novena for the souls – siyam is “9” in the native language, minus the litany.  This must therefore prayed for nine consecutive days (ideally in the evenings at 6 PM). Read more information about the Philippine traditional Pa-Siyam here »

Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Let us begin: (Sign of the cross) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Leader: Lord our God, receive our supplications, prayers and mortifications and sighs; in suffrage for the holy souls for whom we make this novena; and we pray that by the motherly love bestowed on you by your most holy Mother, when she followed you on the way of sorrow up to Mount Calvary, and grant what we ask of you in this novena for your greater honor and glory.
All: Amen.

Leader: Jesus, through your blood on the cross,
Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of (NAME)

Leader: Jesus, through the blow you received on your sacred face,
Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of (NAME)

Leader: Jesus, through the cruel scourging you endured,
Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of (NAME)

Leader: Jesus, through the crown of thorns that pierced your head,
Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of (NAME)

Leader: Jesus, through your carrying of the cross,
Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of (NAME)

Leader: Jesus, through your face covered with blood which you allowed to be imprinted on the veil of Veronica,
Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of (NAME)

Leader: Jesus, through your garments which were cruelly removed from your wounded body,
Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of (NAME)

Leader: Jesus, through your holy body nailed on the cross,
Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of (NAME)

Leader: Jesus, through your side pierced with a lance and from which flowed blood and water.
Response (All): Have mercy on the soul of (NAME)

**Recite one each: Our Father / Hail Mary/Glory Be**

PRAYER FOR THE BEREAVED

I am offering a prayer for the person praying this Novena so that they may be healed from the anguish and grief of losing a loved one. May they find the strength to accept and let go of their departed loved ones, having the faith that their souls have followed the light to God, and are granted eternal rest in God’s beautiful heavenly garden in the company of Angels and Saints; and protected by the maternal love and warmth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. May every tear shed, every pinch of pain felt, and every sad memory relived be transformed into unconditional love to light the path of the soul of their departed loved ones as they journey to God’s realm where souls are safe, loved, and consoled. I ask the angels to comfort the person praying this Novena and to allow them to live a life that is cheerful, faithful, and free from burdens. I also seek the kindness of the Angels to assure the souls of the departed loved ones that their bereaved families will be okay. This I ask through God’s mercy and grace, Amen.


For a printable copy of the prayer, you may download from here »

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