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The Bedside Card

A 3.5×5 two-sided card with the prayers of the dying — the holy names to whisper, the short verses for the ear, the Act of Perfect Contrition, the Commendation of a soul, and Eternal Rest. Keep it by the bed, in the missal, or in the glovebox. The hour comes without warning; the card waits for it.

What this card is

The prayers, ready in the hand. When death is near, no one wants to be searching a phone for the right words. This card carries them — the things the Church puts on the lips of her men at a deathbed. Pray them slowly, aloud, close to the ear. The dying hear long after they can answer.

Not a substitute for a priest. A dying Catholic should receive the Last Rites — Confession, the Anointing of the Sick, and Viaticum — from a priest whenever one can be reached. This card is for the prayers a family keeps in the meantime, and for the hour after, when only prayer remains. Call a priest; then pray.

How to use this page

Click Print this card below. Set the paper to index-card stock (3.5×5) if your printer allows it; otherwise print on letter and trim. Choose two-sided printing (flip on long edge) so front and back align on one card. It prints exactly as the preview shows — no website chrome. Two faces, one card.

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Preview — this is what prints

1765 Sanctum

At the bedside

Prayers for the dying

The holy names — whisper, and repeat

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you. Amen.

Short verses for the ear

“Into thy hands I commend my spirit.” Ps 30:6 (31:5)

“Lord, remember me when thou shalt come into thy kingdom.” Lk 23:42

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Acts 7:58 (7:59)

“Holy Mary, pray for me. Saint Joseph, pray for me.”

Altar · Arms · Allegiance

1765 Sanctum

If a priest cannot come in time

Contrition & commendation

Act of Perfect Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

Depart, Christian soul

Depart, Christian Soul, out of this world, in the name of God the Father Almighty, who created thee; in the name of Jesus Christ the Son of the living God, who suffered for thee: in the name of the Holy Ghost who sanctified thee… may thy place be this day in peace, and thy abode in holy Sion. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

After death — Eternal Rest

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

Misericordia in extremis

Sources on this card Scripture from the Douay–Rheims (Challoner) version. The Act of Perfect Contrition follows the traditional formula; on its sufficiency for one who cannot reach a priest, see Catechism of the Catholic Church §1452 and the 1983 Code of Canon Law can. 916. The Commendation of the Dying (“Depart, Christian soul”) is the Roman Ritual’s Proficiscere in Bishop Challoner’s traditional English (The Garden of the Soul, 1812 printing), abridged where marked …. Eternal rest (Requiem aeternam) is the Church's traditional prayer for the faithful departed. The aspiration to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph is the traditional devotion for a happy death.