Commontide

For Guidance

O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light rises up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you would have us do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices; that in your light we may see light, and in your straight path we may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Commontide
Prayer
Death & the Departed

The Burial of the Dead — The Committal

In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our brother N., and we commit his body to the ground [or the deep or its resting place]; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. The Lord bless him and keep him, the Lord make his face to shine upon him and be gracious unto him, the Lord lift up his countenance upon him and give him peace. Amen.

Found in the Prayer Book

  • Burial Of The DeadThe Burial of the Dead

Provenance

Cranmer 1549

Draft — AI-assisted research under editorial review.

These graveside words have accompanied Anglican burials since Thomas Cranmer's 1549 Book of Common Prayer. The triadic formula "earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust" is Cranmer's own English elaboration of Genesis 3:19; the ancient Aaronic blessing from Numbers 6 closes the committal in its current form.