Proficiscere, anima christiana — Commendation of the soul of the dying
The Proficiscere, anima christiana, de hoc mundo — «Go forth, Christian soul, from this world» — is the most ancient formula of the Commendation of the Soul which the priest (or, in his absence, any member of the faithful) recites over the one about to depart this life. Attributed to Alcuin of York († 804), counsellor of Charlemagne, and included in the Rituale Romanum since the Carolingian era, it is the Latin equivalent of the great Byzantine prayer for the passage. Its invocations parade before the dying all possible intercessors: the Most Holy Trinity, the Virgin Mary, St Joseph, the Angels, the Patriarchs, the Prophets, the Apostles, the Martyrs, the Confessors, the Virgins, all the Saints. St Thomas Aquinas, feeling death approach, asked to hear this prayer, according to the testimony of his earliest biographers. It may be recited over the dying person, or — anticipatedly — by those still enjoying health, as a remote preparation for the passage.
Latin (Rituale Romanum, 9th-10th c., attributed to Alcuin):
Proficiscere, anima christiana, de hoc mundo, in nomine Dei Patris omnipotentis, qui te creavit; in nomine Iesu Christi, Filii Dei vivi, qui pro te passus est; in nomine Spiritus Sancti, qui in te effusus est; in nomine Angelorum et Archangelorum; in nomine Thronorum et Dominationum; in nomine Principatuum et Potestatum; in nomine Virtutum, Cherubim atque Seraphim; in nomine Patriarcharum et Prophetarum; in nomine sanctorum Apostolorum et Evangelistarum; in nomine sanctorum Martyrum et Confessorum; in nomine sanctorum Monachorum et Eremitarum; in nomine sanctarum Virginum et omnium Sanctorum et Sanctarum Dei: hodie sit in pace locus tuus, et habitatio tua apud Deum in sancta Sion. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
English (literal translation):
Go forth, Christian soul, from this world, in the name of God the Father almighty, who created thee; in the name of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who suffered for thee; in the name of the Holy Spirit, who was poured forth in thee; in the name of the Angels and the Archangels; in the name of the Thrones and the Dominations; in the name of the Principalities and the Powers; in the name of the Virtues, the Cherubim and the Seraphim; in the name of the Patriarchs and the Prophets; in the name of the holy Apostles and Evangelists; in the name of the holy Martyrs and Confessors; in the name of the holy Monks and Hermits; in the name of the holy Virgins and of all the Saints and Holy Women of God: may today thy place be in peace, and thy habitation with God in holy Sion. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
In Latin
Proficiscere, anima christiana, de hoc mundo,
in nomine Dei Patris omnipotentis, qui te creavit;
in nomine Iesu Christi, Filii Dei vivi, qui pro te passus est;
in nomine Spiritus Sancti, qui in te effusus est;
in nomine Angelorum et Archangelorum;
in nomine Thronorum et Dominationum;
in nomine Principatuum et Potestatum;
in nomine Virtutum, Cherubim atque Seraphim;
in nomine Patriarcharum et Prophetarum;
in nomine sanctorum Apostolorum et Evangelistarum;
in nomine sanctorum Martyrum et Confessorum;
in nomine sanctorum Monachorum et Eremitarum;
in nomine sanctarum Virginum et omnium Sanctorum et Sanctarum Dei:
hodie sit in pace locus tuus,
et habitatio tua apud Deum in sancta Sion.
Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.