Funeral Prayer Cards

A small card that's kept for years

Funeral prayer cards – also called memorial cards or holy cards – are small cards handed out at the visitation, funeral or memorial. They're one of the most cherished keepsakes of a funeral: people tuck them into wallets, Bibles, car visors and mirror frames, and keep them for decades. A thoughtful prayer card can bring comfort every time it's found again.

With our template, your prayer card is designed automatically to match your funeral program. The front features a photo, the words "In Loving Memory," the full name and the dates of birth and passing. The back holds a prayer, scripture or poem of your choosing, with the name repeated below.

The standard size

The traditional prayer card is 2.5 × 4.25 inches – about the size of a playing card – which fits easily in a wallet or purse. Our print file includes 1/8-inch bleed and crop marks so a print shop can trim it cleanly. For best results, ask for heavy card stock (100–130 lb cover / 300–350 gsm), printed double-sided. Many print shops can laminate them for durability.

Popular prayers and verses

Our library includes several prayers that families choose most often:

• The Lord's Prayer – known and loved across Christian traditions.
• Eternal Rest – a traditional Catholic prayer for the departed.
• Hail Mary – often chosen for Catholic women and Marian devotion.
• Prayer of St. Francis – "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace."
• Psalm 23 – "The Lord is my shepherd."
• Forever Loved and In Remembrance – gentle, non-religious verses for secular memorials.

You can also write your own words – a favorite saying, a line from a song (if it's in the public domain) or a few sentences about what they meant to you.

Choosing the photo

On a small card, a close-up portrait works best. Choose an image where the face fills much of the frame and the lighting is even. Our maker will automatically shape and frame the photo to match the theme – oval, arch, circle or rectangle.

Prayer cards for different traditions

Catholic families traditionally use holy cards with an image of Christ, Mary or a saint; our Marian Blue, Catholic Mass and White Lily themes suit these well. Protestant families often choose Psalm 23 or John 14. For non-religious memorials, choose Sage Garden, Simple Modern or Lotus Serenity with a poem or personal verse.

How to get them

Prayer cards are included in the $9.99 memorial bundle, along with a matching thank-you card, social media announcement and obituary PDF – all designed to match your funeral program. Create your program first, then fill in the prayer card text on the "Cards" step.

Looking for something larger? See our memorial cards page, or our Catholic funeral Mass program template.

How many to print

Prayer cards are inexpensive to print, and families are often surprised by how many are taken. A good rule is to print one for every expected guest plus 25–50% extra. Relatives frequently ask for a handful to send to friends overseas, to leave at a parish, or to keep in a memory box for grandchildren. Because your file stays available after purchase, you can always order more later – for the first anniversary, a memorial Mass or a headstone dedication.