Requiem Mass
/ˈrɛk.wi.ɛm mæs/noun
A Mass for the dead in the Roman Catholic Church.
Did you know?Requiem comes from the opening Latin words of the Mass for the Dead, “Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine” — literally “Grant them eternal rest, Lord,” turning a prayer into a name.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
requiem
“accusative singular of requies, meaning rest, repose, or relief from toil”
Late Latin
Latin
missa pro defunctis
“Mass for the dead”
Medieval Latin
Latin
missa requiem
“the funeral Mass named from its opening word”
Middle English
English
requiem
“a service or chant for the dead”
Modern English
English
requiem mass
“a Catholic Mass celebrated for the repose of the dead”