Funeral Prayer Cards: How to Choose the Right Verse or Poem

The Funeral Program Site helps families create keepsakes that feel calm, clear, and meaningful during a time that rarely feels calm. A prayer card is small, but it carries a big emotional job: it becomes the message guests bring home, tuck into a Bible or wallet, or revisit months later when grief returns in waves. Because of that, the verse or poem on your prayer card is not just “nice wording.” It is the final tone you leave in someone’s hands.

When families feel stuck, it usually comes down to two questions: what should it say, and how much can realistically fit? The best funeral prayer cards keep the wording short enough to breathe, readable enough for older guests, and aligned with the person’s faith and personality. Some families want a scripture excerpt that promises hope. Others prefer a gentle poem about love, memory, and peace. Many choose a blend: a short verse plus one line of personal sentiment.

Space guideline for standard-size prayer cards: aim for 4–8 short lines, or a compact excerpt that can be read in one breath without crowding the back. If you love a longer poem, use a short excerpt on the card and place the full reading in the funeral program, on a memorial display, or in a service handout.

What the wording on funeral prayer cards should accomplish

Before you choose a specific verse or poem, it helps to decide what the card is meant to do for the people holding it. Most prayer cards serve one or more of these purposes, and naming your purpose makes the decision much easier.

• Comfort: a gentle message that helps guests breathe and feel steadier in the moment.
• Hope: a promise of reunion, peace, eternal life, or continued love beyond death.
• Identity: words that reflect who the person was, what they believed, or how they lived.
• Remembrance: a short line that helps the memory stay warm rather than sharp.
• Unity: language that feels welcoming for mixed beliefs, or for guests who are not religious.

You do not have to “make everyone happy.” You are simply choosing words that honor your loved one and offer something kind to the people who show up.

A simple way to choose the right wording

1) Match the tone to the person

Start with the person, not the poem. Ask yourself what people would say if they had one sentence to describe them. Were they faith-centered, quietly steady, funny, nurturing, patriotic, service-minded, or known for their generosity? A verse that sounds “beautiful” but feels unlike them can land as distant. A short, simple line that feels true to their life often lands as deeply comforting.

If your loved one had a faith tradition, consider language that fits it. For some families, scripture is the most natural option. For others, a poem is more appropriate. If the service includes readings, you can also echo the service theme on the prayer card so the whole day feels cohesive.

2) Keep it short enough to read in one breath

Prayer cards are small. Even when the design is beautiful, too many words can create visual stress. A good rule is to choose wording that someone can read silently in about five to ten seconds. That does not mean it has to be shallow. Some of the most powerful lines are short because they leave room for the heart to respond.

If you are using a longer poem, choose a single stanza or a short excerpt that still makes sense on its own. Avoid excerpts that feel incomplete or confusing without the rest of the poem. If you want the full poem included somewhere, place it in a funeral program panel, a memorial folder insert, a framed display, or a printed reading sheet for guests who want it.

3) Choose words that comfort without being complicated

In grief, people have less mental bandwidth. That is why prayer card wording should be simple, clear, and warm. Avoid dense metaphors that require effort to interpret. Look for language that speaks directly to love, peace, rest, gratitude, reunion, or the enduring bond between the living and the departed.

If your guest list includes a mix of beliefs, you can still choose meaningful wording that does not feel exclusive. Many families select a gentle, universal message and reserve scripture for the service readings. Other families do the opposite. Both approaches are completely acceptable.

4) Make it readable: font size, spacing, and line breaks

Readability is not a detail, it is respect. Use clear line breaks instead of long paragraphs. Keep the font large enough for older guests and avoid overly decorative fonts for the verse area. If the design includes a background photo, make sure there is enough contrast so the words remain crisp and easy to read.

When you lay out the verse, look at it from arm’s length, not inches from your face. If it looks crowded, it will feel crowded. White space is part of what makes the card feel peaceful.

5) Decide whether to include attribution

For scripture, many families include a short citation (for example, the book and chapter) so guests can find it again later. For poems, attribution depends on space and the source. If a poem is public domain, attribution is a thoughtful touch. If the poem is copyrighted, it is usually better to avoid printing full modern poems without permission. An original message, a short excerpt, or a public-domain selection can prevent accidental rights issues while still keeping the tone meaningful.

Practical tip: if a poem is well-known and modern, it is often copyrighted. Consider using a short excerpt (not the entire poem), or choose a timeless public-domain poem, a brief scripture excerpt, or a short original message written by the family.

Common wording directions families choose for funeral prayer cards

If you are still deciding between options, it helps to pick a category first. Once you choose the category, you can narrow down to one verse or poem that fits the space and the person.

Scripture excerpt

This works well when faith is central to the person’s life or when the service is faith-based. Keep it short and choose a passage that feels comforting and familiar. If the verse is long, use an excerpt that reads smoothly on its own.

Short poem (one stanza)

Poems are often chosen when the person was artistic, reflective, or when the family wants language that feels gentle rather than formal. A single stanza tends to print well and keeps the back of the card calm.

Simple quote or blessing

A short blessing can be ideal for mixed-belief gatherings. It also pairs nicely with a photo, because it does not compete with the design.

Family-written message

If you cannot find wording that feels right, write one or two sentences from the heart. This is often the most “them” option. Keep it short, avoid inside jokes that guests will not understand, and focus on love, gratitude, and remembrance.

Layout and printing notes that protect readability

Funeral prayer cards are often printed on sturdy cardstock and may be laminated. That means the words need to be clean and legible. A few layout choices make a noticeable difference:

• Use short lines and intentional line breaks rather than one long paragraph.
• Keep margins generous so the card does not feel cramped.
• Avoid placing text on busy parts of a photo (sky and soft backgrounds read best).
• Check readability on both desktop and phone screens before printing.
• Proofread for punctuation, spacing, and consistent font sizing.

If you are printing at home, do a single test print first. Lighting can change the way text looks on paper, especially on photo backgrounds. If the card will be laminated, test with a slightly larger font size, since lamination can add glare in bright rooms.

A calm prayer card is not just about the words. It is about the design supporting the words, not competing with them.

Two quick Shorts for fast ideas

These Shorts are quick reminders: one focuses on space and length, and the other focuses on tone and personality.

Quick decision table

If you are unsure, choose the one message that feels most like them and keep it short enough that it looks peaceful on the card.

Next step

Decide your tone first, then choose a short selection that fits the space and reads clearly. When you’re ready to start designing, browse templates and formats here: funeral prayer cards.

If you want the full written guide with examples and a clear workflow for choosing wording, you can also start at: funeral prayer cards. Use the long video, the Shorts, and the audio guide above as a complete set of quick supports while you make the choice.