“Rest in Peace” Phrase History

From social media posts to obituaries, tombstones, and even Halloween decor, we’ve all seen the acronym RIP—rest in peace. But where did it come from originally? 

Rest in peace originates from a Latin phrase, requiescat in pace, meaning may (the deceased person) rest in peace. However, specific mention of the deceased was eventually dropped, and the phrase was shortened to simply say rest in peace.

Sometime around the fifth century, the phrase rest in peace began to appear on tombstones. However, by the 18th century, it became common to see it on the tombs of Christians as a prayer for mercy on the departed soul to find peace in his or her afterlife. 

To date, rest in peace continues to find its place amongst the gravestones of Christians, most especially in the Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglican denominations. The Christian doctrine that states the soul leaves the body in death, allows the body to rest in peace in the grave until body and soul are reunited upon Christ’s second return or judgment day.

Most recently, in 2017, the Orange Order (the international Protestant fraternal order) in Northern Ireland asked Protestants not to use the phrase any longer. The concern was that a prayer for the dead was contradictory to biblical beliefs. 

It is widely believed that rest in peace is a translation of the Hebrew phrase shalom aleichem which means peace be upon you or may he rest in peace. However, some Jews believe rest in peace is not often used because of its original ties to the Christian faith and perspective.

If you find yourself uneasy about using the term rest in peace, here are a few alternatives:

·       Rest in heaven.

·       Find eternal peace.

·       Rest in peace and love.

·       Rest in power.

·       Find eternal rest.

·       Rest in paradise.

·       Rest in paradise and eternal love.

·       Rest in bliss.

·       Enjoy peace and eternal rest.

·       Enjoy the joyfulness of paradise. 

·       Rest in light and find eternal peace.

·       Rest in the light.

·       Rest in bliss.

·       Find peace on the other side.

·       Rest easy in grace and love.

The important thing to remember when expressing sympathy is that there are no perfect words. The pain of death and loss is often so much deeper than words can express. Simply telling your loved one that you see their pain and how sorry you are that they are experiencing grief is enough.