Prayers of the Faithful for a Catholic Wedding, with Examples

Most couples planning a Catholic wedding are asked, somewhere between choosing readings and choosing music, whether they want to write the prayers of the faithful. It is one of the few places in the ceremony where the couple's own words are welcome, and one of the easiest jobs on the planning list once you know the pattern.

Below is what the prayers are, where they come in the ceremony, who usually reads them, and three complete sets of example petitions you can use or adapt.

What the prayers of the faithful are

The prayers of the faithful, also called the general intercessions or the Universal Prayer, are a short series of requests that everyone present offers to God together. A reader announces each intention, and the congregation answers it. At a Sunday Mass they cover the Church, the world, those who are suffering, and the local community. At a wedding the same pattern holds, with the newly married couple added near the front.

Keep in mind as you write that these are prayers, not toasts. Each one should ask God for something.

Where they come in the ceremony

The prayers of the faithful come right after the vows and the rings. The order goes: the readings, the homily, the questions and the exchange of consent, the blessing and giving of rings (and the arras, if you are including them), and then the prayers of the faithful. It is the first thing the couple and their guests pray together after the marriage has been made.

At a wedding Mass

After the prayers of the faithful, the Mass moves into the Liturgy of the Eucharist, starting with the preparation of the gifts. The Nuptial Blessing comes later, after the Our Father.

At a wedding outside Mass

A wedding celebrated within a Liturgy of the Word, which is common when one spouse is not Catholic, keeps the prayers of the faithful in the same place, after the rings. What follows them is shorter: the Nuptial Blessing, the Our Father, and the final blessing, with no Liturgy of the Eucharist. If you are still deciding between the two forms, see wedding Mass vs. wedding outside of Mass. In either form, the petitions you write are the same.

The usual structure

The priest or deacon opens with a brief invitation and closes with a prayer of his own, so you are only writing the petitions in between. Five to seven is typical. A common order:

• The newly married couple, by name.
• The Church, and married couples in it.
• The world: peace, leaders, the poor.
• The families of the bride and groom, and the parents who raised them.
• Those in need: the sick, the lonely, couples who are struggling.
• Deceased relatives and friends, often by name.
• Everyone present, especially the married couples among the guests.

Each petition follows the same three-part shape: whom you are praying for, what you are asking, and a cue for the response. "For N. and N., that they may always find in each other a friend and a refuge. We pray to the Lord." The congregation answers, "Lord, hear our prayer." Some parishes use a different response, and some sing it. Your priest or the parish wedding coordinator will know.

Keep at least one petition that looks beyond the couple and their families. The Church asks that this prayer keep the whole world in view even on a day that is rightly about two people.

Who writes them and who reads them

Couples usually write them, sometimes with a parent's help, and many parishes offer a sheet of samples to choose from instead. Either is fine. Send the finished text to the priest or deacon ahead of time, since he may want to adjust the wording.

If a deacon is serving at your wedding, he may read them himself. Otherwise a lector, a friend, or a family member reads from the ambo. Couples often give this job to someone they want to honor who is not reading Scripture, such as a godparent, a sibling, or a grandparent. The whole set takes about two minutes, so it is a manageable ask for someone who is nervous about public speaking. Print it in a large font and hand it over at the rehearsal.

Remembering loved ones who have died

This is the place in the liturgy to remember a parent, grandparent, or friend who is not there. A petition for the faithful departed is a normal part of the prayer, so naming someone here fits naturally. Keep it simple and name them: "For N.'s father, N., and for all our family and friends who have died, that they may share in the joy of the heavenly wedding feast."

If the loss is recent, you may want this petition read by someone other than a close relative, or placed near the end of the set so the reader is not stopped short early on. Some couples also print a short line of remembrance in the program. Our wedding program guide covers how that usually looks.

Example set 1: a traditional set

• For N. and N., joined today in the Sacrament of Matrimony, that their love may grow deeper with every year and their home may be a place of welcome. We pray to the Lord.
• For the Church, that she may be strengthened by the faithful love of married couples. We pray to the Lord.
• For our world and its leaders, that they may work for justice and peace and protect the dignity of every family. We pray to the Lord.
• For the parents of the bride and groom, that God may reward their love and sacrifice and bless them in the years to come. We pray to the Lord.
• For all who are sick, lonely, or grieving, that they may know the care of God and of those around them. We pray to the Lord.
• For our family members and friends who have died, especially [names], that they may share in the joy of the heavenly wedding feast. We pray to the Lord.
• For all the married couples here today, that this celebration may renew the love and promises they share. We pray to the Lord.

Example set 2: a personal set

• For N. and N., that the friendship that brought them here may stay at the center of their marriage, and that they may be patient with each other on ordinary days. We pray to the Lord.
• For [names of grandparents], whose long marriages showed us what faithfulness looks like, that God may reward them with health and joy. We pray to the Lord.
• For the friends and family who traveled to be here, that they may return home safely. We pray to the Lord.
• For couples who are struggling in their marriages, that they may find help, healing, and hope. We pray to the Lord.
• For those who long for a family of their own, and for those who mourn the loss of a spouse, that God may console them. We pray to the Lord.
• For N.'s mother, N., who is with us today in spirit, and for all who have died, that they may rest in God's peace. We pray to the Lord.

Example set 3: a short set

Good for a wedding outside Mass or a smaller ceremony.

• For N. and N., that God who has joined them today may keep them faithful to each other for the rest of their lives. We pray to the Lord.
• For the Church and for the whole world, that all people may come to know the love of God. We pray to the Lord.
• For our families, the living and the dead, that God may bless them and hold them in his care. We pray to the Lord.
• For all of us here, that we may support N. and N. with our friendship and our prayers. We pray to the Lord.

If a guest list includes many people from other faiths, these petitions work well as written. Prayer for peace, family, and the dead is something almost every guest can join. Our guide to a Catholic wedding for non-Catholic guests has more on helping everyone follow along.

Next steps

Couples rarely print the full petitions in the program; most print just the response, if anything. Whoever reads them still needs a clean copy. The wedding program builder lays out the full order of the ceremony with your readings and music, and when you personalize a program it has a step for the petitions and prints them on a large-type reader's sheet along with the readings.

For the parts around them, see Catholic wedding vows, the guide to wedding readings, and what happens at a Catholic wedding Mass.