The Universal Prayer (Prayer of the Faithful)

The Liturgy of the Word concludes with the Universal Prayer, also called the Prayer of the Faithful. The assembly, having heard God's Word, now turns outward to pray for the needs of the Church and the world. This is one of the oldest practices in Christian liturgy — a series of intercessions in which the assembly explicitly takes responsibility for praying beyond itself.

The Universal Prayer typically includes four categories of intentions:

- For the needs of the Church (the Pope, bishops, vocations, the work of evangelization) - For public authorities and the salvation of the world (civil leaders, peace among nations, justice) - For those burdened by any difficulty (the sick, the persecuted, refugees, the dying) - For the local community (parish needs, the deceased, particular intentions for the day)

Each intention is announced by a deacon or lector, and the assembly responds with a short refrain — most often "Lord, hear our prayer" or "Lord, graciously hear us." The structure intentionally widens the assembly's prayer beyond their own needs. To pray the Universal Prayer is to take seriously that the Christian assembly is a body of intercessors, holding the world before God.

For weddings and funerals, the Universal Prayer is often customized for the specific occasion. At weddings, intentions may include prayers for the new spouses, for their families, for all married couples, and for those preparing for marriage. At funerals, the prayer naturally focuses on the deceased, on the bereaved family, and on all those who mourn. Couples and families are sometimes invited to compose intentions; consult your celebrant about parish practice.