What is happening here
The Universal Prayer, also called the Prayer of the Faithful or the General Intercessions, is a series of petitions the assembly offers at the end of the Liturgy of the Word. Having heard God's Word, the people turn outward and pray for the needs of the Church and the world. It is one of the oldest practices in Christian worship: a moment when the assembly 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.
In practice, the intentions sound like this. For the Church: "That our Holy Father, our bishop, and all who serve the Church may be strengthened in faith, we pray to the Lord." For public authorities: "That the leaders of nations may work for justice and lasting peace, we pray to the Lord." For those in need: "That the sick, the grieving, and all who are alone may know God's comfort, we pray to the Lord." For the local community: "That the members of our parish, and all who have died, may be held in God's mercy, we pray to the Lord." The assembly answers each petition with the refrain.
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.