What are general intercessions for daily Mass?

General intercessions, also known as prayers of the faithful or universal prayers, are prayers offered during Catholic Mass where the congregation prays for the needs of the Church, the world, the suffering, and the local community. They are called "general" because they address universal concerns rather than specific individual requests.

How are general intercessions different from prayers of the faithful?

General intercessions and prayers of the faithful are actually the same thing. "General intercessions" emphasizes their universal nature, while "prayers of the faithful" emphasizes who offers them - the baptized faithful. Both terms refer to the same liturgical element of the Mass.

When are general intercessions prayed during Mass?

General intercessions are prayed during the Liturgy of the Word, after the homily and Creed (if said). They conclude the Liturgy of the Word before the Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the Preparation of the Gifts.

Who writes the general intercessions for daily Mass?

Our general intercessions are written by Giuseppe Njualem, a seminarian at St. Peter's Seminary in London, Ontario, following the guidelines of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) and with input from theology students and experienced clergy.

Understanding General Intercessions for Daily Mass

General intercessions, also known as the "Prayer of the Faithful" or "Universal Prayer," are an essential part of the Catholic Mass where the congregation joins together to pray for the needs of the Church and the world. These intercessions are called "general" because they address universal concerns that affect all Catholics and humanity as a whole.

📖 How to Use These General Intercessions

1. Choose Your Option: Browse the available intercession options for today's Mass.

2. Download PDF: Click "Download PDF" to get a formatted copy for your lector or liturgy coordinator.

3. Edit if Needed: Use "Edit" to customize intercessions for your parish's specific needs.

4. Browse Other Dates: Use the calendar to access intercessions for any date throughout the year.

General Intercessions for Daily Mass

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

THURSDAY IN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER

✚Solemnity

Liturgical Color: White

General Intercessions for THURSDAY IN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER

Option 1

1.For the Church, that she may proclaim the tangible, physical reality of the Risen Christ — not a ghost, not a symbol — the same body broken for us, now glorified and truly present to us, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

2.That world leaders who govern in fear and turmoil may receive the word the Risen Christ spoke in the locked room: peace be with you — a peace the world cannot manufacture but only receive, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

3.For those whose trauma has made it impossible to believe that goodness is real, that the Risen Christ may show them His wounds — proof that suffering has been entered, not avoided — and say: it is really I, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

4.That we may bring to Christ our troubled hearts this day and hear His question: why are you troubled? — releasing our anxieties into hands that bear the marks of the nails, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

5.That our parish may take seriously the call we heard today: you are witnesses of these things — and live with the conviction and courage that witness demands, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

Optional:For our sick, bereaved, and all who have asked for our prayers.Lord, hear our prayer.

For N. and all the faithful departed, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

Option 2

1.For the Church, that the moment of the Risen Christ eating fish with His disciples may remind her that the Resurrection hallows the ordinary — every meal, every table, every gathered community, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

2.That those who exercise authority may not reduce reality to what can be quantified and controlled, but remain open to the more that the Resurrection declares is present in all created things, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

3.For those who doubt, who hold back from full belief, that they may hear not a rebuke but an invitation: touch me and see — and find that the evidence is more solid than their fear, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

4.That we may know ourselves as witnesses — not only observers — and that what we have seen and heard of the Risen Christ may flow outward from us into every conversation and relationship, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

5.That our parish, having received the Risen Christ in the Eucharist, may go out as those who have truly touched and tasted — bearing that certainty as our gift to the world, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

Optional:For a deeper conviction of the bodily Resurrection and its meaning for how we live.Lord, hear our prayer.

For N. and all the faithful departed, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

Pro Life Option

1.That the Church may proclaim: touch me and see — holding out the ultrasound image, the tiny hand, the formed face — witnessing to the undeniable bodily reality of every unborn child, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

2.That lawmakers may stand on the solid ground of this truth: every human body, however small or dependent, bears the dignity of the God who rose bodily from the tomb, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

3.For unborn children with prenatal diagnoses of physical disability, whose bodies are judged as wrong or unworthy of life, that we may say with the Risen Christ: look at my hands, look at my feet — and refuse to discard what God has made, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

4.That we may be witnesses to the dignity of every human body in this Easter season, speaking the truth we have seen clearly and without apology, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

5.That our parish may be tangible and practical in its witness — touching and seeing the real needs of mothers and children in our midst — not content with sentiment alone, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

Optional:For all who support families facing difficult prenatal diagnoses, that they may bear witness to the worth of every life.Lord, hear our prayer.

For N. and all the faithful departed, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

About Our General Intercessions for Daily Mass

Our general intercessions are carefully written by Giuseppe Njualem, a seminarian at St. Peter's Seminary in London, Ontario. Each set of intercessions follows the guidelines established by the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) and is crafted with input from theology students and experienced clergy.

📅 Liturgically Accurate

Every intercession is crafted to reflect the specific liturgical season, rank, and saint of the day, ensuring theological accuracy and seasonal appropriateness.

🌍 Universally Focused

Our general intercessions address the four traditional categories: Church needs, world concerns, those in distress, and local community intentions.

📝 Ready to Use

Each option is formatted for immediate use by lectors and can be downloaded as a professional PDF for easy printing and reading during Mass.

✏️ Customizable

Edit any intercession to address your parish's specific needs while maintaining the theological structure and universal focus of general intercessions.

BiddingPrayers.com

Understanding General Intercessions for Daily Mass

Why "General Intercessions" vs "Prayers of the Faithful"?