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
Saturday, May 17, 2025
THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD
✚Solemnity
Liturgical Color: White
General Intercessions for THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD
Option 1
1.That the Church, sent by the ascending Christ to be witnesses to all nations, may proclaim repentance and forgiveness in his name with the courage and joy of those clothed with power from on high, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
2.That world leaders may recognize that the one who is Lord of all has ascended above all earthly powers—and may govern in the light of that eternal truth, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
3.For those who mourn the absence of Christ's visible presence, that they may receive the power he promised and find him truly present in word, sacrament, and the community of his body, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
4.That we, like the disciples who returned to Jerusalem with great joy after the Ascension, may live our Christian lives not in grief at Christ's departure but in joyful expectation of his return, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
5.That our parish may be continually in the temple praising God—our worship filled with the joy of the Ascension, our mission alight with the power from on high that Christ promised, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Optional:For all who await the gift of the Holy Spirit, that the Church may be clothed with power from on high at Pentecost.Lord, hear our prayer.
That N. and all the faithful departed may now dwell where Christ ascended—at the right hand of the Father—praising God with unceasing joy, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Option 2
1.For Pope Leo XIV, that the ascending Christ may fill him with power from on high, enabling him to lead the Church as a witness to the resurrection from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
2.That all nations may hear the witness of Christ's disciples: the one who suffered, died, and rose is Lord of all—and in his name repentance and forgiveness are offered to every human heart, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
3.For those who feel abandoned or left behind, that the blessing Christ gave as he ascended may reach them—a blessing of power, peace, and promise that does not depart when he does, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
4.That we may return from every encounter with the ascended Lord—in word, in sacrament, in prayer—with the great joy the disciples carried back to Jerusalem, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
5.For our local church, that we may be a community of witnesses to the ascended Lord—sent to all nations, yet deeply rooted in the praise of God and fervent with expectation of his return, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Optional:For all missionaries and evangelists sent in Christ's name to the ends of the earth, that the ascending Lord may clothe them with power from on high.Lord, hear our prayer.
That N. and all who have died may ascend with Christ to the place he went to prepare for those who love him, there to praise God without ceasing, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Pro Life Option
1.That the Church, clothed with power from on high, may be a witness in every nation to the inviolable dignity of every human life—from the moment the Father knows it until the moment it ascends to him, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
2.That lawmakers may hear the testimony of those sent in Christ's name: every unborn child carries the image of the one who ascended above all things, and is worthy of protection and welcome, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
3.For mothers in crisis pregnancies, that they may receive the blessing of the ascending Christ—the courage, the support, and the peace they did not earn but that he longs to give, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
4.That we, returning with great joy from the encounter with the ascended Lord at every Mass, may carry that joy into the work of defending every human life in his name and to all nations, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
5.That our parish may be a community continually praising God and continually at work in the world—witnessing to the sanctity of every life the ascending Christ redeemed, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Optional:For pregnancy resource centers and all who witness to the dignity of every human life in the name of the ascended Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
That N. and all children lost before birth may now ascend with Christ to the place he went to prepare—blessed by the hands that were raised over the disciples, 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.