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, June 28, 2025

Saint Irenaeus, bishop, martyr and doctor of the Church / The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Optional Memorial
Liturgical Color: White

General Intercessions for The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Option 1

1.That the Church may always proclaim Christ's radical claim on our loyalty — that He comes before even the closest human bonds — and form disciples willing to take up their cross, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
2.That world leaders may be willing to lose their own standing for the sake of what is right, knowing that whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses it for Christ will find it, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
3.For those who are torn between loyalty to Christ and the expectations of family, culture, or workplace, that they may find courage to choose the Lord who calls them, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
4.That we may welcome in Christ's name all who come to us in need — prophet, righteous person, or little one — knowing that such welcome is welcome of Christ Himself, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
5.That our local community may be a place where no one who offers even a cup of cold water in Christ's name goes unrewarded, for every small act of love is seen by the Father, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Optional:For our sick, bereaved, etc., special projects or events.Lord, hear our prayer.
That N. and all the faithful departed who took up their cross and followed Christ may now find the life they did not cling to here below, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

Option 2

1.For Pope Leo XIV, that he may lead the Church as Christ commands — receiving those sent in His name, so that through the servant the master is welcomed, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
2.That all peoples may hear the paradox of the Gospel: to lose one's life for Christ is to find it — and may this word be a lamp in times of suffering and self-sacrifice, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
3.For those carrying heavy crosses in family life, illness, or persecution, that they may know Christ walks beside them and that nothing borne for His sake is lost, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
4.That we may receive in Christ's name all who are sent to us — the poor, the stranger, the inconvenient guest — knowing that in receiving them we receive Christ and His Father, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
5.For our parish, that it may be a community of genuine welcome, where every visitor — no matter how small — receives their cup of cold water and experiences the hospitality of the kingdom, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Optional:For those who are persecuted or marginalised for their faith in Christ.Lord, hear our prayer.
That N. and all who have died may receive the reward of the righteous — the life found only by those who willingly lost it for the Lord's sake, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

Variations if Optional Memorial is not celebrated

Option 1

1.That the Church may be a community of radical welcome, where Christ is encountered in every person received in His name — prophet, righteous one, and little one alike, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
2.That nations may open their doors to the stranger and the refugee, remembering that whoever welcomes one sent in Christ's name welcomes Christ Himself, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
3.For those who feel their sacrifices are too small to matter — a cup of cold water, a quiet act of kindness — that they may know the Father sees and will not forget their reward, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
4.That we may take up our cross daily without counting the cost, trusting Christ's paradox: losing our life for His sake is the only way to truly find it, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
5.That our local community may give generously — time, treasure, and attention — to every little one who comes to us, seeing in each one the face of Christ, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Optional:For families who bear the cross of illness, poverty, or division, that they may know the Lord's reward.Lord, hear our prayer.
That N. and all who have died may receive the welcome of Christ before the Father: come — I know you — you welcomed me in the little ones, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

Option 2

1.For Pope Leo XIV, that he may model for the Church the path of holy detachment — loving family and homeland deeply, yet clinging to Christ above all, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
2.That all peoples may discover that love freely given — even when it costs — is never lost, for whoever loses his life for Christ finds a life the world cannot give, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
3.For missionaries and all who have left family and home to serve Christ, that their sacrifice may bear abundant fruit and their reward in heaven be great, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
4.That we may grow in the art of receiving others well — pausing for the unexpected visitor, making room for those who interrupt our plans — as a daily school of the cross, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
5.For our parish, that it may be a community where every person who enters finds at minimum a cup of cold water — a gesture of recognition that says: you are seen, you are welcome, you belong, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Optional:For an increase of hospitality and welcome in our homes, parish, and neighbourhood.Lord, hear our prayer.
That N. and all our beloved dead who followed Christ may receive the prophet's reward — the righteous person's reward — from the Father who forgets nothing done in His name, 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.