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

Sunday, July 20, 2025

Weekday

·Ferial

Liturgical Color: Green

General Intercessions for Monday, 16th Week in Ordinary Time

Option 1

1.That the Church may always hold up the sign of Jonah — the death and resurrection of Christ — as the only sign the world truly needs, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

2.That leaders of nations may heed the warning of Nineveh and govern with repentance and justice rather than seeking signs to satisfy their curiosity, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

3.For those who demand proof before they will believe, that they may encounter the living Christ — something greater than Jonah — and open their hearts to faith, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

4.That we may be people of the resurrection, living witnesses to the sign of Jonah, bearing the Gospel to all who have not yet heard, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

5.For our parish, that we may never demand spectacular signs but rest our faith on the greatest sign of all: Christ risen from the dead, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

Optional:For the intercession of Saint Apollinaris, that his courage in witnessing to Christ may strengthen the Church today.Lord, hear our prayer.

That N. and all the faithful departed may rise with Christ, whose resurrection is the sign that conquers death, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

Option 2

1.For Pope Leo XIV, that he may preach Christ crucified and risen — the sign of Jonah — with boldness and without compromise, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

2.That nations may learn from Nineveh and repent when greater than Jonah himself speaks, recognizing in Christ the fulfillment of all God's promises, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

3.For those who are skeptical or hardened in their unbelief, that the sign of the resurrection may break through their resistance and draw them to faith, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

4.That we may receive God's Word with the humility of Nineveh, which repented at the preaching of Jonah — and something greater than Jonah is here among us, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

5.For our community, that we may be a people of resurrection hope, confident that Christ's rising from the dead is the foundation of everything we believe, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

Optional:For a renewed spirit of repentance in our hearts, that we may not harden ourselves to God's word as the scribes and Pharisees did.Lord, hear our prayer.

That N. and all who have died may be raised with Christ, who spent three days in the heart of the earth and emerged victorious over death, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

Pro Life Option

1.That the Church may proclaim the sign of the resurrection as the ultimate answer to a culture of death — life is stronger than death in Christ, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

2.That lawmakers may hear the call to repentance like Nineveh and turn away from laws that permit the taking of innocent human life, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

3.For mothers carrying children in difficult circumstances, that they may find in the risen Christ the strength and hope to choose life for their unborn child, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

4.That we may be modern Jonahs, carrying the message of life and hope to those in our communities who feel there is no way forward, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

5.For our community, that the sign of Jonah — resurrection hope — may inspire all our efforts to defend and celebrate every human life from conception to natural death, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

Optional:For all who serve at pregnancy resource centers, that their witness may be a sign of life and hope to mothers in crisis.Lord, hear our prayer.

That N. and all innocent lives lost before birth may rest in the arms of the risen Christ who is greater than Jonah, 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"?