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, August 16, 2025
TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
·Sunday
Liturgical Color: Green
General Intercessions for the TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Option 1
1.That the Church may bring Christ's healing to all peoples without exception, extending the Lord's mercy far beyond every boundary of nation, race, or religion, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
2.That leaders of nations may care for those who are excluded and forgotten, hearing their persistent cry as God heard the Canaanite woman's plea, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
3.For those who cry out to God in desperate need for a loved one who is suffering, that they may not lose heart but persevere in faith until the answer comes, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
4.That we may be humbled by the Canaanite woman's example: kneeling before the Lord with total trust, saying only 'Lord, help me,' and receiving the gift of great faith, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
5.That our parish may be a community that welcomes every person who comes seeking healing and mercy, never turning anyone away from the table of God's grace, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Optional:For those who feel like outsiders or who approach God with doubt, that they may find His welcome.Lord, hear our prayer.
That N. and all who persevered in faith may now feast at the eternal banquet where God's mercy overflows without measure, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Option 2
1.For Pope Leo XIV and all shepherds of the Church, that they may carry the Gospel to all peoples, even the unexpected and the overlooked, as Christ revealed Himself to the Canaanite woman, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
2.That all humanity may hear the call to faith, breaking down barriers of prejudice and exclusion, so that every person may encounter the healing mercy of Christ, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
3.For those whose prayers have gone seemingly unanswered, that they may persist like the Canaanite woman and trust that God hears even the silent cries of the heart, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
4.That we may hear Christ's word as our greatest reward: 'O woman, great is your faith!'—and let that hunger for God be the driving force of our lives, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
5.That our parish may reach beyond its walls to serve those in greatest need, recognizing that even the crumbs of God's grace bring healing to the whole person, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Optional:For a greater spirit of persistent prayer and unwavering trust in God's hidden purposes.Lord, hear our prayer.
That N. and all who have died may be found worthy to gather with the nations at God's eternal table, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Alternate General Intercessions for the TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Option 1
1.That the Church may be a mother who intercedes for her children with the tenacity of the Canaanite woman, bringing every broken and suffering life before the healing presence of Christ, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
2.That leaders of nations may hear the cries of those living on the margins and respond with swift justice, not silence, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
3.For mothers and fathers who cry out to God for their children who are suffering in body, mind, or spirit, that the Lord may hear their plea and grant healing, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
4.That we may persevere in prayer when God seems silent, trusting that behind His silence is a hidden mercy preparing a greater gift than we could imagine, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
5.That our parish may never give up praying for those who are far from God, persisting with the woman's boldness until every lost soul is found, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Optional:For parents and family members interceding for loved ones who have left the faith or are struggling.Lord, hear our prayer.
That N. and all who persisted in faith through trial may now be welcomed to the fullness of God's merciful grace, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Option 2
1.For Pope Leo XIV and all the Church, that they may carry Christ's healing word to every nation, making no person an outsider to God's saving love, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
2.That civil society may build systems of welcome and solidarity, so that no one is turned away empty-handed from the resources that sustain human dignity, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
3.For refugees, migrants, and all who are treated as outsiders, that they may encounter in the Church a community that mirrors Christ's welcome to the Canaanite woman, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
4.That we may have the faith that breaks down every barrier—the faith that kneels before the Lord and does not rise until He says: 'As you desire, so let it be done,' let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
5.That our parish community may reflect the universality of God's mercy, active in outreach and fearless in bringing the Gospel to those who have not yet heard it, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Optional:For those who feel unworthy of God's mercy, that they may dare to approach Him with humble boldness.Lord, hear our prayer.
That N. and all who have died may be gathered from every nation into the eternal banquet of God's merciful love, 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.