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, September 21, 2025
SAINT MATTHEW, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST
✦Feast
Liturgical Color: Red
General Intercessions for the Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
Option 1
1.That the Church may hear Christ's call as Matthew did, rising immediately from whatever holds us back to follow Him with generous and wholehearted faith, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
2.That heads of government may direct economic policy toward those most excluded from prosperity, ensuring that no worker is denied dignified wages and fair conditions, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
3.For those who feel written off because of their past, carrying shame that makes God's call seem impossible, that they may hear Christ's invitation and rise to follow Him, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
4.That we may respond to God's call without delay, rising as Matthew did to follow Christ wherever He leads, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
5.That our local community may be a table where sinners are welcomed, where the sick find a physician, and where Christ dines with all whom the world has rejected, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Optional:For journalists, writers, evangelists, and all who proclaim the good news in word and deed.Lord, hear our prayer.
That N. and all who responded to Christ's call and followed Him faithfully may rejoice forever with Saint Matthew in God's eternal kingdom, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Option 2
1.For Pope Leo XIV, that he may, like the Apostle Matthew, gather tax collector and Pharisee, sinner and saint, into the good news at the Lord's table of mercy, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
2.That public health authorities may invest in accessible mental health care, ensuring that those most in need are not turned away for lack of funds or resources, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
3.For those trapped in addiction or harmful patterns of life from which they see no exit, that Christ's voice may reach them and give them the courage to rise and begin again, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
4.That we may welcome those the world excludes, seeing in every broken person a potential disciple whom Christ is calling to His table, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
5.For our parish, that it may be a house like Matthew's, open and joyful, where the expected and unexpected guests all discover the grace of the Lord who seeks and saves, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Optional:For all apostles and evangelists who carry the Gospel to those who have never heard Christ's call.Lord, hear our prayer.
That N. and all who have died may, like Matthew, be raised by Christ's word and welcomed into the feast that has no end, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Variations if Feast is not selected
Option 1
1.That the Church, renewed by the example of Saint Matthew, may reach beyond comfortable settings to those who feel overlooked and beyond God's reach, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
2.That those who administer criminal justice may ensure no one is treated as permanently beyond redemption, building systems that prioritize rehabilitation alongside accountability, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
3.For those in prison and their families, that they may know God writes off no one, and that all who work in detention may uphold the dignity of every person in their care, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
4.That we may be willing to sit with those the world has judged unworthy, welcoming all to the same table where Christ is the host, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
5.That our parish may actively reach those who feel too ashamed or too broken to walk through our doors, making real our belief that Christ welcomes all without exception, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Optional:For those who work in prison ministry and all who accompany people re-entering society after incarceration.Lord, hear our prayer.
That N. and all the faithful departed may be welcomed by the mercy of God who calls everyone to His table, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Option 2
1.For unity in the Church, that Catholics of every background may sit together at the Lord's table without rivalry or judgment, letting Christ be the measure of belonging, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
2.That education authorities may invest in schools and literacy programs for children in disadvantaged areas, giving every child a foundation for a dignified future, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
3.For young people overwhelmed by anxiety about the future, that they may find in the Church a community of belonging, purpose, and genuine hope, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
4.That we may recognize Christ's call to us in the ordinary moments of this day and respond without hesitation or delay, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
5.That our local community may be genuinely welcoming to those who arrive alone or uncertain, becoming a true home for all who seek the Lord, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Optional:For teachers, mentors, and all who invest in the formation and encouragement of young people.Lord, hear our prayer.
That N. and all who have died trusting in God's mercy may be received into the company of the saints, 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.