The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), paragraphs 69-71, does not prescribe a fixed number of Prayers of the Faithful. It gives the usual areas of intention and asks for brief, carefully composed petitions. Do not treat a suggested number as a rule from the Missal.
Do four categories mean four intentions?
Not necessarily. GIRM 70 describes four usual areas:
- The needs of the Church.
- Public authorities and the good of the whole world.
- People facing hardship.
- The local community.
These guide the breadth of the prayer; they are not a numbered quota. The intentions may address the occasion more closely at a wedding, funeral or Confirmation.
A practical five-intention example
Here is one possible arrangement, not a required number:
- For the Church, that her witness may bring hope to those who feel forgotten, let us pray to the Lord.
- For those entrusted with public office, that they may protect human dignity and work for peace, let us pray to the Lord.
- For people living with illness, poverty or displacement, that they may receive care and lasting support, let us pray to the Lord.
- For our parish community, that we may notice our neighbors’ needs and respond generously, let us pray to the Lord.
- For those who have died, that God may welcome them into his peace, let us pray to the Lord.
A possible common response is: Lord, hear our prayer.
Choosing a set for your parish
Agree the final text with the priest or parish liturgy coordinator. Avoid repeating the same need in several petitions just to reach a target. On our prayer pages, the different options are alternative sets: you do not need to read every option. Include optional intentions only when they are part of your parish’s chosen text.
Find today’s Prayers of the Faithful, or see how the priest and reader begin the prayer.