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Prayers of the Faithful Today

April 4

HOLY SATURDAY

Holy Saturday
Liturgical Color: White

Prayers of the Faithful for HOLY SATURDAY

Option 1

1.For the Church, that in the great silence of Holy Saturday she may keep watch with Mary, holding onto the promise of Easter in the darkness before the dawn, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
2.That leaders of nations may have the wisdom to sit with unresolved grief rather than force premature resolution, governing with patience and honesty in times of uncertainty, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
3.For all who grieve the death of someone they love, living in a permanent Holy Saturday of loss, that they may be held by the hope that the tomb is not the final word, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
4.That we may use this day of sacred silence to be still before God, releasing our noise and activity into His hands, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
5.That our parish may prepare well for the Easter Vigil tonight, entering the greatest night of the year with open and expectant hearts, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Optional:For our sick, bereaved, and all who have asked for our prayers.Lord, hear our prayer.
For N. and all the faithful departed, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

Option 2

1.For the Church, that she may preach with conviction that Christ descended to the dead — that there is no depth of human darkness too far for the God who came to find us, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
2.That civil authorities may work to release those unjustly imprisoned, knowing that God hears every cry from every captivity, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
3.For those whose faith is suspended — who cannot quite believe but are not yet ready to deny — that the silence of this day may be a place where God meets them, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
4.That we may enter tonight's Vigil fire with the longing of those who have truly sat with darkness and found it unbearable without the light, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
5.That our catechumens and candidates, on the final day before their baptism, may be filled with holy anticipation of the sacraments they will receive tonight, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Optional:For those who will be received into the Church at tonight's Easter Vigil.Lord, hear our prayer.
For N. and all the faithful departed, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

Variations if Optional Commemoration is not celebrated

Option 1

1.For the Church, that as the new fire is kindled in the darkness tonight she may be renewed in her identity as the people of the Risen Christ, light from light, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
2.That those who hold power over others may be moved this Eastertide to break the chains that bind the poor — freed as Israel was freed — and to serve rather than dominate, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
3.For all those who will be baptised, confirmed, and receive their First Communion at the Easter Vigil tonight, that what begins in them this night may never be quenched, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
4.That we may renew our baptismal promises tonight with a seriousness we have never brought before, knowing what it cost to make us children of God, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
5.That our parish, gathered around the Paschal Candle tonight, may be set alight again with love for the Risen Lord and sent out to share His light with the world, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Optional:For our sick, bereaved, and all who have asked for our prayers.Lord, hear our prayer.
For N. and all the faithful departed, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

Option 2

1.For the Church, that the Exsultet may be no mere ritual but a true shout of joy — that this is the night, this is the night — welling up from hearts that know what darkness costs and what the Resurrection means, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
2.That leaders of nations may hear in the Easter proclamation the word that unmakes every unjust power: that the Author of Life cannot be held by death, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
3.For all who are in exile, prison, or captivity — that this night of liberation may be their promise that freedom is coming and that no darkness lasts forever, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
4.That we may enter fully into the Easter mystery tonight — going down into the waters, rising into new life — and live from that mystery all the days that follow, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
5.That the Easter Vigil may be the heartbeat of our parish's year — the night from which all our courage, all our hope, and all our love for one another flows, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.
Optional:For all who kept vigil in suffering this week and now await the joy of Easter morning.Lord, hear our prayer.
For N. and all the faithful departed, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, hear our prayer.

How to Use These Prayers

  1. Choose your option: Select from the available prayer options based on your celebration.
  2. Customize if needed: Click "Edit" to adapt the prayers to your parish's specific needs.
  3. Download: Click "Download PDF" to get a printable version.
  4. Use during Mass: Have a lector read each intention, with the congregation responding "Lord, hear our prayer."

About Prayers of the Faithful

The Prayers of the Faithful, also known as bidding prayers or general intercessions, are an essential part of the Catholic Mass. These prayers allow the congregation to intercede for the needs of the Church, the world, those in authority, those oppressed by various needs, the local community, and the deceased.

Our daily prayers are carefully crafted according to the liturgical calendar, ensuring that each day's intercessions are appropriate for the specific celebration, whether it be a solemnity, feast, memorial, or ordinary day of the liturgical year.

Features:

  • ✓ Updated daily according to the liturgical calendar
  • ✓ Multiple options for each day
  • ✓ Editable prayers to fit your parish needs
  • ✓ PDF downloads for easy printing
  • ✓ Liturgical colors and rankings displayed
  • ✓ Free to use for all Catholic communities