Unique Prayers of the Faithful: 8 Sets of Fresh Intentions

Here are eight sets of unique prayers of the faithful: intentions for people and works that are seldom named at Mass. They pray for artists and makers of sacred art, for scientists, for teachers who try new methods, for ethical entrepreneurs, for online prayer communities, for those who care for creation, and for those who are finding new ways to serve, to hand on the faith and to build peace. Use a whole set at a Mass for a school, a parish group or a special occasion, or borrow one intention to freshen an ordinary Sunday’s prayers. Every set ends with two optional intentions, for local needs and for the dead.

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How to use these prayers

Choose one set and adapt it; you may swap in an intention from another set.
Keep it short. Four to six intentions are enough; the Church asks that intentions be “sober” and “succinct” (GIRM 71).
Fill in names where you see N. or (Names).
Give the reader a printed copy and agree on the response, usually “Lord, hear our prayer.”
Mix old and new. Keep the usual order (the Church, the world, those in need, the local community) and let one or two unusual intentions stand beside the familiar ones.
Add an intention for those who govern and one for the suffering; these sets are about new works and say little of either.
Write your own. A unique intention is simply a real one: name what is happening in your parish this week. See how to write Prayers of the Faithful.

Option 1: For Care of Creation, Faith Communities Online and Makers of Sacred Art

That the Church may embrace innovation in spreading God’s word, let us pray to the Lord.
For environmental stewards developing sustainable solutions, let us pray to the Lord.
For those using technology to connect communities in faith, let us pray to the Lord.
For artists creating sacred spaces for worship, let us pray to the Lord.

I. For digital missionaries in our parish, let us pray to the Lord.
II. For those who have died, especially N., that they may experience God’s creativity eternally, let us pray to the Lord.

Option 2: For Bridges Between Cultures, Teachers, Faith and Science, and Online Prayer Communities

For the Church’s adaptation to contemporary challenges, let us pray to the Lord.
For those bridging cultural divides through dialogue, let us pray to the Lord.
For innovative educators transforming lives, let us pray to the Lord.
For those finding faith through scientific discovery, let us pray to the Lord.
For virtual prayer communities uniting believers, let us pray to the Lord.

I. For those creating inclusive spaces in our community, let us pray to the Lord.
II. For our departed innovators, especially N., let us pray to the Lord.

Option 3: For Ethical Business, New Ministries and Understanding Between Religions

That the Church may speak God’s truth in fresh ways, let us pray to the Lord.
For entrepreneurs creating ethical businesses, let us pray to the Lord.
For those developing new forms of ministry, let us pray to the Lord.
For interfaith initiatives building understanding, let us pray to the Lord.

I. For our sick, bereaved, etc., special projects or events, let us pray to the Lord.
II. For the faithful departed, especially N., that they may experience divine creativity, let us pray to the Lord.

Option 4: For New Ways of Serving, Faith-Based Health Care and Contemplative Prayer

For the Church’s embrace of diverse expressions of faith, let us pray to the Lord.
For those reimagining community service, let us pray to the Lord.
For pioneers in faith-based healthcare, let us pray to the Lord.
For those exploring contemplative practices, let us pray to the Lord.

I. For innovative outreach programs, let us pray to the Lord.
II. For our deceased visionaries, especially N., let us pray to the Lord.

Option 5: For Eco-Friendly Works, Peace-Building and New Paths in the Spiritual Life

That the Church may guide ethical technological advancement, let us pray to the Lord.
For those developing eco-friendly initiatives, let us pray to the Lord.
For innovative approaches to peace-building, let us pray to the Lord.
For those creating new paths to spirituality, let us pray to the Lord.

I. For our sick, bereaved, etc., special projects or events, let us pray to the Lord.
II. For the departed pioneers, especially N., let us pray to the Lord.

Option 6: For Inclusive Worship, Social Justice and Faith Shared Between Generations

For the Church’s creative engagement with culture, let us pray to the Lord.
For those developing inclusive worship experiences, let us pray to the Lord.
For innovative approaches to social justice, let us pray to the Lord.
For those bridging generational gaps in faith, let us pray to the Lord.

I. For unique community initiatives, let us pray to the Lord.
II. For our creative departed, especially N., let us pray to the Lord.

Option 7: For Sustainable Communities, Mental-Health Support and New Sacred Art

That the Church may embrace new ways of evangelization, let us pray to the Lord.
For those developing sustainable communities, let us pray to the Lord.
For innovative approaches to mental health support, let us pray to the Lord.
For those creating new forms of sacred art, let us pray to the Lord.

I. For our sick, bereaved, etc., special projects or events, let us pray to the Lord.
II. For the departed innovators of faith, especially N., let us pray to the Lord.

Option 8: For Spiritual Formation, Family Ministry and Interfaith Dialogue

For the Church’s innovative response to modern challenges, let us pray to the Lord.
For those developing new forms of spiritual formation, let us pray to the Lord.
For creative approaches to family ministry, let us pray to the Lord.
For those pioneering interfaith dialogue, let us pray to the Lord.

I. For unique outreach to the marginalized, let us pray to the Lord.
II. For our departed visionaries, especially N., that they may inspire us from heaven, let us pray to the Lord.

A sample introduction and closing prayer

The priest introduces and concludes the intentions (GIRM 71). These samples were written for this guide; the celebrant may use his own words.

Introduction:

Brothers and sisters, the Lord makes all things new. Let us pray for the Church and the world, and for all whose gifts and labors open new ways for the Gospel.

Concluding prayer:

Creator God, your Spirit renews the face of the earth. Hear the prayers we bring you, bless every good work begun in your name, and bring to completion what you have started in us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Frequently asked questions

What makes a prayer of the faithful unique?

Being specific. An intention that names a real need (a local school, a new ministry, people in a particular kind of work) is heard more attentively than a general phrase, as long as it stays short and remains a petition, not a comment.

Is there a limit to what we may pray for?

The Missal asks for intentions for the Church, for public authorities and the world, for those burdened by any difficulty, and for the local community (GIRM 70). Within that order the wording is free: it should be sober and brief, and express the prayer of the whole community (GIRM 71).

Where can I find more examples?

See 50 example intentions, the uplifting prayers of the faithful and the prayers for special occasions.

Related prayers

Sources

General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 69–71.
Revelation 21:5; Psalm 104:30.

Unique Prayers of the Faithful: 8 Sets of Less Usual Intentions