The Prayer of the Faithful: A Brief Refresher

It may surprise you, but I’m not the only deacon who enjoys reflecting on and writing about our Catholic faith. A good friend of mine, Deacon Leon Suprenant, Director of the Permanent Diaconate for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, occasionally writes his own column titled “Home in the Church.” A bit more professional sounding than “Hey Deacon!” Recently he published an excellent piece on the “Prayer of the Faithful,” and it offers a number of helpful insights. The following are the key takeaways I’d like to share with you. 

Understanding the Prayer of the Faithful

The prayer goes by several names. Many of us grew up calling it the “Prayer of the Faithful,” but Church documents often refer to it as the “Universal Prayer.” You may also hear “General Intercessions,” “Common Prayer,” or, in older usage, “Bidding Prayers.” Whatever the title, its purpose is the same: the gathered community lifts its needs before God.

On Sundays and holy days, the Prayer of the Faithful follows the Creed. On weekdays, when the Creed is omitted, it comes after the Gospel and Homily. It is the final element of the Liturgy of the Word, the moment when we respond to what we have heard in Scripture by turning to God in prayer.

While not strictly required, the Universal Prayer is considered “desirable” by the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. A priest may occasionally omit it at a small weekday Mass, but it is always included on Sundays and major feasts.

The priest begins by inviting the assembly to pray, and he concludes the intercessions with a short prayer to which the people respond “Amen.” The intentions themselves, usually around six or seven, are announced by the deacon when present. Without a deacon, a priest, lector, or another lay minister may read them. At special liturgies such as weddings, funerals, or school Masses, family members or students often take part.

After each intention, the assembly responds, most commonly, “Lord, hear our prayer.” Keeping the response consistent helps the prayer flow smoothly, though occasionally a different refrain is used during seasons like Advent or Lent.

Intercessions at weekday Masses often come from a prepared booklet, while those for Sundays and feast days are usually written ahead of time. In parishes with a deacon, he often prepares the Sunday petitions, since he, like the pastor, is familiar with both the needs of the wider Church and the parish community. The Church asks that these intentions be brief, clear, and truly reflective of the community’s prayer. Their order also matters. They should begin with the needs of the Church, then move to public authorities and the world, then to those who suffer, and finally to the needs of the local community.

This structure ensures that our prayer is truly universal. We remember leaders, nations in crisis, and vulnerable people across the globe. At the same time, we lift up our parish family, those who are ill, our homebound, our children, and our local concerns.

Finally, the Prayer of the Faithful invites each of us to bring our personal intentions before God. When we promise someone, “I’ll remember you at Mass,” this is a beautiful moment to do so, responding to God’s Word with faith and trust.