General Intercessions

[gallo]

Recently at our parish, there have been people complaining that the general intercessions (prayers of the faithful) are too long and need to be shortened even though they usually only consist of two, maybe three, sentences. Is there any formal guidelines for these (Vatican issued)?

Personally, I think the longer prayers seem more sincere and specific. The typical prayers usually say something like: "For the Pope, may he always be guided by the Holy Spirit." The prayers in question would be phrased:"We pray for Pope Benedict. May he be filled with the Holy Spirit to guide the faithful of the Church in wisdom and holiness to spread the Gospel, feed the poor, and prepare for the return of Christ." If we are to express our prayers to God specifically, they aren't always limited to just a few words.

Some of the arguments include the point of view that it is hard for the hearers to follow along especially when there are seven or eight "longer" prayers. This is a lame excuse in my opinion. Unless there is a disability involved, people usually don't have a problem listening to a person say two, three, or more sentences in a conversation. So what is the difference?

If anyone could point me in a direction, it would be greatly appreciated.

[tee_eff_em]

The GIRM instructs:

The Prayer of the Faithful
69. In the Prayer of the Faithful, the people respond in a certain way to the word of God which they have welcomed in faith and, exercising the office of their baptismal priesthood, offer prayers to God for the salvation of all. It is fitting that such a prayer be included, as a rule, in Masses celebrated with a congregation, so that petitions will be offered for the holy Church, for civil authorities, for those weighed down by various needs, for all men and women, and for the salvation of the whole world.

70. As a rule, the series of intentions is to be

1. For the needs of the Church;
2. For public authorities and the salvation of the whole world;
3. For those burdened by any kind of difficulty;
4. For the local community.

Nevertheless, in a particular celebration, such as Confirmation, Marriage, or a Funeral, the series of intentions may reflect more closely the particular occasion.

71. It is for the priest celebrant to direct this prayer from the chair. He himself begins it with a brief introduction, by which he invites the faithful to pray, and likewise he concludes it with a prayer. The intentions announced should be sober, be composed freely but prudently, and be succinct, and they should express the prayer of the entire community.

The intentions are announced from the ambo or from another suitable place, by the deacon or by a cantor, a lector, or one of the lay faithful.

The people, however, stand and give expression to their prayer either by an invocation said together after each intention or by praying in silence.

#71 seems to speak most to your question: they should "be composed freely but prudently, and be succinct". But prudence and succinctity(?) are subjective. My only other opinion: Maybe your parish doesn't need to have "seven or eight" petitions, if they are going to be on the lenghty side? (Also subjective)

tee

[sandraladeda]

The guidelines that I know of for Intercessions are, as mentioned by another poster, the Church, those in authority, the local community, those in need. In my parish, my understanding of the Prayers of the Faithful are that we do 6 (for the Sunday mass) and basically folllow 1. the Chuch, in some form or other, 2. those in authority (local, federal, world leaders, etc.) 3. the needy (poor, homeless, victms of war and famine, etc.) 4. vocations 5. the sick/those in need of healing 6. the dead.

Another guideline,and this probably explains "prudent and succinct" is that the prayers should not be "telling God what to do", such as saying "We pray for Trixie McMuffin, that she be healed of her cancer, we pray..." but rather "we pray for the sick, including Trixie McMuffin...."

[John Lilburne]

The Roman Missal has sample formulas for the General Intercessions in Appendix I. They are fairly short. Some examples:

"For all of us gathered in this holy place
in faith, reverence, and love of God,
we pray to the Lord:"

I think the longest, with 40 words, is:
"For believers and unbelievers everywhere,
for all our brothers and sisters around the world,
that the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ
may lead us to the glory of rising again,
we pray to the Lord:"

Another long one:
"For all of us gathered here,
that God will teach us to use wisely
the good things he has given us,
that they will lead us closer to him
and the eternal blessings he promises,
we pray to the Lord:"

A medium length example:
"That pastors may led in faith and serve in love
the flock entrusted to their care
by Christ the Good Shepherd,
we pray to the Lord:"

From Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, Appendix I.