Catholic Liturgy - Concluding the Prayers of the Faithful

Zenit News Agency ^ | October 18, 2005 | Father Edward McNamara

[NYer]

ROME, OCT. 18, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University.

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Q: "I was under the impression that the priest 'may' add a prayer at the conclusion of the Prayers of the Faithful, but was not required to do so by the rubrics. In my parish, after the deacon concludes the prayers, the parish priest simply enunciates, "Oremus." -- C.C., Washington, D.C.

A: This topic is dealt with quite well in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Nos. 69-71, which state:

"[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
For the needs of the Church;
For public authorities and the salvation of the whole world;
For those burdened by any kind of difficulty;
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."

From what is said in No. 71 it is clear that the priest should conclude the Prayer of the Faithful with a prayer. This prayer is said with hands extended as for the other presidential prayers.

A particular case, about which the norms are not particularly clear, arises when Morning or Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours is joined to Mass on an occasional weekday. On such occasions it is permitted to replace the Prayer of the Faithful with the intercessions from the Divine Office (See No. 94 of the Introduction to the Divine Office).

When the Office is prayed separately, the intercessions are followed by the concluding prayer which often coincides with the Collect of the Mass of the day. When used at Mass this prayer has already been proclaimed before the readings and so the priest should proclaim another suitable prayer or conclude with a simple generic formula such as "We ask this through Christ Our Lord."

The problem does not usually arise on Sundays and feasts because, while the office may be joined to Mass, the Prayer of the Faithful may not be substituted by the intercessions from the Office.

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Follow-up: Storage of Holy Oils

Pursuant to our replies regarding the public display of the holy oils (Oct. 4) several questions turned upon their proper use outside of the sacraments themselves.

Several readers asked if holy oils may be used in blessings in lieu of holy water or for other paraliturgical acts, for example, in retreats or commissioning ceremonies in which teachers or catechists are anointed.

The question is difficult to respond to from the viewpoint of official documents as, in all probability, it probably had never entered into anybody's head that such things would occur.

Apart from the use of holy oils for the sacraments, the sacred chrism is also used by the bishop in solemnly dedicating a church and an altar. Apart from these, the official rituals of the Church do not foresee other uses for the holy oils.

One official document refers to the incorrect use of anointing by lay people. In the Instruction "On Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of the Priest" (1997), Article 9 states:

"The non-ordained faithful particularly assist the sick by being with them in difficult moments, encouraging them to receive the Sacraments of Penance and the Anointing of the Sick, by helping them to have the disposition to make a good individual confession as well as to prepare them to receive the Anointing of the Sick. In using sacramentals, the non-ordained faithful should ensure that these are in no way regarded as sacraments whose administration is proper and exclusive to the Bishop and to the priest. Since they are not priests, in no instance may the non-ordained perform anointings either with the Oil of the Sick or any other oil."

This document certainly only refers to a very specific case but it encapsulates an important principle: that of not creating confusion regarding the sacramental signs.

Some sacramental signs have but one meaning and are never repeated even for devotional purposes. For example, baptism's unrepeatable nature precludes the repetition of the rite although a person could devoutly renew his baptismal promises on his anniversary.

Other signs, such as the laying on of hands, have more than one meaning and may be used in several contexts. It can mean consecration and the gift of the Holy Spirit in the rites of ordination and confirmation, forgiveness in the sacrament of reconciliation, and healing in the sacrament of anointing as well as within the extra-sacramental context of some recent spiritual currents such as the charismatic renewal.

The case of anointing is closer to the first case (baptism) than the second. Although there might be no explicit prohibition, liturgical law usually presupposes a certain degree of common sense. And the use of holy oil, or any other oil, for extra-sacramental anointing can only lead to inappropriate confusion with the sacramental rites as such.

It also ignores the fact that the Church already has a rich source of rituals and prayers in the Book of Blessings which can easily be used or adapted for practically every situation in which these oils have been adopted.

This does not mean that oil may never be used in any other Catholic rituals. In some places, on the occasion of a particular feast in honor of Mary or a saint, it is customary to celebrate a rite of blessings of food or drink (including oil).

The Book of Blessings admonishes pastors to ensure that the faithful have a correct understanding of the true meaning of such blessings so as to avoid superstitions.

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[NYer]

In my parish, the person chosen to do the Readings is also responsible for writing and delivering the petitions. This is an awesome task, when one takes it seriously. Those who step forward and ask prayers for world peace, IMHO, are deluded. Since Cain killed Abel, there has not been 'peace' and I doubt that all the prayers in the world woud effect such an effect (call me jaded). I did, however, find the following guidelines most informative and have appled them in writing the petitions delivered on those Sundays when I serve as Lector. Definitely worth a visit.

How To Write General Intercessions

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

I generally cannot stand written petitions by the "writing ministry." Inevitably they pray for the shining hills covered with yellow flowers and such things. Never have prayers for Holy Mother Church, the Holy Father, Men and Women in the armed forces, or gasp, pro-life petitions, that would upset people.

[NYer]

I generally cannot stand written petitions by the "writing ministry." Inevitably they pray for the shining hills covered with yellow flowers and such things. Never have prayers for Holy Mother Church, the Holy Father, Men and Women in the armed forces, or gasp, pro-life petitions, that would upset people.

Hence the link in my post #2. It is a daunting task to write these petitions. They should mirror the teachings from the Readings and the Gospel. When it is my turn to do so, I invest hours in researching these readings through prayer and culling them into meaningful petitions, incorporating those of the Holy Father. Would that others would do the same.

[Salvation]

I've written petitions for the Prayers of the Faithful before. And I always pray and read the readings for that day before I write them. Helps a lot.

[Salvation]

Work of the People

Liturgy isn't the work of just a few people. Everyone who celebrates the liturgy has a role to play. And the work we do together can change the world. This is the liturgical newsletter for the Diocese of San Jose. Find some help here to do your work.

How to Write General Intercessons

Writing the General Intercessions (Prayer of the Faithful) takes skill and talent. But you don't have to do it alone. Writing these prayers could be a small group ministry. Find the people in your parish who are skilled in writing well and elegantly, those who have a deep faith and love for the community, and those who are in touch with the parishioners and with the world around them. Ideally, this small group would include the homilist. Gather once a week to pray and follow these steps for crafting the Prayer of the Faithful.

1. Read 10 Principles for Writing the Prayer of the Faithful.
   
   
2. Pray for wisdom, creativity, and guidance.
   
   
3. Read the Gospel, the first reading, psalm, and second reading for the Mass which you are writing intercessions for. Underline or list key phrases that stand out for you. Things to look for are:
   a. actions that God has done, is doing, or will do
   b. metaphors and poetic phrases
   c. commands
   
   
4. List a few images from the liturgical season you are writing for, or images of the celebration you are preparing for (e.g., funeral, wedding, baptism). For example, Easter would have images of new life, resurrection, mission. A wedding evokes images of promise, bond, family.
   
   
5. If possible, find out what music is being planned for the celebration. Look for strong phrases and images from the text.
   
   
6. List the concerns that are on people’s minds right now. Include:
   a. what is going on in your parish community
   b. what is going on in your surrounding community (e.g., city, county, state)
   c. what is going on in the nation
   d. what is going on in the world
   
   
7. Pick one form which you will use for all the intercessions. Petitions usually take one of three forms:
   a. “For _____.”
   b. “That _____.”
   c. “For _____, that _____.”
   
   
8. Begin writing, playing with the images and scriptural phrases, using the four basic topics (GIRM, #70) as your starting point and connecting them to the current concerns of your assembly. Stick with your chosen form (step 7 above). For this initial writing, just try to evoke the sense of the prayer, getting a feel for the need and the mood of the intention and the mood of the assembly based on the liturgical season and the scripture.
   
   
9. Speak out loud what you have initially written. Check for “preachy” attitudes or narrow wording. Imagine your assembly. Can they all assent to this prayer? Can they all participate fully in this intention? If there’s any doubt, rewrite it.
   
   
10. Speak out loud your second draft. Listen for the rhythm of the words and the way each line flows into the next. Cross out and rewrite weak images, phrases, or clichés, such as, “May they know the love of God.” A stronger more evocative phrase would be, “May they be embraced by the tender love of God.” Avoid “church-speak” or code language, such as, “For those in the RCIA.” You might know what “RCIA” stands for and means, but not everyone will. Instead say, “For those preparing to be baptized and for those who walk with them.”
    
    
11. Speak out loud your third draft. Get other’s opinions and test it with fellow-parishioners before Mass. Be ready to change it Saturday night or even 5 minutes before Mass if a critical event takes place between the writing of your last draft and Mass.

[SaltyJoe]

"Pick one form which you will use for all the intercessions. Petitions usually take one of three forms"

I'll bet there are Parishes all over Chicago praying...

"For our dear and deserving White Sox. That they may not be too sluggish from their long rest after the swift and just end to their playoff games against the Angels (no offense to God's Heavenly spirits). And, for all souls about the world, that given last years triumph of another under dog (who we won't mention, but also has a last name of "Sox") and the recent success of the White Sox does not signal the end of the world."

"Lord, hear our prayers."

"And if it does signal the end of the world, that it at least happens after the White Sox win the world series."

"Lord, hear our prayers."

This ought to bring a great calm since many will think that the White Sox now have a good chance at saving the world by losing with honor. Chicago fans will not hold it against them.

"Yeah, dey lost the game. But hey, they saved the woild din' dey? Sheesh. Woodja give em' a break already? They're not da Bulls!"

[Desdemona]

I generally cannot stand written petitions by the "writing ministry." Inevitably they pray for the shining hills covered with yellow flowers and such things. Never have prayers for Holy Mother Church, the Holy Father, Men and Women in the armed forces, or gasp, pro-life petitions, that would upset people.

Some of us get really lucky on this score. Ours are written by the book, I think by the pastor. They always start with prayers for the pope, the bishop, and all clergy and progress from there.

[AlaninSA]

This part of Mass is, for me at least, is second only to the consecration of the Blessed Sacrament in its importance, beauty and power.

My favorite all-time part of the Bible is from Matthew 18:

Again, (amen,) I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

I find the intentions and prayers of the faithful very moving. I always silently and confidently pray for things that are important to my family. I am certain that God hears me whenever I pray, but I (however wrong or right it may be) believe that my prayer is amplified when I silently pray at the end of the Prayers of the Faithful.

[Maeve]

Thank you very much for this helpful article and the guideline links which have sparked the discussion on this thread.

[Maeve]

Fast Forwarding to Lent, ROMAN Catholics might see if their priest will use Prayer IV for the Canon of the Mass which is based on the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil and then look "EAST" as well to litanies and prayers from the Eastern Rites that can be adapted to the Prayers of the Faithful with some editing and arranging. Or they could simply serve as inspiration.