Long before printed intercession sheets, the faithful were already lifting up prayers "for all men" at the liturgy. Dr. Brant Pitre traces where this ancient prayer came from and why the Church prays it the way she does.
The Prayer of the Faithful in the Catholic Mass: Its Biblical and Ancient Roots
This session looks at the Prayer of the Faithful (the Universal Prayer) not as a template to copy but as one of the most ancient parts of the Mass. Dr. Pitre begins with St. Paul's charge in 1 Timothy 2:1-10 that "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions" — the very text the Catechism cites (CCC 1349) as the pattern for these intercessions. From there he turns to the historical witness: St. Justin Martyr describing common prayers in the second century, the fifth-century Deprecatio Gelasii with its "Kyrie eleison" responses, and the Solemn Intercessions of the Good Friday liturgy. He also walks through the fourfold structure the Roman Missal lays out (GIRM 69-70) — for the Church, for public authorities and the world, for those in difficulty, and for the local community. The video explores how old this prayer really is and how faithfully it fulfills St. Paul's words, without handing over a finished set of petitions.
Key passages & sources examined: 1 Timothy 2:1-10; CCC 1349; GIRM nos. 69-70; St. Justin Martyr, 1 Apology 65-67; the Deprecatio Gelasii (5th c.); the Good Friday Solemn Intercessions (Roman Missal)
What is the Prayer of the Faithful in the Catholic Mass? It is the Universal Prayer that closes the Liturgy of the Word, in which the people exercise their baptismal priesthood and intercede for the Church and the world. This video examines its scriptural basis and history rather than supplying set petitions.
How ancient is the Prayer of the Faithful? Very — Dr. Pitre points to a second-century description by St. Justin Martyr and a fifth-century Roman intercession formula. Watch to see how the line of witnesses connects to today's Mass.
What form should the Prayers of the Faithful take? The Roman Missal (GIRM 70) sets out four categories of intention; the session unpacks what each one means and where the structure comes from.
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This is a subscription where the content is accessed online through your account. Once logged in, you can access everything by going to 'Mass Readings Explained' in the main menu bar of our website, then 'Watch Videos' and then pick one of the options there. The calendar view works well for finding those Mass Readings that are in the near future and The Mass Explained will take you to videos in that series.
All of content I have watched so far is excellent. Perfectly paced, at a level for everyone and contributes greatly in my journey to be a better Catholic.
The information presented by Dr.Pitre was informative, but too long for our group. We prefer a more concise 10-15 minute lesson as to truly keep our attention and give time for plenty discussion.
This is a subscription where the content is accessed online through your account. Once logged in, you can access everything by going to 'Mass Readings Explained' in the main menu bar of our website, then 'Watch Videos' and then pick one of the options there. The calendar view works well for finding those Mass Readings that are in the near future and The Mass Explained will take you to videos in that series.
All of content I have watched so far is excellent. Perfectly paced, at a level for everyone and contributes greatly in my journey to be a better Catholic.
The information presented by Dr.Pitre was informative, but too long for our group. We prefer a more concise 10-15 minute lesson as to truly keep our attention and give time for plenty discussion.
