The focus of the Mass is on the Word of God
and the Eucharist but there are also other parts that
contribute significantly to making the Mass a true community
celebration. The Prayer of the Faithful is one of them.
Although the early history of the Mass is a
bit sketchy, there is evidence that a form of the Prayer of the
Faithful existed in Roman and African Mass liturgies perhaps as
far back as the second and third centuries. By the fifth
century, however, this prayer was eliminated from the Mass.
It was restored by the Second Vatican Council –
part of the effort to emphasize the Mass as a community
celebration.
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Today as in the past, the Prayer of the
Faithful is part of the transition from the Liturgy of the Word
to the Liturgy of the Eucharistic Sacrifice. Through it,
we respond, in faith and hope, to the Word of God by
petitioning God on behalf of the whole world. We give our
worries and concerns to God in an unburdening that frees our
minds and hearts to receive the gift of the Eucharist.
Vatican II established a format for the
Prayer of the Faithful. Usually, the petitions are
delivered in this order: for the needs of the Church, for
public authorities and the salvation of the whole world, for
those burdened by any kind of difficulty, and for the local
community. Within this format, however, there is much
room for flexibility.
As a result, the Prayer of the Faithful has
become a unique part of the Mass in that it is always changing.
Petitions may, for example, relate to current events such
as wars, natural disasters or social justice issues, including
pro-life matters. Or, as occurs in many parishes,
petitions may include the specific names of parishioners who
are ill or have died.
For large events, such as the Annual
Healing Novena held each July at the Shrine of Our Lady of the
Snows, petitions are gathered by mail from throughout the world
and included in the Prayer of the Faithful at the Novena
Masses.
Regardless of the number gathered, the
people physically present and participating in the Mass use the
Prayer of the Faithful to draw the whole world to the
table of the Lord. They bring the sick and the dying, the
leaders and the downtrodden, the rich and the poor, the
believers and the non-believers. All share in the
benefits of the Mass.
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As with all prayers of petition, we know
that God’s response will come. It probably
won’t be according to our timetable or in a manner in
which we would like to see things done. But it will come.
And so our faith and hope sustain us as we pray over and
over again, “Lord, hear our prayer.”
