Who comes up with the general intercessions?

[tgenza]

Who comes up with the general intercessions? We have a layman providing a prayer service in absence of our priest (in Afghanistan)
and he was reading from a prepared homily and intercessions.
One was for immigrants to be welcome and another was for governments to take care of their people.
Well first off immigrants are not welcome if they are illegal.
Second, it is not a government’s place to take care of it’s people. It is up to us to take care of each other. I was shocked and dismayed to hear this.
I DO NOT like what I’m hearing in church lately and I DO NOT want the Lord to hear my prayer for that! It’s hard enough hearing this sort of rubbish from other people… Now from my church?
What is the churches official stance on all this?

 

[ohioszo]

It is not a political manifesto, the intercessory prayers on behalf of citizens of other countries. There are countries where the leaders enrich themselves, and further cause havoc, and allow rape, murder, torture. Good government is a blessing and even the USA is under the protection of our Lady, and we pray for our government officials, human as they are, And whatever their politics I would say that you have some influence over the intercessory prayers if you become a part of a liturgy team. Without lay (name removed by moderator)ut, usually a group, the priest will either write some, and also have some from the bishop, and the pope who has himself monthly intentions. Whether there is a form that is added to or not, you can discuss this with the presider.

I would say that the term “immigrant” refers to legal immigrants only. Catholics respect the laws of any country, unless they are against our faith. Immigration laws are not against our faith. I am a 5th generation American, who’s father fought in WWII. There are no doubt young people who become citizens because they fought as American soldiers? Anyway, praying for those people without a government and without a home seems appropriate for us who have both!

 

[Tigg]

It is unfortunate that we are now sometimes hearing petitions that are politically biased. Surely this is a deviation from the norm, but oftentimes the words in and of themselves sound innocent.

From the GIRM (but probably won’t help much in furthering this conversation)

The Prayer of the Faithful

1. 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.**67]

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

a. For the needs of the Church;
b. For public authorities and the salvation of the whole world;
c. For those burdened by any kind of difficulty;
d. For the local community.

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20030317_ordinamento-messale_en.html#B._The_Liturgy_of_the_Word_

 

[Catholic1954]

Our intercessions are from somewhere in cyber space. The parish secratary takes them off some website on the internet on Friday, before she leaves for the weekend. Father does add specific prayers as the occasion demands, but most of the time I think the POF is pretty lite weight.

 

[estesbob]

It is unfortunate that we are now sometimes hearing petitions that are politically biased. Surely this is a deviation from the norm, but oftentimes the words in and of themselves sound innocent.

From the GIRM (but probably won’t help much in furthering this conversation)

It is even worse when the general intercessions are opened for intercessions from the congregation. This quite often turns into mini-sermons and political speeches

 

[markbrumbaugh]

Who comes up with the general intercessions? We have a layman providing a prayer service in absence of our priest (in Afghanistan)
and he was reading from a prepared homily and intercessions.
One was for immigrants to be welcome and another was for governments to take care of their people.
Well first off immigrants are not welcome if they are illegal.
Second, it is not a government’s place to take care of it’s people. It is up to us to take care of each other. I was shocked and dismayed to hear this.
I DO NOT like what I’m hearing in church lately and I DO NOT want the Lord to hear my prayer for that! It’s hard enough hearing this sort of rubbish from other people… Now from my church?
What is the churches official stance on all this?

Google Deal Hudson and “time for a catholic tea party”. You are not alone.