Jesus and the Bible

The priest says:

May he make of us
an eternal offering to you,
so that we may obtain an inheritance with your elect,
especially with the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
with your blessed Apostles and glorious Martyrs
(with Saint N.: the Saint of the day or Patron Saint)
and with all the Saints,
on whose constant intercession in your presence
we rely for unfailing help.

May this Sacrifice of our reconciliation,
we pray, O Lord,
advance the peace and salvation of all the world.

Be pleased to confirm in faith and charity
your pilgrim Church on earth,
with your servant N. our Pope and N. our Bishop,*
the Order of Bishops, all the clergy,
and the entire people you have gained for your own.

Listen graciously to the prayers of this family,
whom you have summoned before you:
in your compassion, O merciful Father,
gather to yourself all your children
scattered throughout the world.
To our departed brothers and sisters
and to all who were pleasing to you
at their passing from this life,
give kind admittance to your kingdom.
There we hope to enjoy for ever the fullness of your glory
through Christ our Lord,
through whom you bestow on the world all that is good.

Origin and Meaning

Intercession essentially means an action or intervention on behalf of someone else

Intercession was found throughout the bible as early as when Abraham tried to intercede in behalf of the city of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18:26-33) and Moses intercession in behalf of his nation (Ex 33:12-23).

In the New Testament, Christ’s sacrifice on behalf of us made him our only mediator to God as written in 1 Tim 2:5-6,

“For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humandkind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all…”

In the Intercession, the priest prays for constant intercession for both the living and the dead through the Sacrifice of Christ.