A prayer of intercession
A prayer of intercession. A long meditative reflection on pray for us(“ora pro nobis” in Latin), unfolding its origin, theological and scriptural context, and its profound power in the communion of saints, drawing us deeper into the heart of Jesus through Mary, the saints, and the believing community.
A Meditation on the Power of Intercessory Prayer
“Pray for us ” (“Ora pro nobis.”)
These three Latin words. so simple, so familiar echo through centuries of Catholic prayer, litanies, and devotional life. Pray for us. A plea, a whisper, a cry. But also a confident invocation that unites heaven and earth in a single breath.
The Origin? A Cry of the Heart
The phrase “Ora pro nobis” is Latin for “Pray for us.” It appears most commonly in the Litanies of the Saints, where we address Mary, the apostles, martyrs, confessors, virgins, and all holy men and women with this heartfelt request.
The origins of this expression are both biblical and liturgical, grounded in the early Christian belief in the communion of saints and the intercessory role of those who have gone before us in faith.
Biblical Roots of Intercession
The concept of asking others to intercede on our behalf is deeply rooted in Scripture:
- Abraham intercedes for Sodom (Genesis 18).
- Moses intercedes for Israel after the golden calf (Exodus 32).
- The people ask the prophet Samuel to pray for them (1 Samuel 7:8).
- St. Paul asks believers: “Brothers, pray for us.” (1 Thessalonians 5:25)
- And above all, Jesus Himself is described as our intercessor:
“He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)
In Christ, intercession reaches its perfection. But through Him, it becomes our shared vocation—as saints on earth and in heaven continue His work of love by praying for one another.
Ora pro nobis sung by a Rwandese Chorale
Mary, the Mother Who Prays
No one embodies “Pray for us” more intimately than Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Mother of the Church.
When we say, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death,” we’re not simply uttering a devotional formula. We are entering into a sacred relationship, asking a mother to do what mothers do best: intercede, advocate, accompany.
Cana: Mary’s Intercession in Action
Her role as intercessor is beautifully revealed in the Wedding at Cana (John 2:1–11). Seeing that the wine has run out (a symbol of human insufficiency) Mary turns to Jesus and simply says, “They have no wine.” She doesn’t instruct Him, she doesn’t plead. She simply brings the need to His heart.
This is the essence of her intercession. She sees, she cares, and she speaks to Jesus on our behalf.
Just as she once cradled the Body of Christ in her arms, she now holds the Body of Christ, the Church, in her heart, lifting our needs and wounds to her Son.
The Saints as Friends and Witnesses
When we invoke the saints with “Pray for us “ we are not praying to them as gods, nor are we bypassing Jesus. We are acknowledging what the Church has always proclaimed: death does not sever the bond of love in the Body of Christ.
The saints are not distant figures in stained glass. They are friends, companions, and witnesses. Alive in Christ, radiant with His glory, intimately involved in our lives.
As Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…” they cheer us on, they walk with us, and yes, they pray for us.
In the Litany of the Saints, when we name them one by one and ask, “Ora pro nobis” we’re calling on a heavenly familythat is alive, present, and powerful. Not through their own strength, but because they are fully alive in Christ.
Jesus is the Eternal Intercessor
It is essential to remember that all intercession flows from and returns to Jesus Christ. He is the eternal High Priest, the One who offered Himself once for all and who “always lives to make intercession” (Hebrews 7:25).
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prays for Peter, that his faith may not fail.
On the Cross, He prays for His executioners: “Father, forgive them.”
At the Last Supper, He prays for you: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.” (John 17:20)
Jesus’ whole life is intercession. And when we say, “pray for us” to others (Mary, the saints, the Church) we are asking them to join Jesus in His unceasing act of love on our behalf.
“Pray for us “ is a Communal Cry
In a world that prizes independence, ora pro nobis is an act of humble dependence… on God and on one another.
We are not meant to walk this path alone. When we ask others to pray for us, we’re admitting our need, inviting communion, and choosing vulnerability over pride.
The Church on earth (militant), the Church in purgatory (suffering), and the Church in heaven (triumphant) are one mystical body. And when we pray, we are never alone. Every “pray for us” draws us deeper into that mystery.
Interceding for Others is Becoming a Living prayer of intercession
Not only do we ask the saints and believers to pray for us, but we are also called to become intercessors ourselves.
- Parents praying over their children.
- Friends lifting each other in silent vigil.
- The poor and forgotten, whose groanings rise like incense.
- Monks and nuns, cloistered yet pouring light into the world.
- You, right now, holding someone in your heart as you whisper their name before God.
When we intercede, we become more like Christ. We participate in His love. We are no longer merely asking for help—we are becoming help for others through the power of prayer.
“Pray for us.” A Final Word
The next time you whisper those words… “Pray for us.”… Whether in a Hail Mary, a christian litany, or a desperate sigh, remember what you’re doing.
You are:
- Entering into the communion of saints.
- Inviting heavenly friends to carry your burden.
- Aligning your heart with Christ’s own intercession.
- Allowing the Spirit to groan within you with sighs too deep for words.
And in return, you are also called…to pray, to intercede, to lift others to God in love.
Let us pray a Litany of Intercession with the saints, loved ones, or causes close to your heart.
Litany of Intercession for a Wounded World
Let us now offer a Litany of Intercession for the Needs of Today, lifting our wounded world to God, through the prayers of Mary, the saints, and one another. This is a heartfelt response to the division, hatred, injustice, and greedthat weigh heavily on our world today.
You may pray this slowly, meditatively, even aloud, pausing between each invocation, allowing the Spirit to stir compassion and resolve within your heart.
Litany of Intercession for a Wounded World
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God,
have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of the Church,
pray for us.
Mother of unity in divided times,
pray for us.
Mary, who magnifies the mercy of God,
pray for us.
Saint Michael the Archangel, defender against evil,
pray for us.
Saint Joseph, guardian of families and protector of the vulnerable,
pray for us.
Saint Peter and Saint Paul, who bore witness with their lives,
pray for us.
Saint John, beloved disciple of Christ’s love,
pray for us.
Saint Stephen, martyr of forgiveness,
pray for us.
Saint Martin de Porres, healer of racial division,
pray for us.
Saint Óscar Romero, voice for the voiceless,
pray for us.
Saint Teresa of Calcutta, lover of the poorest of the poor,
pray for us.
Saint Francis of Assisi, peacemaker and brother to all creation,
pray for us.
Saint Katharine Drexel, builder of justice for all races,
pray for us.
All holy women and men who gave their lives in love,
pray for us.
For the Healing of Our World
From the darkness of hatred and violence,
Lord, deliver us.
From the poison of racism and division,
Lord, deliver us.
From the pride that refuses to listen or understand,
Lord, deliver us.
From the greed that robs others of dignity,
Lord, deliver us.
From the apathy that numbs our hearts,
Lord, deliver us.
From the fear that drives us apart,
Lord, deliver us.
From the injustice that crushes the poor and the marginalized,
Lord, deliver us.
From the pollution and misuse of creation,
Lord, deliver us.
For a Spirit of Christ-like Love
That we may love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us,
Lord, hear our prayer.
That we may hunger and thirst for righteousness,
Lord, hear our prayer.
That we may build bridges where walls have been raised,
Lord, hear our prayer.
That we may speak truth in love and stand firm in peace,
Lord, hear our prayer.
That we may see Christ in the refugee, the prisoner, and the stranger,
Lord, hear our prayer.
That we may care for the earth as stewards of God’s garden,
Lord, hear our prayer.
That we may be instruments of your peace,
Lord, hear our prayer.
Together with All Believers
For those who suffer silently today:
the hungry, the homeless, the displaced,
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For victims of war, domestic violence, and systemic oppression,
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For leaders of nations, that they may govern with wisdom and justice,
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the Church, that she may be a light in darkness,
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For our enemies, and those with whom we disagree,
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For ourselves, that we may be courageous in love,
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In Communion with the Trinity
God our Father, Source of all compassion,
have mercy on us.
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Prince of Peace,
have mercy on us.
Holy Spirit, fire of unity and renewal,
have mercy on us.
Closing Invocation
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
May your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Amen.
May beauty continue to speak to your heart in prayer, and may you feel surrounded always by Christ, Mary, and the communion of saints.
