My understanding of intercession comes from the insights learned by Fr George Kosicki OSB and practised at the Bethany House of Intercession where I was privileged to spend several days back in the 1970s. The House of Intercession in Rhode Island was called “Bethany House”, a reminder of the intercession that took place in Bethany when Jesus raised the dead Lazarus (John 11).This event serves as a model for intercession.

As George Kosicki says, “Lazarus needed intercession. Bound up with winding cloths, and dead and buried for four days in the tomb, with a stone rolled across it, he needed someone to step in with power and plead his cause. At the intervention and pleading of Martha and Mary, Jesus interceded with his Father, giving thanks for the life of Lazarus. The community at Bethany provided the faith in Jesus and at his command they took away the stone… letting Lazarus come out. Then with a second command, Jesus by the power of resurrection called forth Lazarus to life.”

The House of Prayer became the community of faith and love which helped those present to call out to Jesus in hope for new life and freedom for others. Over a number of years some of the basic principles of intercession were discovered.

These principles are valid and powerful wherever the work of intercession is undertaken by groups and even by individuals. The following is an outline of the principles I learnt, together with some of my own experiences and a few helpful references from the New Testament.

1. Repent of your self concern and be concerned for the Church and the Kingdom. Matt 6.33 “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and everything else will be added.” On arrival at Bethany House, visitors were asked to leave themselves at the door (so to speak) and be concerned for three days simply for the welfare of others. The expectation was that, after three days, not only would those who were being prayed for be blessed, but that your own needs would also have been fulfilled. When we take the focus off ourselves the Lord is given a chance to work, in His way, in us.

This principle can be used differently. Intercession is a powerful tool for group prayer. If, as a group, you begin to intercede (i.e. praise, focussed onto the need, trusting God to find the answer) you will find that the group grows together in love and experiences healing of its own needs. The same is also true person to person. If you have a need and I take you into my prayers for three days while you take me into your prayers, both of us will experienced the filling of our needs, especially if we simply praise God on each other’s behalf. Parish based intercession works on this principle too. It is possible to ask parishioners to commit themselves to daily prayer and praise which they offer to the priest who then focuses onto the specific needs. This recognises one of the priest’s main tasks, that of intercession for the parish. In this “method” parishioners may need the help of a printed prayer sheet.

2. As we intercede we lift the burdens from the lives of others and at the same time let go of our own burdens. Jas 5.16 “Pray for one another that you may find healing yourself.” When at prayer, people or events come to mind, ask God to teach you to discern the difference between distraction (e.g. the budgie needs more seed) and his call for you to pray for the one who has come to mind. If you keep a card by your side and write down your shopping-list as it comes to mind, the distractions will go away. Then you will be able to concentrate praise onto the other people or events which God brings to mind.

A - The main pattern of intercessory prayer is that of praise and thanksgiving. Look at the prefaces of the Mass, the Eucharistic prayers, 1 Thess. 5:17, Col 3:15 and 4.2

B - Binding and unbinding. We all have power to both curse and bless. By our resentments, anger and especially criticism towards others we, in effect, curse them and keep them bound in the very area we criticise. Reconciliation is brought about by forgiveness, unbinding your resentments and by blessing. When you are being criticised you will experience freedom when you ask God to bless those who harm you. Look at Matt 16.19 and 18.18, Luke 6.27-28 and 1 Peter 3-9.

C - Take spiritual authority and put on the armour of Christ. Look at the Lord’s Prayer, Ephesians6:10-20 and 1 Peter 5-9. An example of a prayer taking spiritual authority… “In the name of Jesus and by the power of his Precious Blood, we take authority over you satan, and over your forces at work in our world, and bind you to Jesus, and order you to be gone.”

D - Unity in Interceding. Matt 18-19 “If two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.” The power of the group intercession is in the unity of heart and mind of those who are interceding, each willing to let go of their own concerns and needs, submitting to the intention being presented. Look at John 17.

E - The Spirit intercedes in our hearts. We are not on our own. We join in the prayer of Jesus who intercedes at the right hand of the Father. Read Romans 8, especially verses 26-27.

F - Intercede in the name of Jesus. John 16:23-24 & 1 John 5:14-15. The most powerful form of intercession is to join Jesus in what he is now doing, “since he is living forever to intercede for all who come to God through him.” (Heb 7.25). Through Jesus we ask the Father to do today what is already being done in heaven.. that His name be made holy, that His will be done, and that His kingdom might come.

G - Call on Mary, the model of the Church as intercessor. Cardinal Suenens wrote: “To understand Mary’s role as intercessor we must enter into God’s own thought and plan for Mary, and discover the role and place He has destined for her.” What is she in the eyes of God? Why did He want her? How was she to function in his plan of salvation? Since it was God himself who chose her for his Son and for us, it is not for us to choose, but to receive her as our mother. Mary is both a channel to god and a gift from him.. to each one of us God says in some way what the angel said to Joseph, “Do not be afraid to take Mary to yourself… she is the one whose entire destiny is to hasten the coming of Christ.” Remember Mary’s intercession called down the Spirit on the disciples, and the Church was born.

H - The language of praise is the language of intercession. Intercession is focussed praise. If others are to be drawn into the ways of intercession it helps to point them in the direction of the language. The following are sources to help to provide the language: Psalms of praise (Fount Original) by Frances Hogan, the prefaces of the Missal, the Eucharistic prayers, Morning and Evening prayer from the Breviary, any hymn of praise, the Gloria and the Creed.

It helps to build up your own lists and words. The writing down of your list of “thank you’s” to God will soon become your own psalm of praise if you add to it day by day. It also helps to remember that praising is called “the sacrifice of praise”. It starts from the decision to praise God. It is not always easy. It is greatly helped by the use of tongues. It helps to join with others. A “Praise Group” will become the source of many blessings both for the members of the group and for those on whom they focus the praise. 2. Cor 3: 16-18 “The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, with our unveiled face reflecting like mirrors the brightness of the Lord, all grow brighter and brighter as we are turned into the image that we reflect. This is the work of the Lord who is Spirit.” Matt 6.33 “Set your heart on his kingdom, and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be give you as well.”

Does it work? Intercessory prayer really does “work”. I have been a priest for over 50 years and in all that time have found nothing to compare with the richness of the fruits of this type of praying. It makes no difference if the prayer is through groups or parishes or individuals, God abundantly blesses those for whom intercession is offered, and at the same time fills the needs of those who intercede.

Fr George Kosicki, once said “It seems to me that the Father is waiting for the whole Church, head and body, to ask for the coming of the kingdom. He is waiting for the Church to cooperate in His plan.” Let it begin with you and those around you. Remember that all prayer is gift. You do not need either knowledge or strength, just willingness to both ask and receive. “Come Lord Jesus”. .

(reprinted from Goodnews No. 111, May June 1994)

Fr Tom Kenny, a former member of the NSC, is a retired parish priest from Wakefield, UK.