After the investigation had taken several twists and turns, the police arrested Henri Pranzini, a known criminal with a sordid past. Pranzini denied the triple murder and tried to provide an alibi, but the evidence gradually mounted against him. His trial lasted just five days and, at its conclusion, Pranzini was found guilty and sentenced to death by guillotine.

Despite the evidence, Pranzini showed no remorse or shame. He refused to repent of his past life or of the crime he committed. On the morning of his execution, a chaplain came to his cell to offer confession. With bravado, Pranzini walked past the priest and up to the scaffold to face his death. As he arrived, he changed his mind; he turned to the priest, asked for a crucifix and kissed Jesus’ wounds three times as a sign of faith and repentance.

While all of France was fascinated by the fate of Pranzini, one fourteen-year-old girl took a particular interest in the case. Upon hearing of Pranzini’s death sentence, she felt a specific call to pray for the man so that his soul did not fall into hell. While she was confident that God would hear her prayer no matter what, she asked for a sign, even a small one, to show her that her prayer was answered. While we’ll never know the full story, Pranzini’s kiss of the crucifix seemed to be a sign that the prayer of this fourteen-year-old girl — later known as St. Thérèse of Lisieux — was answered.

Thérèse’s intercessory prayers for others was one of the hallmarks of her life. She prayed not only for lost souls like Pranzini and people around the world who did not know Christ, but she also always prayed for family members, religious sisters in her convent and the novices entrusted to her care. She had a specific mission of fervently praying, fasting and making sacrifices for missionary priests, empowering their work in evangelization to bear much fruit and help save souls. One of these priests wrote to Thérèse’s convent asking for a nun to pray for his soul and his mission. Thérèse responded, “Let us work together for the salvation of souls. We have only the one day of this life to save them and thus to give Our Lord some proof of our love.” (1)

Not only does Jesus intercede for us, but he also responds to our intercessory prayers for others. In Luke Chapter 5, we see what happens when people bring the needs of their friends to Jesus.

The crowds are beginning to follow Jesus because they hear of his healings. Several men carry their paralytic friend up to be healed by Jesus, but they can’t reach him through the crowds. Unwilling to be stopped, they decide to lower their friend down through the tiles in the roof. What happens next tells us something incredibly important about the power of intercessory prayer: “And when [Jesus] saw their faith he said, ‘Man, your sins are forgiven’” (Lk 5:20). Notice how Jesus forgives the man because of the faith of his friends.

When we love and intercede for each other, the Father delights; it opens his heart and moves him to respond. The faith of this group of friends is what moves Jesus to action. They loved their friend so much that they were willing to work and sacrifice to bring him to Jesus. Are you willing to do the same for the people in your life? You know people who are suffering, who don’t know Christ or who are not practicing the Catholic Faith. Do you bring them to Jesus through your fervent prayers for them? If Jesus sees your faith, he may work a miracle in their lives.

Most of us know that intercessory prayer is important. Unfortunately, sometimes it can become just a “good idea” or something we do sporadically, whenever someone comes to mind. However, it’s important to make it a part of our lives each day. Throughout the history of the Church, intercessory prayer has played a vital role in the work of saving souls. As missionary disciples, we ought to spend time every day talking to God about people and spend the rest of the day talking to people about God.

Intercessory prayer can take many different forms. Each time you go to Mass, you can offer it for a particular person or intention. You might consider gathering a group of people together and praying out loud for the needs of others. You could even make little sacrifices, like not putting cream in your coffee or drinking only water, as prayers for people’s needs. The ways we can intercede for others are endless. Here are a few practical ideas to consider:

• Write down people’s names and pray for their needs daily.
• Imagine the people you want to pray for in your own mind or place their pictures somewhere near where you pray. Seeing their faces can motivate you to pray for them more specifically and more regularly.
• Pray with others in person. Your prayer doesn’t have to be alone and in silence. It’s great to pray for people when you are with them. Be sure to get their permission first, ask them what they need prayers for and then pray out loud for their needs. Praying in this way can be very powerful. Instead of just saying “I’ll pray for you,” they get to hear your prayer right away in that moment.
• Pray at specific locations. Maybe it’s where you have Bible study; maybe it’s a place that needs conversion; maybe it’s a room where you study, work or teach: All of these places are great reminders to intercede for others daily. By praying in specific places, you ask for God’s blessing upon all who enter there.
• Pray as you plan. Our work should be God’s work, first and foremost. Therefore, whenever we begin an apostolic task, we should ask for God’s guidance and blessing on all we are about to do.
• Consider offering up some sort of fast or penance alongside your prayer for others. Jesus himself notes the spiritual power of prayer paired with fasting (Mk 9:29), and St. Paul describes the value of offering up our suffering for the Body of Christ: “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church” (Col 1:24).

One simple way to get started praying for others is to write down some names and to start praying! You can use your Prayer and Accompaniment Chart (pg. 159) to help you get started. As you recognize where people in your life are on the journey of missionary discipleship, you can pray for them more specifically and intentionally. This tool is a great way to keep those you are accompanying lifted up in prayer.

After you write down a few names, take some time right now to pray for someone. Feel free to use some of practical suggestions in the article. Intercede for this person and ask for the Lord to work powerfully in their life.

Intercessory Prayer: Modeled by Jesus and the saints, praying for others is a key part of the Christian life (Heb 7:25; 2 Tim 1:3; CCC 2634–36).

Intercession and Missionary Discipleship: Missionary disciples ought to spend time every day talking to God about people and spend the rest of their day talking to people about God.