Source: CBCP Newsroom
The cardinal on Friday issued a mandatory prayer and urged priests to lead the faithful in praying for rain.
In Archdiocese of Manila, parishes started praying the “oratio imperata for the impending drought” last Sunday, Sept. 6.
Appealing to God’s mercy
“This impending situation brings us to the brink of helplessness, but not hopelessness, as we turn to God our Father, to turn His mercy on us and shorten the life of El Niño and bring down the rain to avert the crisis,” said Tagle.
“Let us together storm heavens with our supplications, that God’s mercy be upon us and avert the disaster that a prolonged and intense El Niño threatens us,” he said.
Aside from asking for His compassion and mercy, the cardinal said the faithful should also ask for forgiveness in neglecting their responsibility of caring for the environment.
“In praying to Him for His compassion and benevolence, we also seek His forgiveness for our ecological sins—our neglect and abuse of the environment, our ‘throw-away’ culture, and our failures as stewards of His creation,” Tagle said.
According to him, the oratio imperata should be prayed kneeling after Communion, and before the Post-Communion Prayer.
Two prayer intentions
He also ordered the insertion of two intentions into the daily and Sunday Prayer of the Faithful of the Mass.
“Lord, stay the hand of El Niño so that the drought it brings would not come and we will not have damage to our lands and crops and shortage in our power supply, we pray…
Lord, forgive us our many ecological sins that have brought so much anguish to our mother earth, give us the grace to be wise and conscientious stewards of your creation, so that all may be given life and spirit, we pray…”
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration has warned the public of an intensified effect of the El Niño starting this month.
The dry spell, the state weather bureau said, could affect as many as 79 provinces, which will experience “below normal” amounts of rainfall.
The weather phenomenon, it added, can impact crops and also threatens water supply in Metro Manila.
The Oratio Imperata Ad Petendam Pluviam reads as:
“God our loving Father, Maker of all Creation,
look kindly on us Your Children in this Earth
You have given us as our home, as we plead You
to shorten the life of El Niño now threatening our country
with prolonged drought, extreme weather, and low water supply.
“O merciful God forgive us our ecological sins
that have contributed to this adverse phenomenon;
Forgive our indifference to the groans and suffering of Mother Earth;
Forgive us our wastefulness, our disregard for the value
of the gifts of creation You have given us.
We promise to repent for our sins by following the Gospel of Creation,
and by caring for and being mindful of your Creation in all that we do.
“Give us the strength and wisdom to be good stewards of your creation
and to protect the environment from abuse and exploitation.
“At this time of impending crisis move us, dear Lord, to share more, serve more and love more.
“Loving God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you entrusted the Filipino people to the special care of Mary our Mother, listen to the prayers, we bring up to you through her, and grant us our petitions through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God for ever and ever. Amen.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.
Saint Michael and the Archangels, pray for us.
Saint Rose of Lima, pray for us.
Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us.
Saint Pedro Calungsod, pray for us.”
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