MANILA -- The social action arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged the faithful to pray the Oratio Imperata for deliverance from calamities, as the northern part of the country braces for the landfall of Typhoon Ompong on Saturday.
The National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)/Caritas Philippines posted on its Facebook account the prayer by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle for deliverance from calamities.
The Oratio Imperata reads as follows:
“Almighty Father, we raise our hearts to you in gratitude for the wonders of creation, for your providence in sustaining us in our needs, and for your wisdom that guides the course of the universe.
“We acknowledge our sins against you and the rest of creation. We have not been good stewards of your creation. We turn to you, our Loving Father and beg for forgiveness for our sins.
“We pray to you for protection from calamities, from the floods and raging waters brought by storms, from howling winds that destroy our homes, from the loosening of earth that brings landslides.
“Calm the storm and keep us all safe and far from harm these perilous days and always.
“We ask this through Your Son Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.”
An Oratio Imperata is a set of Roman Catholic invocation prayers, consisting of a liturgical action and a short, general prayer that the local ordinary or prelate of the church may publicly pray when a grave need or calamity occurs.
On Friday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration reported that the typhoon will affect the Cagayan-Isabela area. (PNA)
