Bishop issues ‘Oratio Imperata’ for Deliverance from Natural Disasters

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra has issued an “Oratio Imperata” asking God for protection and deliverance in view of the series of natural calamities that happened in the country in the last two months.

The cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan were devastated by rampaging flashfloods brought by Typhoon Sendong last December 17. The floods killed more than a thousand and left scores missing and caused millions worth of damages to crops and properties.

On February 6, a strong earthquake of tectonic origin shook Central Visayas that killed several people and buried houses in a landslide. Hardest hit was Negros Oriental especially the areas of La Libertad, Tayasan and Guihulngan where a landslide buried 15 houses with 23 persons including children ages 2 to 12 years old in it..

In a circular released February 9, Bishop Navarra directed the faithful to say the prayer before the celebration of all Masses.

ADSUM, the official newspaper of the diocese of Bacolod, has also requested individuals, groups and families to pray the mandatory prayer.

The full text of the Oratio read as follows:

“Almighty Father, we raise our hearts to You in gratitude for the wonders of creation and we acknowledge our sins that we have not been good stewards of nature. Because of this, the environment is made to suffer our wrongdoings and now we reap the harvest of our abuse and indifference.

Earthquakes, typhoons, rains, floods, drought, volcanic eruption and other calamities are occurring in increasing numbers and intensity as never before and we are afraid.

The recent earthquake has jolted us to recognize our sins and indifference.

We therefore turn to You, Our Loving Father, and beg forgiveness that Your mercy will spare us from all calamities and that Your Divine Mercy will spare us from more disasters.

We beseech You to inspire us all to grow into responsible stewards of Your creation and generous neighbors to those in need and protectors of life.

While we are grateful for the wonders of creation, we forget that this is the work of Your hands, that every life is Your gift and so we have been careless about taking care of them. As we are sorry for our neglect and indifference, we also appeal for the mercy of God that we may be preserved from these calamities.

This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jesus, the Divine Healer, have mercy on us.

Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, our patroness, pray for us.

Saint Sebastian, our patron and constant protector, pray for us.” (Modesto P. Sa-onoy/CBCPNews)