Prayer for the rains to come

Last week, much-needed and most welcome sporadic rain fell on our parched country after being absent for almost two months. However, we can still benefit from more.

Here's a copy of the Oratio Imperata/Intercessory Prayers for Rain which the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila is asking all of us pray. If you're reading this, please join us praying for the alleviation of drought and water shortage in the Philippines.

(from the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila website, as sent in the circular to all parishes by Cardinal Rosales)

God our loving Father, creator of our earth and of the universe, and all the wondrous elements of nature that sustain your living creatures, we humbly ask you to send us the rain that our country needs so badly at this time, to irrigate our fields, to stave off a power shortage, to provide water for our bodily health, and to refresh our parched lands. At your command the wind and the seas obey, raise your hand Almighty God to send us so that crisis may be averted.

Merciful and generous God, open our eyes to the richness and beauty of your creation and instill in us a deep love for this earth and all that is in and around it. Teach us to be wise stewards of your creation so that we may always use them responsibly and protect them from abuse and exploitation. At this time of crisis, dear Lord, move us to share more and to 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 that we bring up to her, our Blessed Mother, to intercede for us, for the protection of our land and our people, whom she loves.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

Saint Rose of Lima, pray for us.

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us.

Ama naming mapagmahal na lumikha ng sangkalupaan at sanlibutan at ng kahanga-hangang kalikasan na dinadaluyan ng buhay ng iyong mga nilikha, pakumbaba kaming sumasamong ipagkaloob mo ang biyaya ng ulan na siyang matinding pangangailangan ng aming bansa ngayon upang tubigan ang aming mga bukid at mga nanunuyong lupa, mapigil ang mapipintong krisis sa kuryente at pawiin ang aming mga uhaw. Sa hudyat ng iyong salita sumusunod ang hangin at dagat, iunat mo ang iyong mapagpalang kamay upang kami’y biyayaan ng ulan at upang maiwasan ang krisis na aming kinahaharap.

Diyos na maawaain at mapagbigay, imulat mo ang aming mga mata sa kayamanan at kagandahan ng iyong nilikha at hubugin mo kaming maging mapagmalasakit para sa kalikasan. Turuan mo kaming maging magpagkakatiwalaang tagapangalaga ng iyong nilikha upang mapakinabangan namin ito ng may pananagutan at mapangalagaan ito laban sa pang-aabuso at panlulustay. Ngayong panahon ng krisis, himukin mo kaming lalo pang magbahagi, maglingkod at magmahal.

Mapagmahal na Diyos, Ama ng aming Panginoon Hesukristo, ipinagkatiwala mo ang Bayang Pilipino sa maka-inang pagkalinga ng Mahal na Birheng Maria, dinggin mo ang mga panalangin ipinamimintuho namin sa kanya para sa pagtataguyod niya sa amin, ang bayan labis niyang minamahal.

Hinihiling namin ito sa pamamagitan ng aming Panginoong Hesukristo na nabubuhay at naghahari kasama mo at ng Espiritu Santo , magpasawalang hanggan. Amen.

Mahal na Birhen ng Guadalupe, ipanalangin mo kami.

Santa Rosa ng Lima , ipanalangin mo kami.

San Lorenzo Ruiz, ipanalangin mo kami.

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