CBCP releases 'Oratio Imperata' for rain amid extreme heat

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines' (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Liturgy on Friday released a special prayer for rain amid the extreme heat reaching dangerous levels across the country.

"Oratio Imperata Ad Petendam Pluvia" is Latin for "Obligatory Prayer to Request for Rain."

An "Oratio Imperata" is an invocative prayer recited by the Catholic faithful seeking divine intervention in times of grave need or calamity.

Following the CBCP's release, the Archdiocese of Manila issued a circular to all its parish priests, rectors, chaplains, and communities, among others, regarding the Oratio Imperata.

"The Episcopal Commission on Liturgy recommends that we pray the said Oratio Imperata in place of the Prayer of the Faithful during all Masses," said Archdiocese of Manila Vicar General Fr. Carmelo Arada Jr. in a circular.

Earlier this week, the Archdiocese of Cebu was reportedly set to release an "Oratio Imperata" on the prevailing drought that has severely affected water supply, crops, livestock, and even schedule of school classes in the province.

The CBCP had also released an "Oratio Imperata" during the height of COVID-19 pandemic.

The ongoing El Niño extreme weather phenomenon, which leads to below-normal rainfall, has devastated wide swaths of farmland. On Thursday, the government reported that damage to agriculture due to El Niño has reached P5.9 billion.

Below is the full text of Oratio Imperata Ad Petendam Pluvia in English:

God, our loving Father,
Creator of our earth and of the universe
and of all the wondrous elements of nature
that sustain your living creatures,
we humbly ask you to grant us relief
from the extreme heat that besets your people at this time, disrupting their activities and threatening their lives and livelihood. Send us rain to replenish our depleting water sources,
to irrigate our fields, to stave off water and power shortages
and to provide water for our daily needs.

At your command the wind and the seas obey.
Raise your hand, Almighty God,
to avert the continuing rise in temperatures
so that your people can engage in productive undertakings
and our young people can pursue learning in tranquility and comfort.

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, to serve 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, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.
Saint Rose of Lima, pray for us.
Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us.
Saint Pedro Calungsod, pray for us.

Below is the full text of Oratio Imperata Ad Petendam Pluvia in Filipino:

Ama naming mapagmahal
na lumikha ng sangkalupaan at sanlibutan
at ng mga kahanga-hangang kalikasan na dinadaluyan ng buhay ng iyong nilikha.

Mapagkumbaba kaming sumasamong ipagkaloob mo na ipagadya kami sa matinding init na bumabagabag sa mga tao ngayon,
humahadlang sa mga gawain
at nagdudulot nga panganib sa buhay at hanapbuhay.
Bumuhos nawa ang biyaya ng ulan upang
upang tubigan ang aming mga bukid at mga nanunuyong lupa,
mapigil ang mapipintong krisis sa tubig at kuryente
at patirin ang aming mga uhaw sa tubig araw araw.
Sa hudyat ng iyong salita, sumusunod ang hangin at dagat,
iunat mo ang iyong mapagpalang kamay
upang huminto na ang patuloy na pag-init ng panahon
nang iyong bayan ay maging abala sa mabubungang gawain
at ang mga kabataan ay magpatuloy sa kanilang pag-aaral
nang may kapanatagan at kaginhawahan.

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

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

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

Mahal na Birhen ng Guadalupe, ipanalangin mo kami.
Santo Rosa ng Lima, ipanalangin mo kami.
San Lorenzo Ruiz, ipanalangin mo kami.
San Pedro Calungsod, ipanalangin mo kami.

— VDV, GMA Integrated News