THE PRAYER ROOM: Oratio Imperata (Mandated Prayer)

ORATIO IMPERATA [MANDATED PRAYER]

The oratio imperata, which means obligatory prayer, is an old Catholic tradition for a special intention, besides the ones prescribed by rituals, that the Pope or the bishop of a diocese may require to be said during Mass in all parishes. This prayer is recited kneeling. This can also be prayed individually.

Oratio Imperata for Deliverance from Calamities

Almighty Father, we raise our hearts to You in gratitude

for the wonders of creation of which we are part,

for Your Providence in sustaining 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 Nature.

We have confused Your command to subdue the Earth.

The environment is made to suffer our wrongdoing,

and now we reap the harvest of our abuse and indifference.

Global warming is upon us, typhoons, floods, volcanic eruptions,

and other natural calamities occur in increasing numbers and intensity.

We turn to You, our loving Father, and beg forgiveness for our sins.

We ask that we, our loved ones and our hard earned possessions

be spared from the threat of calamities, natural and man-made.

We beseech You to inspire us all to grow into responsible stewards of Your creation,

and generous neighbors to those in need.

Amen.

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Oratio Imperata against the passage of RH bill

“God, our loving Father, Creator and lover of all life,

You fashioned in your own image and likeness1 every human person.

We thank you for this gift and the freedom to appreciate it.

Grants us intense eagerness to recognize your image in every person so that respect for all human life becomes our way of life.

Give us also the strength and courage to defend and protect the right of all to live as you ordained, from conception to natural death.

We pray for your divine healing, comfort and peace for all affected by past abortions.

Grant them strength and the consolation of your presence.

Help us serve actively in alleviating the sufferings and troubles of all women with pregnancy problems.

Let your Spirit enlighten the minds and open the hearts

of those who do not yet fully respect all human life according to your will.

We pray for all our leaders and legislators who must deliberate assiduously on this critical present issue.

May they be guided by the grace of the Holy Spirit

to act responsibly for the good and well-being of all.

May their competence be always steered by humility and fear of the Lord. Mary, our loving Mother, to you we entrust the cause of life.

Grant that all who believe in your Son may proclaim the Gospel of Life with honesty and love to the people of our time.

We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

Saint Rosa of Lima, pray for us.

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us.

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Oratio Imperata for Rain

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.

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Oratio Imperata for Elections

Lord Jesus Christ, You promised to be always with us, your Filipino people.

At this difficult crossroads of our national elections,

we beg you to be with us with the light of the Holy Spirit,

so that the electorate, well informed about the candidates

and inspired by the love of country and genuine concern for its future,

may cast their votes responsibly according to their conscience.

Give us the courage that comes from the power of the Holy Spirit,

that against all forms of violence, coercion, coup attempt, and anarchy,

we may uphold the constitutional process and the rule of law.

Make all citizens vigilant with the watchfulness of the Holy Spirit,

that the campaign period, electoral exercise, and electronic counting of ballots

may be marked by honesty, order, transparency, and true freedom.

Lord, protect with the tender yet mighty care of the Holy Spirit

all the candidates with their families, political allies, and followers.

Shield from all harm the concerned citizens who are involved

in political education, scrutiny of candidates, and poll watching.

Infuse into our minds and hearts the wisdom of the Holy Spirit,

that we may regard the national elections as a timely opportunity

to transform the society by electing wise, capable, and upright leaders

who will lead our beloved country, the pearl of the orient seas,

to moral renewal and to lasting stability, prosperity and peace.

Lord Jesus Christ, hear the urgent prayer of your Filipino people,

for you live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God forever and ever. Amen.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us.

That in all things God may be glorified.

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Oratio Imperata for Deliverance from H1N1 virus (swine flu)

God, Our loving Father we come to you in our need to ask your protection against the Swine flu that has claimed the lives of many in Mexico and has affected many more not only there but in other countries as well.

We ask for your grace for the people tasked with studying the nature and cause of this disease and of stemming the tide of its transmission. Guide the hands and minds of medical experts that they may minister to the sick with competence and compassion, and of those in government and private agencies that must find cure and solution to this disease.

We pray for those afflicted, may they all be restored to health soon.

Grant us the grace always to be filled with hope that you watch over us with love and providence and that your will for us is always good.

We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ your son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us.

Saint Roque, pray for us.