Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) will recite the Oratio Imperata, or obligatory prayer, in time of grave tension for the West Philippine Sea dispute.
Lingayen, Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, CBCP president, said on Monday (July 13) lthat the prayer is for the peaceful resolution of the territorial row between China and the Philippines.
“If the dispute escalates and becomes a problem of peace how can the Church be not involved? Peace is the mission of the Church,” Villegas said.
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“We don’t have means to negotiate with superpower, or represent Philippines into court but we can represent before God and as God, the source of peace, to take care of the Philippines,” he added.
The archbishop said that the Oratio Imperata also seeks to guide the country’s leaders, who are currently in The Hague and are tasked to deliver the arguments of the Philippines’ arbitration case against China.
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Villegas said the Oratio Imperata will be recited in all parishes nationwide.
Below is the full text of the “Oratio Imperata in Time of Grave Danger”:
O Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, the sky and the seas,
look kindly on us your children of the Philippine islands,
our home, now beset with tensions over our West Philippine Sea.
We pray to you for peace over that part of our islands and waters.
We pray that questions over it may be resolved through justice and respect for people’s rights.
We pray that no harm be done to our marine creatures and habitat.
We pray that our fellow Filipinos protecting our islands and seas
be kept safe from natural and man-made disasters.
Loving God you are wonderful Creator, our generous Provider of good things;
send your Holy Spirit of wisdom and understanding to our leaders
that they resolve this crisis with courage and in the spirit of dialogue.
Help us all to remain faithful to your Word and obedient to your Will always.
This we ask through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
