Oratio Imperata for protection against COVID-19

Merciful and compassionate Father,

we confess our sins

and we humbly come to you

to find forgiveness and life.

We come to you in our need

to seek your protection

against the COVID-19 virus

that has disturbed and claimed many lives.

We ask you now to look upon us with love

and by your healing hand,

dispel the fear of sickness and death,

restore our hope, and strengthen our faith.

We pray that you guide the people

tasked to find cures for this disease

and to stem its transmission.

Bless our efforts

to use the medicines developed

to end the pandemic in our country.

We pray for our health workers

that they may minister to the sick

with competence and compassion.

Grant them health in mind and body,

strength in their commitment,

protection from the disease.

We pray for those afflicted.

May they be restored to health.

Protect those who care for them.

Grant eternal rest to those who have died.

Give us the grace in these trying times

to work for the good of all

and to help those in need.

May our concern and compassion for each other

see us through this crisis

and lead us to conversion and holiness.

Grant all these

through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son

who lives and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God forever and ever. Amen.

We fly to Your protection,

oh Holy Mother of God.

Do not despise our petition in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers,

oh glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.

Our Lady, health of the sick, pray for us.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

St. Raphael the Archangel, pray for us.

San Roque, pray for us.

San Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us.

San Pedro Calungsod, pray for us.

References: Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines 

MUSINGS: VOTING A PRO-ABORTION CANDIDATE IN THE PHILIPPINES

MUSINGS: VOTING A PRO-ABORTION CANDIDATE IN THE PHILIPPINES 

In defense of BBM, his apologists would quote the words of Cardinal Ratzinger to justify their position that in certain circumstances a Catholic may vote a pro-abortion candidate. Cardinal Rarzinger says, “When a Catholic does not share a candidate’s stand in favour of abortion and/or euthanasia, but votes for that candidate for other reasons, it is considered remote material cooperation, which can be permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons.”

Though not comprehensive, but let me offer the following notes:

1. There is no circumstance or reason that can justify the direct killing of the unborn. Abortion, in the constant teaching of the Church, can never be justified. Rape and incest, for example, are not sufficient to end the life of the unborn. There are other acceptable interventions (moral, psychological, etc.) available. 

2. It is never permissible for a Catholic to vote for a pro-abortion candidate because the candidate is pro-abortion. Such act would be considered “Formal Cooperation” to something that is intrinsically evil (abortion). The candidate would push for its legalization once elected.

3. Now, a Catholic may vote a pro-abortion candidate, but votes for such candidate for other reasons. Such act is considered “Remote Material Cooperation.” However, as Cardinal Ratzinger notes, such remote material cooperation can be permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons. That one may vote for a pro-abortion candidate because of proportionate reasons means that other candidates support policies that are equally evil to abortion or outweigh it. 

4. Moral issues do not have the same moral weight. In the Philippines, what reasons could be given, being supported by other candidates, that are proportionate to the intrinsic evil of abortion??? Reasons such as same-sex union, death penalty, territorial disputes, or any similar pressing societal issues in this country and in our times are simply lacking in proportionality.

5. Since abortion has been defined by the Church as a serious sin and intrinsically evil, the question we have to honestly ask ourselves as we choose our candidate: WHAT REASONS DO WE HAVE THAT COULD POSSIBLY OUTWEIGH OR COULD BE PROPORTIONATE TO JUSTIFY A CATHOLIC VOTING FOR A PRO-ABORTION CANDIDATE??? If there is none, then, those who vote such a candidate are his accomplices in killing innocent and defenseless unborn. 

PS: 

Ang aborsyon ay isang uri din ng pagnanakaw: (1) ninanakaw ng tao mula sa Dios ang kapangyarihan sa buhay, at (2) ninanakaw ng tao ang buhay ng isang inosente at walang kalabanlabang tao sa sinapupunan ng kanyang ina. 

Kung hindi nirerespeto ng isang kandidato ang inosenteng buhay ng sanggol, ilang inosenteng buhay pa kaya ang kaya nyang kitilin, patayin?!?

ON ABORTION AND RAPE

ON ABORTION AND RAPE

By: Fr. Fran D. Villegas

Q: Does the Catholic Church oppose abortion in the case of pregnancy due to rape or incest?

A:  The Catholic Church’s position on abortion is clear. In the magisterial document Donum Vitae (The Gift of Life) the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith affirmed that “The human being is to be respected and treated as a person from the moment of conception; and therefore from that same moment his rights as a person must be recognized, among which in the first place is the inviolable right of every innocent human being to life,” (Sec I.1) Direct abortion, or the intentional killing of a human being living in the womb, is always seriously immoral because as persons the right-to-life is the most basic fundamental right we possess. Even in light of this clear teaching, some questions that afflict people of conscience like the one being asked. 

In Romans 12:21 Paul says that we should not be conquered by evil but that we should conquer evil with good. The act of rape is a grave sin and an injustice that claims too many people, most often women and children, as victims.  The Church teaches that victims of rape deserve immediate medical, emotional, and spiritual care. The Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (#36) states that Catholic healthcare providers have to provide this care and prevent the contraction of disease or the conception of a child. However, if a child is conceived in a pregnancy caused by rape, then this child is just as innocent and precious as the woman who was victimized and he or she should not be killed because of the actions of the rapist. The Church teaches that through mercy and love, a non-violent solution for both mother and child is far superior to helping a victim of violence (the raped woman) commit violence against her child through abortion.

(NB: The moral principles Formal and Material Cooperations are not included in the discussion

JUBILEE YEAR 2025: PILGRIMS OF HOPE

Photo: The Manila Cathedral

JUBILEE YEAR 2025: PILGRIMS OF HOPE

Speaking after an audience with Pope Francis on 3 January, Archbishop Rino Fisichella said that during the meeting the Pope approved the motto proposed for the upcoming Jubilee Year, a motto he said, “that can be summed up in two words: Pilgrims of hope."

Archbishop Fisichella explained that, like for any motto, it attempts to condense the meaning of the entire Jubilee journey. He notes that the chosen words – pilgrims and hope – both represent key themes of Pope Francis' pontificate.

Read the whole article here: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2022-01/jubilee-year-2025-motto-archbishop-fisichella-new-evangelization.html?fbclid=IwAR0MGrVghD0X8TYpoU0V8MW5ItFaL4yP9kdd87ZP_mr5FfmK41_dSt6XDlc