Oratio Imperata

just blog-hopped and started dreaming of summer back home, beaches and swimming frenzy...

but alas, my heart is troubled. eversince the tsunami that hit Japan, I could not stay still. i keep fearing of a time when a calamity will hit my country, especially where my family is, and I am not there with them. it is so hard to be away from our loved ones and even small news of bad things happening to people we know, or not know at all, is enough to keep us teetering on our toes fearful that the next one to meet such ill fate may be a loved one.

makes me long for home all the more.

may I offer the following prayer, lifted from my prayer book, Straight from the Heart,

The Oratio Imperata: A Prayer in Times of Calamities, Deluge and Pestilence.

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 us in 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

by our wrongdoing,

and now we reap the harvest

of our abuse and indifference.

Global warming is upon us.

Typhoons, floods, volcanic eruption,

and other natural calamities occur

in increasing the number 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.

In Jesus' name, Amen.