Bishop urges Albay to pray for deliverance

Mayon Volcano eruption on December 29, 2009. Tryfon Topalidis / Wikipedia photo

MANILA – As thousands of residents are evacuating, following the recent lava flows from the Mayon Volcano, the Bishop of the Diocese of Legazpi City urges Catholics to recite the “Oratio Imperata” (mandatory prayer) for deliverance.

“We urge everyone to continue praying the Oratio Imperata that the Lord may protect us from all harm,” Bishop Joel Baylon said.

Aside from other prayers prescribed by the ritual conducted during Mass, the bishop is urging the public to recite the ordered prayer for special intention.

The statement was made following the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology’s report on the continuous lava flow down the volcano’s slope which generated volcanic quakes in the last 24 hours.

The prayer is for asking the protection of the people from the threats of natural and man-made calamities.

“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 number and intensity,” Baylon said.

Baylon is also urging those residing near the volcano’s danger zone to follow the evacuation procedures initiated by the government.