The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines urged the faithful to pray for “peaceful, credible, and transparent” national and local elections next year.
In a circular signed by Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao, president of the bishops’ conference, on November 23, the Church leaders enjoined all parishes, shrines, and chapels in the country to pray the “Prayer for 2022 Elections.”
The prayer, which is similar to the ‘Oratio Imperata’ but focuses on the 16 values enshrined in the preamble of the Philippine Constitution, was prepared by Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan.
It was endorsed by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting as part of its “Prayer Power Campaign” for next year’s electoral exercise.
The prayer, which is available in English and Tagalog, will be launched on the First Sunday of Advent on November 28.
“Take note, however, that since we already have a number of prayers being recited during our Sunday Masses, the Episcopal Commission on Liturgy recommends that we now pray the Oratio Imperata for Protection against the COVID-19 virus before the Mass,” read Archbishop Valles’ circular.
The “Prayer for the 2022 Elections” will be recited every first and third Sunday of the month while the “Prayer for the Synod on Synodality” will be recited every second and fourth Sunday.
Archbishop Valles suggested that the prayers be said after the Post Communion Prayer of the Mass.
