By Christina Hermoso Due to the prevailing water crisis in Metro Manila, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has issued a prayer for rain asking the Lord “to hasten to send the rain we badly need.” Archbishop Cardinal Luisito Tagle
(CAMILLE ANTE / MANILA BULLETIN) The prayer, which has English and Tagalog versions, will be included among the intentions of the Prayers of the Faithful in all holy masses in the Manila archdiocese. “Let us together storm heavens with our supplication, that God’s mercy be upon us and send us the rain we need,” Tagle said in a letter to parishes under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Manila. “Relief from the absence of rainfall and the drought that had dried up farmlands in many provinces will only come from nature. And so, we implore the Master of all creation, God, our Father, at whose command the winds and the seas obey, to send us rain,” His Eminence said. Below is the full text of the prayer issued by Tagle: Intentions for the Prayer of the Faithful English: “We ask the Lord to hasten to send the rain we badly need especially in Luzon so that the damage to crops and other livelihood and an impending water shortage may be averted, we pray. We beg the Lord to inspire us in this time of crisis to share in the name of Jesus what we have and to take responsibility for one another and for the environment and resources that you have generously provided us, we pray.” Tagalog: “Hilingin natin sa Panginoon na ipagkaloob ang biyaya ng ulan na siyang matinding pangangailangan lalo na sa Luzon ngayon upang ang pinsala sa mga pananim at kabuhayan at ang napipintong krisis sa tubig ay maiwasan. Manalangin po tayo. Ngayong panahon ng krisis, himukin nawa ng Panginoon ang ating mga puso upang matutong magbahagi sa ngalan ni Hesus at mamulat sa ating pananagutan sa kapwa, sa kalikasan, at sa lahat ng biyayang ipinagkatiwala sa atin. Manalangin tayo.”