The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Friday issued another version of the "oratio imperata" (mandatory prayer) for protection against the Covid-19 virus.

In the revised version, the prelates  asked the faithful to pray to God not only for protection against the virus but to also guide the people tasked to find cures for the disease.

The prayer also expressed gratitude to God for the vaccines developed with the hope that this will end the pandemic.

The oratio imperata reads:

Merciful and compassionate Father,
we come to you in our need
to seek your protection against the COVID 19 virus
that has disturbed and even claimed 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.
We thank you for the vaccines developed
made possible by your guiding hands.
Bless our efforts to use these vaccines
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, O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our petition in our necessities,
but deliver us always from all dangers,
O 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.

In January 2020, the CBCP also issued an oratio imperata amid the threat of the 2019 corona virus.

Meanwhile, the bishops conference also issued a pastoral letter expressing its commitment to the gradual abolition of the arancel system.

The arancel system in the Church refers to the practice of giving stipends to priests for specific church services.

"The ‘arancel‘ can be a hindrance for the poor to receive God’s grace and blessings. Let us do our best, then, to remove obstacles to genuine service, especially to the poor," said CBCP President Archbishop Romulo Valles.

"We commit ourselves to education, formation, and catechesis in the Spirituality of Stewardship for our clergy, religious and laity in our dioceses, parishes, communities and families, in view of adopting a concrete stewardship program in our dioceses to replace the arancel system as soon as possible," he added.

Valles called on the Filipino faithful to help ensure the success of the endeavor by contributing to the Church. 

"We encourage all the baptized to regularly, wholeheartedly, and generously contribute to the Church so that we can fulfill our common mission of spreading the Good News, of serving humanity, and caring for the whole of creation," he said.

"Let us not be afraid to give freely and cheerfully, even in times of crisis and difficulty like the COVID-19 pandemic that we are presently experiencing. Let us sustain the spirit of generosity that has spontaneously overflowed during this pandemic and has kept our communities in operation," added Valles.