By Christina Hermoso Balanga Bishop Ruperto C. Santos has issued a prayer of deliverance from calamities "to spare the country from the occurence of natural disasters" that have affectted many provinces in recent months. "Let us pray for the Lord to take care of us and to ease our worries and fear of damages from the natural disasters. We pray for Taal volcano's activity to stop and for the rebuilding of lives of the thousands who were affected," Santos said. Strong earthquakes stuck parts of Mindanao last year while typhoons “Tisoy” and “Ursula” affected parts of Luzon and the Visayas in December last year. The bishop enjoined the faithful to pray the Prayer of Deliverance from Calamities as follows: O Heavenly Father, we worship and bow down before you. Your word says you will draw near to us when we draw ourselves near to you (James 4:8). We humbly approach your throne believing in the power of prayers. Cleanse us from all our unrighteousness and we beg you to hear our prayers. O Almighty God, we plead for your mercy in this time of crisis. Display your power and deliver us from further devastation. You rule over all creation. You can calm the storm and still the waves at your command. We pray that volcanic eruptions, flood, typhoon, earthquakes, tsunamis, mudslides, and wildfires around the world be stopped or minimized. Our sustenance comes only from you, O Lord. We beg that you keep us all safe under your loving and watchful eyes. Pour yourself out upon us so we may open our hearts and pursue you until the end of our lives. All these we ask, in the name of your most precious son, Jesus, Amen.