Spare us Oh Lord

Sharing the prayer penned by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, asking God to spare the Philippines from more typhoons and other calamities:

"Lord, we are in great need. Like infants we cry to you, do not abandon us in our distress. We kneel in disbelief! How could you, dear Lord, have allowed this to happen to us who call on your holy name? Have you abandoned us, Lord? Are you punishing us for our sins against you? We have been crying for days and our eyes have run dry, but our grief is still very deep, our wounds keep bleeding and our hearts are confused and anxious. Our tears are not enough to wash away our sadness.

"Tama na po! Hindi na po namin kaya!

"Lord, we believe in You and we trust in You in the midst of all these. Today, we renew our faith and hope in you Lord.

"The supertyphoon was strong but our faith in You is stronger. Marami nang bahay ang nawasak, buhay na nilamon ng nagngangalit na tubig... marami mang naulila... muli kaming babangon mula sa pagkalugmok, at mula sa isang bangungot ay gigising sa isang bagong araw, dala ay bagong pag-asa, bagong pangarap at bagong pagtingin sa hinaharap.

"You can command the winds and the rains to cease.

"Please, Lord, spare us from more typhoons and storms and earthquakes! We feel bruised from all sides, battered from top to bottom and beaten up inside and out! Please consider our sufferings more than we can face. Tama na po! Pero kung kalooban mo Panginoon, na malampasan namin ang lahat ng kalamidad na dumadating sa amin, para kami ay maging malinis at mas tumibay bilang isang bansa...buong pananalig namin itong tinatanggap. Ang tanging hinihiling namin Panginoon, nawa'y patuloy mong mahalin ang Pilipinas, at kailanma'y wag mo kaming pababayaan at uulilain. Ang pag-ibig mo Panginoon ay sapat na para makayanan naming harapin ang anumang bagyo. Kasama ka panginoon, anumang pagsubok.... kami ay magiging matatag... hindi matitinag... dahil alam naming ang pagmamahal mo, ay higit na mas makapangyarihan at malakas, kahit pa sa kamatayan.

"Amen. Amen. May your will be done. Stay with us Lord. Amen."