CBCP releases prayer for the 2022 elections

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) released a prayer for all Catholic churches in the Philippines to recite ahead of the 2022 elections.

The prayer is 24 lines long and calls for a fair and just election and wished that “genuine fear of God and love of neighbors” would guide officials who would be elected.

The prayer is seen to be recited by millions of Filipinos even at a time when attendance to masses has been reduced under the pandemic.

Read the prayer below in English:

Leader: Let us pray that the forthcoming national and local elections may truly reflect the will of the Lord who guides the destinies of nations.

For every petition, let us pray together:

Response: Deliver us, Lord.
From coercion, intimidation, violence and terrorism…
From dishonesty, lies and all distortion of truth…
From bribery, graft and all conspiracy for fraud…
From gullibility to the deceptive and blindness of perspective…
From threats, intimidation and perverse language…

Leader: Let us pray together: Response: Hear us, Lord

That conscience may always be our ultimate norm…
That the common good may always be our highest goal…
That human dignity may be respected all the time…
That the poor and the weak may always have the priority…
That care for creation may never be ignored…
That solidarity may guide the path of peace and development…
That genuine fear of God and love of neighbors may guide those who seek public office…

Leader: Let us pray.

Altogether: Shepherd of souls and Savior of the nations, politics is your gift to us, a call to serve others and grow in holiness. Guide our politics as you guide our lives. May our political engagement for voters and candidates bring glory to your loving name and help us grow in holiness, forever and ever. Amen.

Read the prayer in Filipino:

Tagapamuno: Manalangin tayo upang sa papalapit na pambansa at panglokal na halalan ay tunay na maghari ang kalooban ng Diyos, na Siyang gumagabay sa lahat ng bansa.

Sama-sama nating idalangin: Iligtas mo kami, Panginoon.

Mula sa pamimilit, pananakot, karahasan, at terorismo …
Mula sa panloloko, pagsisinungaling, at pagbaluktot sa katotohanan…
Mula sa panunuhol, kasakiman, at sabwatan upang makapandaya…
Mula sa kawalang-muwang sa panlilinlang at makitid na pananaw…
Mula sa pagbabanta, pananakot, at lapastangang pananalita…

Tagapamuno: Sama-sama nating idalangin: Dinggin Mo kami, Panginoon.

Upang ang aming budhi ang siyang gawing tunay na pamantayan…
Upang ang kabutihan ng nakararami ang aming pinakamataas na layunin…
Upang ang dignidad ng tao ay palagiang igalang…
Upang ang kapos-palad at mahihina ay pag-ukulan ng higit na pansin…
Upang ang pangangalaga sa kalikasan ay hindi ipagwalang-bahala…
Upang ang pagkakaisa ay magbigay-daan sa landas ng kapayapaan at kaunlaran…
Upang ang banal na pagkatakot sa Diyos at pag-ibig sa kapwa ang maging gabay ng mga nagnanais manungkulan sa pamahalaan…

Tagapamuno: Manalangin tayo.

Lahat: Pastol ng aming kaluluwa at Tagapagligtas ng sanlibutan, ang pulitika ay Iyong kaloob sa amin; isang paanyaya upang maglingkod sa iba at lumago sa kabanalan. Gabayan Mo ang pulitika sa aming bansa katulad ng pag-gabay mo sa amin. Nawa ang aming pulitikal na pakikilahok para sa mga botante at kandidato ay magdulot ng kaluwalhatian sa Iyong mahal na ngalan at matulungan din kaming yumabong sa kabutihan, ngayon at magpasawalang hanggan. Amen.

– Rappler.com