Message for the National Week of Prayer

[Through RadyoPilipinas, March 25, 2020 at 9:30 am]

The declaration by our National Government for a National Week of Prayer is very much appreciated. It shows that we are a nation that is truly “Maka-Diyos“, a people with a deep sense of God. In the midst of the grim mystery and reality of death, of suffering, of the threats of the Corona Virus Disease that we are facing, deep in our hearts, we also believe in the presence of God in our midst – a God who is merciful and compassionate, a God who is mindful of our sufferings.

And we manifest and express this conviction in these days of trial and suffering by our collective prayer as a nation.

It is a prayer, I hope, that keeps us close to the Lord, and I believe that when we are close to the Lord in prayer, we will realize that the Lord to whom we pray, desires for us to be with Him in looking out for those who are the weakest and the most vulnerable in this time of crisis – the elderly, those who are sickly, the young children, those in the frontlines in the tasks of keeping us safe and well – those in the medical and health frontlines, those in the peace and order frontlines, those who keep social services necessary operating – and those who are suffering in hunger because they have lost much of their daily income that will bring food to their tables day after day.

As we deepen our trust and confidence in the Lord as a nation, may our prayer also lead us to a rediscovery of our God-given capacity to look after others who are most in need in our midst.

As a nation, let us continue praying together. May our Lord Jesus continue to bless us; May our Blessed Mother, the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, keep us under her motherly protection.

+ ROMULO G. VALLES, D.D.
Archbishop of Davao
CBCP President