Oratio Imperata

Oratio and Imperata are more than 2,000-year-old Latin words. Oratio is the source of the English word oration — a formal speech given in a special/ceremonial occasion. Today, it relates to church prayers. Imperata relates to empire (Roman — imperial, emperor, imperium — suggesting awesome power and might). In religious matters, imperata is a command/order which must be strictly obeyed. For the 1 billion, 400 million plus Catholics, Oratio Imperata must be given priority or importance; a ‘must’ to be prayed in every mass, novena, religious activity, every day until the Pope says stop.

On December 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that the viral epidemic in Wuhan, China might turn a pandemic and affect millions worldwide. Pope Francis, the first Jesuit Pope, asked his scientific advisers including the bright Jesuit priests (physicians, PhDs in Biology, Zoology, Math, etc.) for advice. Using the 1917-20 Spanish flu pandemic which killed 40 million worldwide as the gauge, the worst scenario was that because of international trade thousands of daily jet flights, land and water travel, the virus will cover the world in about 3 months. They suggested that the Pope issue an Oratio Imperata asking God’s help to protect the people and to destroy COVID-19. Oratio Imperata shows the great concern of the Church against Covid-19 to calm fears, give hope and reassure people that God will never abandon us and will save us.

In 1917, the Blessed Mother told then minors Francisco, Jacinta (now saints) and Lucia (soon-to-be-saint) that the world should pray every day for the conversion of Russia. The Church and the faithful prayed every day. 72 years later, 1989, Russia was converted.

The world was destroyed by a great flood. Only Noah and those in the Ark survived. God then gave a sign to Noah: a rainbow as a promise that he will never destroy the earth again by a great flood.

The Lord told Jonah to warn the King of Nineveh and the people to turn away from sin or else he will destroy Nineveh. At first, Jonah refused to warn Nineveh. He boarded a ship to run away. A great storm hit the boat and Jonah was swallowed by a whale and came out alive 3 days later. He then told the King and the people of Nineveh about the warning. The King and the people repented, fasted, wore sack clothes and begged for mercy. God in his kindness spared Nineveh not like Sodom and Gomorrah where the people did not listen and were destroyed.

Since March 2020 up to this time, the faithful worldwide have prayed the Oratio Imperata. In the Philippines, the last part of the Oratio also calls on St. Raphael, St. Rock, San Lorenzo Ruiz, and San Pedro Calungsod for their intercession. The Old Testament’s Book of Tobit named 3 archangels. St. Gabriel is called “Bearer of Good News” because he told Mary that she will give birth to Jesus Christ. St. Michael is known as the “Great Warrior” because he defeated Lucifer in battle. His statue shows him holding a sword about to swat the fallen angel Lucifer. St. Raphael is Jewish for “God has healed”. The Jewish tradition is whenever they call on Yahweh to end an epidemic, it is St. Raphael who appears and then the epidemic is gone. September 29 is the Feast of the 3 Archangels.

On the other hand, St. Rock whose feast day falls on August 16 is called San Roque in Spanish, Rocco in Italian, Rock in English and German. Returning to his hometown in Montpellier, France, after a pilgrimage in Rome, he was downed by a plague in Piacenza, Italy. Like all plague victims he was thrown into the forest to die. He became the Patron Saint of Plague Victims. His statue shows him limping on a bandaged leg and a dog with a piece of bread in its mouth. He died in 1380 and was almost forgotten until 1917 during the Spanish flu pandemic which killed 40 million worldwide including thousands in the Philippines. Novenas for St. Rock were revived until the Spanish flu pandemic disappeared in 1921. He was again forgotten until December 2019 when the Covid pandemic struck the world. St. Rock or San Roque is humble, patient, and kind. He will always help those who call on him.