Naglabas na ang mga obispo ng maimpluwensiyang Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) ng obligatory prayer o oratio imperata upang humiling ng ulan.
Ito’y bunsod na rin ng nararanasang matinding init ng panahon, dahil sa summer season at El Niño phenomenon.
Ang naturang Oratio Imperata Ad Petendam Pluviam, na inihanda ng Episcopal Commission on Liturgy, ay naglalayong humingi ng divine intervention upang magkaroon ng ulan.
“God, our loving Father, Creator of our earth and of the universe and of all the wondrous elements of nature that sustain your living creatures, we humbly ask you to grant us relief from the extreme heat that besets your people at this time, disrupting their activities and threatening their lives and livelihood,” bahagi ng oratio imperata.
“Send us rain to replenish our depleting water sources, to irrigate our fields, to stave off water and power shortages and to provide water for our daily needs.
“At your command the wind and the seas obey. Raise your hand, Almighty God, to avert the continuing rise in temperatures so that your people can engage in productive undertakings and our young people can pursue learning in tranquility and comfort.”
Ang kopya ng naturang espesyal na panalangin ay ipinadala ng CBCP sa isang liham na naka-address sa mga arsobispo, obispo at mga administrador.
“We are respectfully sending the text of the Oratio Imperata Ad Petendam Pluviam prepared by the Episcopal Commission on Liturgy for your consideration and use according to your pastoral discretion,” ayon kay Msgr. Bernardo Pantin, CBCP secretary general, sa liham.
Matatandaang una na ring naglabas ng oratio imperata ang CBCP sa mga nakalipas na kalamidad, gaya ng tagtuyot at mga bagyo.
Naglabas din ng oratio imperata ang CBCP noong panahon ng pandemya.