THE ORDER OF PRAYER FOR THE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF THE CEBU EARTHQUAKE

The Historic St. Peter the Apostle Church in Bantayan, Cebu, Philippines, Collapsed in the Earthquake 

OPENING SENTENCES OF SCRIPTURE

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1

THE OPENING COLLECT

Almighty and most merciful Father, who in Thy wisdom dost permit the earth to shake and the seas to roar, yet remainest our strong habitation in every distress: We humbly beseech Thee to look in pity upon Thy afflicted children in Cebu, whose homes have been overthrown and whose loved ones have been taken from them. Comfort the bereaved, heal the wounded, sustain the weary, strengthen those who labour in rescue and relief; and grant that all who suffer may know Thy presence in the valley of the shadow of death. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.

Amen.

LESSONS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE

FIRST LESSON

PSALM 46

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

SECOND LESSON

ISAIAH 61:1-3

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

GOSPEL

ST. MATTHEW 11:28-30

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

THE GREAT LITANY

(To be said or sung by the Officiant, with the Congregation making the responses.)

O God the Father of Heaven;

Have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Father of Heaven;

Have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Son, Redeemer of the world;

Have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Son, Redeemer of the world;

Have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son;

Have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father;

Have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three Persons and one God;

Have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three Persons and one God;

Have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

Remember not, Lord, our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers; neither take Thou vengeance of our sins: spare us, good Lord, spare Thy people, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever.

Spare us, good Lord.

From all evil and mischief; from sin; from the crafts and assaults of the devil; from Thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation,

Good Lord, deliver us.

From all blindness of heart; from pride, vain-glory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitableness,

Good Lord, deliver us.

From all inordinate and sinful affections; and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil,

Good Lord, deliver us.

From lightning and tempest; from earthquake, fire, and flood; from plague, pestilence, and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death,

Good Lord, deliver us.

From all sedition, privy conspiracy, and rebellion; from all false doctrine, heresy, and schism; from hardness of heart, and contempt of Thy Word and commandment,

Good Lord, deliver us.

By the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation; by Thy holy Nativity and Circumcision; by Thy Baptism, Fasting, and Temptation,

Good Lord, deliver us.

By Thine Agony and Bloody Sweat; by Thy Cross and Passion; by Thy precious Death and Burial; by Thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension; and by the coming of the Holy Ghost,

Good Lord, deliver us.

In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment,

Good Lord, deliver us.

We sinners do beseech Thee to hear us, O Lord God; and that it may please Thee to rule and govern Thy holy Church universal in the right way,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to illumine all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, with true knowledge and understanding of Thy Word; and that both by their preaching and living they may set it forth, and show it accordingly,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to bless and keep all Thy people,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to send forth labourers into Thy harvest, and to draw all mankind into Thy kingdom,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to give to all nations unity, peace, and concord,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to bless and preserve all Christian Rulers and Magistrates; giving them grace to execute justice and to maintain truth,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to bless and guide the leaders of the Philippines, especially the President and all who have charge over the afflicted province of Cebu, granting them wisdom, courage, and compassion in the work of relief and restoration,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to strengthen those who labour in rescue, recovery, and rebuilding, and to prosper their work in saving life and alleviating suffering,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to succour, help, and comfort all who are stricken by the earthquake in Cebu, the injured, the homeless, the orphaned, and the bereaved; to give them hope in Thy mercy and grace in their need,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to preserve all who minister in hospitals, clinics, and tent-cities, especially the physicians, nurses, and volunteers, granting them skill, endurance, and compassion,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to defend and provide for the fatherless children and widows, and all who have lost their homes and livelihood,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to give rest to the departed, especially the innocents and children who perished in the night, and to grant light perpetual to shine upon them,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to bring into the way of truth all such as have erred and are deceived,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to give us a heart to love and fear Thee, and diligently to live after Thy commandments,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to give to all Thy people increase of grace to hear meekly Thy Word, and to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to bring into the way of righteousness all such as have departed from it,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to strengthen such as do stand, to comfort and help the weak-hearted, to raise up those who fall, and finally to beat down Satan under our feet,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to succour, help, and comfort all that are in danger, necessity, and tribulation,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to preserve all who travel by land, by sea, or by air, all women labouring of child, all sick persons, and young children; and to show Thy pity upon all prisoners and captives,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to defend, and provide for, the fatherless children and widows, and all who are desolate and oppressed,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to have mercy upon all men,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth, so that in due time we may enjoy them,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please Thee to give us true repentance; to forgive us all our sins, negligences, and ignorances; and to endue us with the grace of Thy Holy Spirit, to amend our lives according to Thy Holy Word,

We beseech Thee to hear us, good Lord.

Son of God, we beseech Thee to hear us.

Son of God, we beseech Thee to hear us.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world;

Grant us Thy peace.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world;

Have mercy upon us.

O Christ, hear us.

O Christ, hear us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

ADDITIONAL PRAYERS

For Peace in the Midst of Calamity

O God, who makest wars to cease unto the ends of the earth and stillest the raging of the sea, still now the trembling of the ground and the fearful hearts of Thy people; give unto the leaders of the Philippines wisdom and justice, and grant that Thy servants may dwell in quietness and peace.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

For Protection and Health

O Lord, who never slumberest nor sleepest, defend the homeless and exposed, especially the children, the sick, and the aged; shield them from disease, hunger, and despair; grant skill to the physicians, courage to the helpers, and a speedy restoration to the wounded and infirm.

Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

FUNERAL PRAYERS FOR THE INNOCENT WHO LOST THEIR LIVES

O merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Resurrection and the Life; we give Thee hearty thanks for the good examples of those Thy servants who, having finished their course in faith, do now rest from their labours. And we beseech Thee that we, with all those who are departed in the true faith of Thy holy Name, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in Thy eternal and everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Grant, O Lord, that the souls of these, Thy departed servants, especially the children who perished suddenly in the night, may rest in peace, and that light perpetual may shine upon them.

Amen.

Into Thy hands, O merciful Saviour, we commend Thy servants departed. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech Thee, O Lord, sheep of Thine own fold, lambs of Thine own flock, sinners of Thine own redeeming. Receive them into the arms of Thy mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light.

Amen.

THE FINAL COLLECT

O Heavenly Father, whose compassions fail not and whose mercies are new every morning: Pour down Thy grace upon the land of Cebu; heal the broken homes, bind up the wounded spirits, turn the hearts of many to Thee in faith and obedience; and grant that, as the earth is rebuilt, so also Thy Church there may be renewed in hope and charity, to the glory of Thy great Name. Through Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end.

Amen.

THE BLESSING

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore.

Amen.