Walk for Life participants to pray ‘Oratio’ against virus
by Chrisitina HermosoParticipants to the annual Walk for Life which will be held early today, February 15, will join hands in praying the Oratio Imperata against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) which has affected thousands of individuals and killed over a thousand people worldwide.
According to Albert Loteyro, vice president of the Sangguniang Layko ng Pilipinas-NCR, participants to the walk, which will be held simultaneously in different parts of the country from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. “will pray for protection against the COVID-19, for it to stop from further spreading, and for the virus to already be controlled.”
Archdiocese of Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo will preside over the holy mass with several bishops and about 30 priests at the Liwasang Aurora, Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City.
Simultaneous walks will also be held in the archdioceses and dioceses of Tarlac, Lingayen-Dagupan, Cebu, Palo, Cagayan de Oro, Borongan, and Gumaca.
Organized by the Sangguniang Layko ng Pilipinas in partnership with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on the Laity, the Walk for Life is an initiative that supports and promotes the sanctity and dignity of life from conception to natural death.
Loteyro encouraged participants to the event to wear white shirts or the shirt of their organization and to bring their banners, candles, and a rosary as well as umbrellas, extra shirts, water, and face masks.
Meanwhile, the Holy Father Pope Francis continues to call on the faithful to pray for the citizens of China as they face the danger posed by the COVID-19.
“Pray for our Chinese brothers and sisters. May they find a path to recovery as soon as possible,” the Pontiff said in his Weekly General Audience at the Pope VI Hall at the Vatican.
Pope Francis prayed for healing for all those affected by the virus and for a way to curb the spread of the contagious viral disease, which is now present in about 30 countries. The Vatican, earlier, sent some 600,000 face masks for the residents of Hubei, Zheijang, and Fujian in China.
Read more: Catholics urged to join ‘Walk for Life’ on Feb. 15