Divine help sought

CEBU, Philippines —  With Cebuanos tuning in online via livestream, a special Palm Sunday Mass was celebrated at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral yesterday to ask the Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of Cebu, to protect the island from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma celebrated the Mass.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, a long time devotee of the Our Lady of Guadalupe, could not help but turn emotional – her voice cracking midway – as she read the consecration prayer at the Cathedral.

Catholics worldwide traditionally take part in the Palm Sunday to commemorate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

But like the pandemic itself, this year’s observance of the Holy Week is unprecedented, what with the Church and religious organizations deciding to forego gatherings to uphold social and physical distancing.

Cebu and many parts of the country are also still under quarantine to limit the movement of people to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

On Saturday, during her daily press conference, Garcia said she received an invitation from Archbishop Jose Palma to join the Palm Sunday Mass at the Cathedral and to lead the consecration.

She called on Cebuanos to join her in prayer from the comforts of their homes.

For two straight days, the island has not recorded a new positive COVID-19 case. This is apart from a positive result from a retest done on a COVID-19 patient.

Here’s the consecration prayer in full:

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the True God, our Merciful Mother, we Thy children come today in an act of filial homage of faith, love and trust, to solemnly consecrate our BELOVED CEBU, to Thy Immaculate Heart.

Take it from our fragile hands into Thy own; defend it and guard it as Thy own property; make our Lord Jesus reign, conquer and rule in it. Outside of Him there is no salvation.

We, Thy people, feel a terrible storm raging around us, threatening to disperse and destroy the faithful flock of those who bless Thee because Thou art the Mother of our Lord Jesus. Afflicted, we stretch out our suppliant hands towards Thy Divine Son, as we cry out: Save us, O Lord, for we perish!

Intercede for OUR BELOVED CEBU, Our Lady, in this grave hour when evil winds blow, bringing cries of death against the civilization founded on His teachings, deceiving minds, perverting hearts, and lighting fires of hatred and revolution in the world. Help of Christians, pray for us!

Intercede for OUR BELOVED CEBU, Our Lady in this troubled hour when the unclean waves of an open immorality which has even lost the notion of sin, exalt the rehabilitation of the flesh in the face of the very Cross of Thy Divine Son, threatening to choke in this world the lily of virtue nourished by the Eucharistic Blood of Jesus Christ. Virgin most Powerful, pray for us!

Intercede for OUR BELOVED CEBU, Our Lady, in this hour of passions and doubts when even the good run the risk of being lost. Unite all the CEBUANO people around Thy Divine Son, in the love of the Church and also in the cultivation of virtue, in respect for order and fraternal charity. Queen of Peace, pray for us!

Remember finally, Heavenly Patroness of CEBU, Pueblo Amante de Maria, whose people love Thee and whose people are beloved to Thee.

We run to Thee, O Mother of Mercy, Virgen de Guadalupe, save and protect OUR ISLAND in the folds of Thy Mantle, in the Crossing of Thy arms. Press us to the Divine Baby in Thy Holy Womb, and bring CEBU to our Merciful Lord, Jesus Christ, King of Mercy, in Whom it will be preserved in Truth, Life, and Peace! Amen.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, please pray for us!

O’ Celestial Queen and Mother, obtain for us the graces we need!

O’ Mother of the Church, we entrust to Thee our Pope, Bishops and Priests who are most precious to Thee! JMO (FREEMAN)