Philippines is bracing for a powerful storm named ‘Haiyan’. the 24th cyclone to hit the country in 2013.

Local weather specialists forecast today, November 6 2013, the eye of Typhoon with International Name“HAIYAN”was located based on all available data at 1,221 km East of Mindano (07.7°N, 137.4°E) with maximum sustained winds of 175 kph and gustiness of up to 210 kph. It is forecast to move West Northwest at 30 kph.

Haiyan is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) early morning on Thursday, November 7 and will be called ‘Yolanda’, eventually it landfalls on Friday afternoon, November 8 in Leyte-Samar area.

Classes at all levels in at least 6 provinces in the Visayas and Bicol Region – Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Surigao, Biliran and Albay, have been announced suspended starting Thursday until Friday to keep the students away from danger with the strongest winds of Haiyan.

Residents in threatened areas are advised to prepare for food, light and other basic needs in time of calamities.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has alerted all disaster agencies in the Visayas, Bicol and Luzon to ensure immediate response whenever the “super typhoon” hit the Philippines.

The Department of Health (DOH) raised it’s alert into Code: White for all the hospitals in the Visayan region.

In Metro Manila, residents in the low lying areas have been alerted from flash floods and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) ordered billboard owners to take down their advertisements in major thoroughfares to avoid further damage or injuries.

Preparations such as these are very essential when a tropical cyclone threatens the country, but I think divine intervention is needed if we cannot really stop such destructive forces of nature.

The Catholic Church call it “Oratio Imperata” which is a Latin translation of ‘obligatory prayer,’ a set of Roman Catholic invocative prayers consisting of a liturgical action and a short, general prayer which the local ordinary or prelate of the church may publicly pray when a grave need or calamity occurs.

This religious Catholic invocation prayer is used to lessen the effect of any natural calamity such as storms, snow and drought and also being used for rare circumstances such as wars, plague and disruption of public peace in society.

An Oratio Imperata:

*Must only be composed of one, singular prayer

*Must be primarily addressed to a personage of the Holy Trinity, not directly to any interceding angel, saint, or a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary

*Must be prayed and recited by all Catholic priestscelebrating Holy Massin their respective churches and oratories, as well as exempted ones of the diocese

*Can never said under a single conclusion with the collect of the Holy Mass, but after the Mass is concluded;

*Is prohibited on all first and second class of liturgical days, in votive Masses of the 1st and 2nd class, in sung Masses, and when the all have been met on that particular day.

*An oratio imperata for the deceased is said only on Ferias of the Fourth Class and in low votive or Requiem Massesof the Class IV.

In very rare cases of enduring public calamities lasting longer time such as national war, calamitous plague, etc, the local ordinary may impose a suitable Oratio Imperata for an extended period.

*May only be recited during Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

^*Is prohibited on the same days twice, or in the same days coinciding with relevant liturgical days.

Now for other religious groups or spiritual associations, a prayer to invoke the Divine intervention individually or by group really works. Just believe God or the Supreme Being of the Universe  can do ways to lessen the effects of calamities.

Positive Visualization using the Power of the Mind can also make things possible without analyzing how it works and just affirm the good outcome of your intention.

A combination of meditation, prayer and visualization could also influence any event in our lives but during the time of impending destruction or calamities, it is better to focus our collective prayers in ONE DIRECTION and AFFIRMATION. We can do this, just BELIEVE. Let’s practice collective prayer and visualization. Namaste.#