The following comes from a Jan. 12 story on the Catholic News Agency site.
The Catholic bishops of California have called for prayers for rain to bring relief to the drought in the state, as well as for those threatened by the lack of water.
“May God open the heavens and let his mercy rain down upon our fields and mountains,” said the prayer composed by Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento. “Let us especially pray for those most impacted by water shortages and for the wisdom and charity to be good stewards of this precious gift.”
The prayer also asked that political leaders “seek the common good as we learn to care and share God’s gift of water for the good of all.”
Many major California reservoirs are below 50 percent capacity, while the state snowpack is 20 percent of normal, NBC Los Angeles reports. State rainfall has been below average for the last three years.
Agriculture growers and representatives of local water districts have called on Gov. Jerry Brown to declare a drought emergency. California Department of Water Resources Director Mark Corwin has said he expects his department to ask the governor to declare an emergency at the end of the month unless conditions change significantly.
The continuing water shortage could cause more economic, health, and quality of life challenges for Californians, the California Catholic Conference said Jan. 6. Food production, sanitation, power generation, environmental protection and other areas could be affected.
The bishops’ conference released several prayers for sufficient rain, for people affected by the lack of rainfall, and for those who manage water resources in the state.
To read the entire story, click here.
O God, in whom we live, and move, and are, grant us seasonable rain; that, enjoying a sufficiency of support in this life, we may with more confidence strive after the things which are eternal.
A Manual of Prayers for the use of the Catholic Laity
Oh God, grant us bishops worthy of their lofty office. In the most anti-life state in the union, in the midst of the most vile assaults on the culture of life, our bishops can only think of asking us to pray for rain!! Our state has seen rainless winters often before and no harm has come of it, and no harm will come of this one. Great, irreparable harm is coming from the anti-life culture now in vile dominion in California, and our bishops can only think of asking us to pray for rain.
Good post, absolutely, how bout we pray for an end to abortion, a decrease in pornography, and for the general moral decline in America, especially in California. It wouldn’t surprise or hurt me if an earthquake down the California border would separate the rest of America from that filth, it will fall into the pacific for clensing.
https://old.usccb.org/prolife/liturgy/liturservices.shtml
Sorry to give the link but there are too many for me to fit into a post.
For general moral decline, pray the Rosary and the Mercy Chaplet. There are other litanies, chaplets etc. All prayers for the conversion of sinners. Offering the Holy Wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ for the conversion of sinners. Rosary of the Seven Sorrows
For pornography use, I am assuming that you are concerned about others use of pornography. The Church recommends prayer and fasting for this. https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/u.s.-bishops-urge-catholics-to-fast-pray-for-people-struggling-with-porn-ad
This is the prayer talked about in the article:
May God open the heavens and let His mercy rain down upon our fields and mountains. Let us especially pray for those most impacted by water shortages and for the wisdom and charity to be good stewards of this precious gift. May our political leaders seek the common good as we learn to care and share God’s gift of water for the good of all.
From California Conference of Catholic Bishops:
Bishops throughout California will be asking Catholics and others to pray for rain and for the relief of those impacted by the lack of water. Some sample prayers include:
•O God, in Whom we live move and have our being, grant us sufficient rain, so that, being supplied with what sustains us in this present life, we may seek more confidently what sustains us for eternity. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. (From The Roman Missal of the Catholic Church, #35)
•For those facing threats to their health, safety and well-being because of the lack of rainfall and snowpack in California. May God bring us rain and snow to alleviate their struggles and to care for the water needs of the people in the Golden State. For this we pray to the Lord.
•For those who manage our water and snowpack resources. May they be granted the wisdom and strength to balance the many needs of people and commerce as we share God’s gift of water among all Californians. For this we pray to the Lord.
•Almighty God, we are in need of rain. We realize now, looking up into the clear, blue sky, what a marvel even the least drop of rain really is. To think that so much water can really fall out of the sky, which now is empty and clear! We place our trust in You. We are sure that You know our needs. But You want us to ask you anyway, to show You that we know we are dependent on you. Look to our dry hills and fields, dear God, and bless them with the living blessing of soft rain. Then the land will rejoice and rivers will sing Your praises, and the hearts of all will be made glad. Amen. (Prayer for Rain from the National Catholic Rural Life Conference-Rural Life Prayer Book)
The Oakland Diocese has scheduled a symposium on Liturgical Rain Dancing. The program is free and will include chant and drum instruction. All registered participants will receive a certificate and a headdress blessed by the Pope. Early registration is recommended.
Oh, gravey, that is just TOO hilarious!
But I’ll betcha some people will fall for your post and think you are serious…
The rain will come….but for now…enjoy the sun and praise Jesus that we are well and do what we can to continue in honoring God.
Repentance and reconciliation has to be a part of the plan. We have Nineveh as an example.
How can the California bishops find time to pray for rain when they spend all their time and effort advocating the rights of illegal aliens? Ave Maria Purrissima!
When is there going to be a similarly public prayer for the souls of all those politicians who support the Democratic agenda of abortion and sodomy?
It’s always about the gays, isn’t it. Maybe the gays caused the drought? Democrats too!
There is consequence for sin.
YFC, you left out the abortionist and all in California who endorse and support the business of killing little human beings.
You guys are Hilarius, I know you are serous, but still your sarcasm is funny. Love it!
Nope, I’m pretty sure it was the gays. I was going to provide a link to the list of the top 10 things that homosexuality caused, but it wouldn’t be appropriate for this site. So you’ll just have to google it yourself.
The rape of altar boys should be somewhere at the top of the list.
Ski Ven you always add to that list of truth but with a touch of comedy….your sarcasm is honest and raw…..like I said everyone has their own style of sharing. I appreciate them very much especially when they are defending the truth.
Yes, it IS always about the sodomites. Every other news article I read is about sodomites. Sodomites this and sodomites that. Except, of course, there is no media coverage whatsoever about the fact that sodomites are only 2% of the population but make up 33% of all child sex abusers. THAT is not newsworthy, right?
If it were true it would be newsworthy.
It is true. You’re just in denial of this truth, and other Truths.
Good grief, YFC. The media is so controlled. The notion of ‘if it were true it would be newsworthy’ is such a petulant, child’s mindset and you know it. Much like believing if something is published it must be true.
Try serving on the front line in Afghanistan and see how much TRUTH is actually reported. If the truth were reported, the outcry of public opinion in the United States would end it all overnight. And not by pulling out of Afghanistan, but rather by pulling out all the lawyers who tag along to enforce the asinine rules of engagement that would make Tiger Woods lose to a blind elephant at Golf-land kiddie park.
Around ten years ago I had a dream. I was out West somewhere, but I thought it could be California or Nevada, and I saw a white relief van with the doors opened at the back, and they were handing out large plastic water bottles to people . The van had a green X painted on its side with a sign something like ” Water Supply Co. or something similar. I was perplexed as Id never thought about anything like this before. Then, from my right side, an invisible being said , ” Water’s next.”
I know that the intercession of Saint Peter for weather matters work, and I know for sure that Saint Noah is definitely a good intercessor for halting rain, but I’m sure he would ask God for rain, as he is very close to His Heart, Saint Peter pray for us, Saint Noah, pray for us, Amen.
As far as I know,, liturgical rain dancing is a pagan ritual which must never be allowed in a Catholic Church. This is scandal which will only lead more souls to apostatize and leave Holy Mother Church. Instead of promoting this garbage, the Diocese of Oakland should announce days of fast and abstinence, hold Rosary rallies, and have All Night Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. These are proven ways of appealing to Almighty God for rain. To use pagan and witch like methods goes beyond reason, and just shows the terrible state the Catholic Church is in.
I think Gravey was being funny, Father Karl.
Father Karl, I’m afraid you fell for gravey’s humorous post and thought he was being serious.
He’s poking fun at the diocese! :)
What will we do when the Tsunami comes?
Well, God did sent rain upon Sodom and Gomorrah, so why not?
“If you walk in my precepts, and keep my commandments, and do them, I will give you rain in due season. And the ground shall bring forth its increase; and the tree shall be filled with fruit.
But if you will not hear me, nor do all my commandments: If you despise my laws, and contemn my judgments so as not to do those things which are appointed by me, and to make void my covenant: I also will do these things to you, I will quickly visit you with poverty, and burning heat, which shall waste your eyes and consume your lives. You shall sow your seed in vain, which shall be devoured by your enemies. (Leviticus Chapter 26)
Read also 2 Corinthians 6:16 — 18 in the New Testament.
Anne T., great post! Maybe the California Bishops forgot to read that part of the Bible.
I agree with Tracy, Bravo Anne T….wonderful post! Something to reflect on.
Thank you, Tracy, but it is not just for bishops; it is for all of us. We so often remember the blessings that come from keeping the Commandments but often forget the curses that go with breaking them.
Not one of you claims any personal culpability for the problem…it’s always someone else’s fault. California, afloat with swimming pools, green lawns and miles of glossy, emerald golf courses is finally going to have to face up to it’s pathological greed and environmental irresponsibility. How many of you have cut down on your water use voluntarily? How many have ever thanked God for the gift of clean, sparkling drinking water? How many of you have wasted water (for years!) without giving it a thought? Maybe if you hadn’t all thoughtlessly and selfishly consumed a disproportionate amount of a finite resource you wouldn’t be facing problems now. The rest of the country will believe you are worried when your movie stars and millionaires stop refilling their humungous swimming pools and golf courses, et al cut back on excessive consumption and you all start taking some personal responsibility for what’s happening. California is a byword in excess, selfishness, vanity and greed.
Anonymous, you must not have read my post January 17 at 9:48 pm as I included myself as being partially responsible. Never-the-less, most Californians do not have swimming pools. Some of us do not even have dishwashers, except by our own hands; nor air conditioning but portable fans, even in 90% or 100% heat. Some of us say grace at every meal thanking God for food and drink, though through forgetfulness, it might be in the middle or the end of the meal. Some of us have even thanked God for ranchers, farmers, ranch and farm workers and truckers who help produce food for us and other states and try to go to local farmer’s markets instead of buying foreign products which create less jobs for our own. Some of us do try to conserve the best way we know how and give our extra clothing and goods to thrift stores or buy second hand. On the other hand, some of our politicians and others have done everything thy can to destroy traditional families.
And some of those politicians came here from other states., or even countries.
Anony we are not here to brag about the good we do, as the examples tried giving above…..lets not make it about that….all that you say is irrelevant.
You are really taking this article to another level, I kinda want to avoid what you leading into and plus I have nor anything else here, have anything to prove to you.
Don’t fret, if you are worried, then pray about it.
Abeca Chritian, I did not read this post of yours in time. When Anonymous wrote, I should have taken the advice in your first post and gone out and enjoyed the sunshine, instead of falling into his trap and ending up bickering. Anyway, his post gave me the incentive to go out and water my roses, plants and fruit trees. We cannot get precipitation unless there is moisture on the ground in the first place. And I filled up my birth baths for the birds; we need the little critters. (Lots of laughter.)
Oops! I meant “bird baths”.
The birds need water too…at least they honor God’s natural law and we do not need to worry about having birds baths turning into something immoral…so let the birds have their baths…..lol
Water use for agriculture is to water use for swimming pools as 1000 is to 1. As for golf, every state is full of them, so they should watch their by-words.
Hi , I’m from Morocco.
2 weeks ago , seeing the drought menacing agricultural sector which is a pillar of moroccan economy, the King of Morocco asked Muslims & Jews to pray for rain. Friday the 10th Muslims prayed in all mosques and Saturday the 11th Jews prayed in all synagogues. One week later on Friday night, all Morocco was blessed by moderate rain covering all the countries and lasting for 3 days. While observing satellite imagery those days, it was like a long tropical depression, which usually reach Europe ,were sucked toward Morocco with an unusual form . Today agricultural sector is saved and everybody is happy. For real !!
This is a reminder to those who forget God that He holds all things in His hand. Rain would fall in abundance if only the Bishops, exercising the true superiority of the Catholic Church over every false religion on earth and dressed in the full splendor of Traditional antiquity processed with the Blessed Sacrament to the State Capitol and like His Excellency Bishop Paprocki, exorcise the state, publicly condeming all laws contrary to God. Please pray for our Bishops now! Pray that God’s will be done.