MANILA — Catholic prelates asked the faithful to pray for their departed loved ones as well as the victims of the recent fighting in Marawi City in line with the country’s observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
Marawi City Bishop Edwin dela Peña will ask the faithful under his diocese to pray for the souls of more than 1,000 people who died in the five-month long battle between government forces and Maute group in the city.
“The other dioceses and local churches can join in praying for all who died in Marawi, especially our gallant soldiers who gave their lives so that we can live in peace, the civilians and hostages, including our working students, who lost their lives in the process,” he said.
“We need to ritualize our grieving and mourning especially that there are no bodies to mourn with,” the Catholic prelate added.
On the other hand, Fr. Jerome Secillano, Executive Secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Public Affairs Committee (CBCP-PAC) said that it is part of the duty of Christians to pray for the deceased.
“Yes, it is a Christian obligation to pray for the dead. I encourage the people to pray not only for their dead relatives and friends but to pray also for those who perished in the war on drugs and Marawi,” he said.
“We pray that the Lord may give them eternal peace away from the violent and destructive ways of the world,” the Catholic priest added. (PNA)
