ACTION ITEM! FLOODS! Fr. Z to BISHOPS and PRIESTS – Pray Against Floods

I have read reports about flooding in Iowa.

I have a STRONG SUGGESTION to the BISHOPS of the areas that are affected by floods.

It sounds as if the pastors of the area and their assistant bishops, the bishops – ESPECIALLY the diocesan bishop! – and religious priests of the region should get out their copy of the traditional Rituale Romanum and use the Benedictio contra inundationes aquarum…. NOW.

Fathers… Bishops… put on all your gear, get some people together, get out there and PRAY!

Benedictio contra inundationes aquarum	Blessing of a community against floods
Sacerdos indutus superpelliceo et stola, populo concomitante, portet ad rivum vel flumen benedicendum Reliquiam sanctae Crucis, ibique in quatuor partibus legat devote initia quatuor Evangeliorum, et post singularia Evangelia subjungat sequentes Versiculos et Orationem:	The priest, vested in surplice and stole, accompanied by the people, carries the relic of the True Cross to the river or stream, and there devoutly reads at each of four different spots of the introductions to the four Gospels. After each Gospel he adds the following verses and prayers:
V. Adjuva nos, Deus, salutaris noster. R. Et propter gloriam nominis tui libera nos. V. Salvos fac servos tuos. R. Deus meus, sperantes in te. V. Domine, non secundum peccata nostra facias nobis. R. Neque secondum iniquitates nostras retribuas nobis.	V. Stand by us, O God, our Helper. R. And for thy name’s sake deliver us. V. Preserve thy servants. R. Who trust in thee, my God. V. Deal not with us, Lord, according to our sins. R. And take not vengeance on us because of our misdeeds.
V. Mitte nobis, Domine, auxilium de sancto. R. Et de Sion tuére nos. V. Domine, exaudi orationem meam. R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat. V. Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo.	V. Send us help, O Lord, from thy holy place. R. And from Sion watch over us. V. O Lord, hear our prayer. R. And let my cry come unto thee. V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.
Oremus. Deus, qui justificas impium, et non vis mortem peccatoris: majestatem tuam suppliciter deprecamur; ut famulos tuos de tua misericordia confidentes, ab aquarum periculis, caelesti protegas benignus auxilio, et assidua protectione conserves: ut tibi jugiter famulentur, nullisque tentationibus a te separentur. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen. Et benedictio Dei omnipotentis, Patris, et Filii + et Spiritus Sancti, descendat super has aquas, easque coerceat. R. Amen.	Let us pray. O God, Who dealest justly with the wicked, and dost not will the death of sinners, humbly we entreat they Majesty! Protect with heavenly aid thy trusting servants from perils of flood, and keep them constantly under thy heavenly protection. May they at all times serve thee, and never through any temptation be separated from thee. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen. And may the blessing of God almighty, Father, Son, + and Holy Spirit descend upon these waters, and keep them under control. R. Amen.

From The Romanum Ritual: In Latin and English With Rubrics and Plainchant Notation. Translated and Edited With Introduction and Notes by Philip T. Weller. Volume III: The Blessings. Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Company, 1946, pp. 161-3.