Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales has appealed to all the faithful to intensify their prayers for the end of the swine flu virus, which has claimed many lives in Mexico and the United States.

In a circular to all parish priests, shrine rectors, chaplains, and heads of religious groups on Friday, Fr. Genaro Diwa of the Ministry for Liturgical Affairs said Rosales has ordered an Oratio Imperata on the swine flu virus, which would be said at every mass starting this Sunday.

"In praying we unite ourselves with all our brothers and sisters suffering with the disease, bring up to God our longing for them to be restored to full health and humbly ask Him to spare us the sickness," Diwa said.

"Let it also be our pastoral duty to remind our faithful to heed the health recommendations of our health experts and officials so that we may prevent the acquisition and spread of the disease," he added.

The oratio imperata, which can be initiated by the Pope or the Bishop of the diocese, is an "ordered prayer for special intention besides those prescribed by the ritual (of the mass)." People are requested to kneel while praying it after the Communion part of the Eucharistic celebration.

Following is the Oratio Imperata for swine flu in English:

God, Our loving Father we come to you in our need to ask your protection against the Swine flu that has claimed the lives of many in Mexico and has affected many more not only there but in other countries as well. 

We ask for your grace for the people tasked with studying the nature and cause of this disease and of stemming the tide of its transmission. Guide the hands and minds of medical experts that they may minister to the sick with competence and compassion, and of those in government and private agencies that must find cure and solution to this disease. 

We pray for those afflicted, may they all be restored to health soon. 

Grant us the grace always to be filled with hope that you watch over us with love and providence and that your will for us is always good. 

We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ your son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen 

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us.

Saint Roque, pray for us.