BISHOP Emeritus of the Diocese of Novaliches Teodoro C. Bacani Jr. on Monday offered a special prayer for House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III ahead of his 65th birthday, praying that he would remain a leader of integrity who translates his words and faith into action.
Bacani gave the blessing at the conclusion of the Mass of the Holy Spirit at the House of Representatives, a week before Dy turns 65 on August 31.
Before beginning the prayer, Bacani asked those present to extend their hands toward the Speaker and his wife and join him in praying for the couple and the country.
“May I ask you to please extend your hands towards our beloved Speaker and his wife. And let us pray for them and for our country,” Bacani said.
Drawing from the day’s Gospel, Bacani prayed that Dy would be blessed with the integrity attributed to Nathaniel, or Bartholomew, whom Jesus described as a man without duplicity.
“Lord Jesus Christ, in today’s gospel we heard you say about Nathaniel or Bartholomew: This is a true Israelite. He is a man of integrity. In him there is no duplicity,” Bacani said in his prayer.
“Lord, we ask you to give this grace which you have already begun to give to our beloved Speaker. We have heard him O Lord, and we are touched by the words that he spoke. Now O Lord, that he has said… he needs our prayers, we do pray for him.”
The Speaker had earlier asked Church leaders and the public to continue praying for him and the members of the House as they confront the pressures and difficult decisions that come with public service.
Bacani also acknowledged the pressures and temptations faced by those in government, as he asked for the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the former governor of Isabela in carrying out his responsibilities as Speaker.
“We know O Lord, that all public officials are tempted by many, many other things—more than ordinary men are subject to. And so we ask you to pour out in a special way your Holy Spirit upon our beloved Speaker Bojie Dy,” prayed Bacani.
He expressed hope that Dy would become a leader whose example would be recognized not only within the House of Representatives but throughout the country.
“And grant that he may really be a leader, whom not only the House of Representatives can look up to, but a leader whom the Filipino people can say: here is a true Speaker who not only spoke, but who acted and who lived according to the word of God.”
Bacani concluded by praying for Dy, his wife and their family, and for their continued service to the Filipino people.
“Bless him O Lord, his wife, and his whole family, and grant that together they may continue to serve our people in joy and in integrity of heart through Christ, who live and reign forever and ever, amen.”
The prayer came after Dy, in his message following the Mass, called for “moral recovery” in the House and said a truly Bagong Kongreso must be judged not simply by the number of laws it passes, but by whether its members become better public servants and are able to regain the trust of the people.
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