Ad Repellendas Tempestates… Prayers for the Repelling of Storms.

With Hurricane Ian, other hurricanes possible, and the season of winter snowstorms nearing for much of the country, these are good prayers to have.

From Fr Z's Blog

In the 1962 Missale Romanum there are prayers “in order to repel storms”.  I am using these prayers now in the face of hurricane Ian.

The prayers are ancient, to be found in the 5th c. Gelasian Sacramentary (PL 74) in “XLVII. ORAT. POST TEMPESTATEM ET FULGURA.”  I also found that the Postcommunion was once used as a kind of Oratio super populum  “In dedicatione loci illius ubi prius fuit synagoga… In the dedication of a place where before there was a synagogue.”

COLLECT

A domo tua, quaesumus, Domine, spiritales nequitiae repellantur: et aëreárum discedat malignitas tempestatum.  Per Dominum.

Spiritales from spiritalis can have to do with the spiritual life.  However, it also, in its first classical meaning, deals with breathing and wind and air.  Malignitas definitely conveys “ill-will, malice, envy” and “stinginess”.  Discedo, first of all, is “divide, part asunder” and then “leave, forsake” and “go away”.  In military terms “decamp”.

Super literal:
We beseech You, O Lord, that the blasts of evil be driven from Your house: and the wickedness of the airy storms depart.

One English translation I found:
We beg you, Lord, to repel the wicked spirits from your family, and to ward off the destructive tempestuous winds.

One of the reasons why the Apostles were so frightened on the waters during the storm is because of the ancient belief that evil spirits (demons) could inhabit the waters and winds.  And, when they saw the Lord walking on water, they at first didn’t know what to think.

SECRET

Offerimus tibi, Domine, laudes et munera, pro concessis beneficiis gratias referentes, et pro concedendis semper suppliciter deprecantes.  Per Dominum.

O Lord we off You praises and gifts, giving thanks for the benefits that You have granted, and always suppliantly begging for those which are to be granted.

Note the humility of the petition.  It isn’t quite like what we had for so long, and still have occasionally in the Novus Ordo: “O God, you are big. Help us to be big too.”

POSTCOMMUNION

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui nos et castigando sanas, et ignoscendo conservas: praesta supplicibus tuis; ut et tranquillitatibus huius optatae consolationis laetemur, et dono tuae pietatis semper utamur.  Per Dominum.

Almighty eternal God, who heal us by chastising, and preserve us by forgiving, grant to Your supplicants that we may both rejoice in the tranquil times of this hoped for consolation and also always make good use of the gift of Your mercy.

Another version:
Almighty and merciful God, who heal us by your chastisement and save us by your forgiveness; grant that we, your suppliants, may be heartened and consoled by the tranquil weather we desire, and so may ever profit from your gracious favors; through Christ our Lord.