magdarasal
magdarasál with stress marks
person who prays for others professionally
From root: dasal
Usage Note
Magdarasal is a person hired or sought out to pray — particularly over the sick, the dying, or the recently deceased — as a traditional religious practice in many Filipino Catholic and folk-religious communities. The role is often performed by elderly women in the absence of a priest and blends Catholic prayer traditions with indigenous healing and mourning rituals.
Examples
" Tinawag namin ang magdarasal. "
Natural Translation
We called the prayer person.
Literal Translation
Called we the prayer-person.
" Nasaan ang magdarasal para sa lola? "
Natural Translation
Where is the professional prayer person for grandmother?
Literal Translation
Where the professional-prayer-person for to-the grandmother?
" Tuwing may namamatay sa baryo, ipinagpapatawag ng pamilya ang matandang magdarasal upang manalangin para sa kaluluwa ng yumao. "
Natural Translation
Whenever someone dies in the village, the family sends for the old prayer woman to pray for the soul of the departed.
Literal Translation
Whenever has dying in-the village, sent-for by-the family the old [na] prayer-person to pray for the soul of-the deceased.
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