Davao Divine Mercy devotees blessed by WACOM experience

When I saw Nilda at the WACOM4, I thought that she must be one of those who have been Divine Mercy devotees for several years (at least more than 10 years), but I was surprised to learn that she started just two years ago.

More surprising is her story, how she became interested in the Divine Mercy Apostolate.

About 2 years ago, she went to the office of her friend, a fellow Nurse Supervisor in one of the tertiary hospitals in Davao City, and her eyes were drawn to a copy of a book “The Diary of St. Faustina.”

She borrowed this book and started reading, and she was hooked. In fact, she read it thrice already. She was struck by the message to pray for dying people and she said that she now understood why the dying patients in the hospital would usually shout that they didn’t want to be left behind because somebody wants to take them!

In the diary, St. Faustina mentioned that at the bed of a dying person (especially those who have not lived holy lives), are many evils who are waiting to get this person’s soul, but if one prays the chaplet for this person, he can be saved. This inspired her, and she remembered that a nurse she knows has a third eye. He used to say that he could see a “child” at the bedside of a critically ill patient, after which this patient dies. It’s like she’s the one “fetching” the souls of the dying. So Nilda talked with this nurse, to show to her in which ICU bed can she find this “child” standing?

And so the male nurse pointed the bed of a dying patient, he said he could see that same child near the bed. Then Nilda approached this bed, and then asked permission to the family members who were there to join her as she prayed the Chaplet. According to the male nurse with a third eye, the “child” got so angry and disappeared; and that patient survived.

This experience further inspired Nilda to promote the devotion to the Divine Mercy. She even taught the nurses to pray the chaplet and to minister to critical or dying patients asking them to ask forgiveness of their sins, and she also taught the family members and watchers of these patients to pray the chaplet with them.

Nilda would be giving pamphlets of the Chaplet which she personally bought and some she asked from the Divine Mercy group which usually visited the hospital every third Saturday of the month. She laments that she often runs out of pamphlets as there are a lot of patients/watchers to whom she can give them. She hopes that more nurses and volunteers will join her in this ministry of bringing souls to God. For Jesus said to St Faustina: At the hour of their death, I defend as My own glory every soul that will say this Chaplet; or when others say it for a dying person, the indulgence (pardon) is the same.

Nilda is just among the 167 lay Divine Mercy devotees who came home so much blessed by their WACOM experience. WACOM stands for World Apostolic Congress on Mercy, an international gathering of Divine Mercy devotees and promoters which was held in the different holy places in Luzon, last January 16-20, 2017.

The first day was held at the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral, second day at the Royal and Pontifical University of Sto. Tomas, third day at the National Shrine and Parish of Padre Pio in Lipa,Batangas, fourth day at the National Shrine and Parish of the Divine Mercy in Malolos, Bulacan and the fifth/last day at the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Balanga, Bataan.

It was a very hectic schedule for the delegates, as they have to wake up at 3am to take turns in taking a bath, as they were expected to be at their respective buses by 5am. Considering that majority of the delegates were already senior citizens, yet all of them were able to finish the entire congress without any major health problems. They all enjoyed the travel to the different places, the talks, the testimonies, the times for prayer and Holy Eucharist, as well as the closer friendships they have developed with their fellow delegates.

When asked what are they taking home with them from the WACOM?

It deepened my Christian faith and improved my interpersonal relationship through service of my fellow delegates. It also made me prioritize the needs of others before my own. – Juarlita Basan, 72, St. Joseph Parish

I learned from Bishop Bacani that as Catholics, we should be fair in our treatment of all people, regardless of whether they are rich or poor. I also learned that indeed there is no limit to the Divine Mercy offered to everyone. – Melinda H. Silveron, 65, St. Joseph Parish

I have realized the importance of continuing my devotion to the Divine Mercy and of sharing it with others so that they too will be blessed. I will continue praying the chaplet to save a dying person/patients and I will ask others to help me in this ministry. – Nanilda Alcebar, Sto Rosario Parish

I learned to be more merciful. – Editha Maglana, San Lorenzo Parish

The mercy from God is everlasting, it’s a gift to us, so I must share this mercy to other people no matter what, to care, to love…in action, because faith without action is dead. Anywhere, anytime, any person I must show mercy in action. – Justa Bugas, San Pablo Parish

(Manilee Araune | SUGID-Digos)