Consecrating the nation to the Divine Mercy
This Jubilee year 2025 is turning out to be a very holy year. Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), announced on April 11 that in the Philippines, there will be a National Consecration to the Divine Mercy today, April 27, the Feast of the Divine Mercy. The Consecration Prayer will be prayed at all Masses following the Creed in place of the General Intercessions.
This National Consecration to the Divine Mercy is an unprecedented act. It will be the first time any nation has consecrated itself to the Divine Mercy. David said, “This national act of consecration is intended as a collective response of faith and hope in the face of many grave challenges confronting our people and the world today. This nationwide consecration will be a profound expression of our trust in the Divine Mercy–a trust that remains our final refuge in these times of uncertainty and trial.”
Unprecedented times call for unprecedented actions.
This is the National Consecration Prayer: “With complete trust and confidence in your boundless ocean of love, we consecrate ourselves entirely to you and place ourselves under the protection of your merciful care.”
This is exactly what the Lord wants from us, as stated in the Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska: “I desire trust from my creatures … Souls that trust boundlessly are a great comfort to me. I pour out treasures of grace into them.”
Let us understand what we are saying and praying—that we, as a nation, will place ourselves entirely in the Lord’s care with complete trust and confidence in His love. In doing so, He will pour out treasures of grace upon us.
Amazing graces
In the past, countries that have made a consecration have been blessed with amazing graces. In 1874, Ecuador was the first country to be consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. After the consecration, the country was strengthened in their Catholic identity, becoming a predominantly Catholic nation centered around Christ the King. Then, the government constructed a National Basilica. Finally, there was a much stronger union between Church and State.
Similarly, in 1931, Portugal was consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Afterwards, the country experienced a resurgence in their Catholic faith. Vocations to the priesthood and religious life increased, as well as a strong emergence of Catholic press, Catholic radio, and Catholic action. Also, there was political and social reform structured on Catholic teachings and principles. Portugal was preserved from the spread of Communism, and protected from the Spanish Civil War and World War II.
Fittingly, this consecration will be made on Divine Mercy Sunday, the greatest day of grace in the year. Our Lord says in the Diary of St. Faustina, “I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day, the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of My Mercy. The soul that will go to confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day, all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened.”
Do we realize what the Lord is saying? That on Divine Mercy Sunday, He will “pour out a whole ocean of graces … all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened.” According to the Lord, we will be flooded and immersed in graces. It truly is the most grace-filled day of the year.
If you consider what happened in other countries that have made a consecration, and add the fact that we are making our National Consecration on Divine Mercy Sunday, the most grace-filled day of the year, I cannot imagine what might be the possible effects of such an unprecedented act.
Inspiration
Honestly, this National Consecration was not my idea, nor was it an idea of the bishops. One day, a woman came up to me and said, “Father, I have something to share with you.” I waited. She said, “The Lord put it on my heart to have a National Consecration to the Divine Mercy in the Philippines.”
I thought, “It’s a good idea. It’s never been done before. But we would have to get the approval from the bishops.”
That was the inspiration for the National Consecration—it came from God! Why? I don’t know the answer, but it seems to me that the Lord has chosen the Philippines for some special purpose or mission. In the Diary of St. Faustina, she says, “God usually chooses the weakest and simplest souls as tools for His greatest works.” I do believe there is great work that the Lord desires from us. The question is now, how will we respond to this unprecedented grace that we have received from the Lord?
My fellow countrymen, let us really prepare ourselves well as a nation for this upcoming consecration. Let us unite with our bishops in responding with profound trust in Divine Mercy. Let us begin and continue surrendering ourselves completely to the Divine Mercy, so that we may say as a nation, with one voice, “Jesus, we trust in You.”
I sincerely encourage you to make a good confession before Divine Mercy Sunday and attend the Mass on the Feast of Mercy to avail of the promises of our Lord and to pray the National Consecration Prayer together as one nation. Let us prepare our hearts to receive a whole ocean of graces that will purify, renew, strengthen, and transform our people and nation for the great work the Lord has in store for us! May God bless the people and nation of the Philippines!
The author belongs to the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, a Catholic male clerical religious congregation founded in Poland in 1670. Fr. Cervantes heads the Marian Fathers Formation House in Heroes Hill, Quezon City.
