In the face of deepening social and political polarization, the Catholic Church in the Philippines will consecrate the entire nation to Divine Mercy on Sunday, April 27, during the celebration of the Feast of Divine Mercy.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has called on all churches across the country to observe the consecration through special prayers during Masses, framing it as a national act of faith and hope.
In a report by Vatican’s Fides News Agency, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, President of the CBCP, described the initiative as “a collective response of faith and hope” to the “serious challenges” confronting both the Philippines and the world.
These include “widespread corruption, the erosion of truth, the growing rejection of the Church’s teachings on life and the family, as well as the threat of internal divisions and armed conflicts at the local and global levels.”
“The national consecration will be a profound expression of our trust in Divine Mercy, which remains our last refuge in these times of uncertainty and trial,” the cardinal said.
“We entrust ourselves, our Church, and our nation to God’s infinite mercy, certain that in it we will find the healing, renewal, and hope we so deeply need,” he added.
A special prayer will be recited during the ceremony, imploring Divine Mercy for the suffering caused by war, injustice, and the breakdown of social and moral values.
The prayer includes the lines: “Jesus, with complete faith and trust in your boundless ocean of love, we place ourselves under the protection of your merciful care… Have mercy on us for the wars between nations and the terrors with which we torment one another. Have mercy on us for the widespread sin against the truth and the horrible sins against justice and human brotherhood.”
The national consecration is inspired by the spirit of the Fifth World Apostolic Congress on Mercy, held in Cebu in 2024. There, the faithful reaffirmed their commitment to become “vehicles of the Lord’s compassion” and “true messengers of mercy,” emphasizing the need for “works that translate the spirit of mercy into concrete acts.”
Divine Mercy Sunday, established in 2000 by Saint John Paul II, is observed annually on the second Sunday of Easter.
