The Perfect Prayer of Cory Aquino

On August 1, 2009, former Philippine President Corazon ‘Cory’ Aquino died peacefully with all her children surrounding her. A prayer woman, Cory was known to be a devotee of Mother Mary and regularly recited the Holy Rosary. As Cory lay dying, her family was praying the Rosary and one account said that she expired at the time when they reflected on the Sorrowful Mysteries. She died on the first Saturday of the month, a day dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

It can now be revealed that one of the most effective weapons Cory used against the coup plotters who attempted to oust her seven times was a special hand-made rosary given to her by Sister Lucia dos Santos, one of the children who witnessed the miracle at Fatima. "Sister Lucia sent me this rosary which she herself made, with the message that I would be supported and protected in my presidency," Cory told Fr. Catalino Arevalo, SJ, her spiritual adviser. "Sister Lucia added that more sufferings would come my way," she said. "I know now that it was a prophetic message, as I had to fight back seven coup attempts to save my administration from power grabbers in uniform," Cory told Father Arevalo. "With Our Lady’s protection, I stood my ground and never left Malacañang, even when it was being attacked."

Ralph Pascual Guzman of Philippine Daily Inquirer wrote: "The nation has seen Cory’s heroism in her inner life, which she also attributes to the lessons she learned by reflecting on Fatima. She shares with the world three lessons that led to her conversion and that of Ninoy: 1) The power of prayer, particularly the rosary; 2) The acceptance of God’s plan in our lives and entrusting our lives to Mary; and 3) The offering of sacrifices to God. The former president lived a life of spirituality, humility and acceptance. She fought the good fight and kept the faith in her battle against colon cancer. In several interviews, journalists often asked Cory if she had met her quota of suffering. To these questions, she said she would look up to Jesus Christ, who suffered Himself and died to fulfill His mission. "Faith is not simply a patience that passively suffers until the storm is past. Rather, it is a spirit that bears things—with resignation, yes, but above all with blazing, serene hope," she said."

The outpouring of people to Cory’s wake is not surprising for she was an extraordinary woman who stood strong on her principles and knelt down humbly to her God. She suffers no more, for she is certainly in the company of angels and saints before the Almighty. Mother Mary has fulfilled her promise to Cory: "Devotion to my Rosary is a special sign of predestination."

One of the valuable lessons that Cory would want us to follow is to be prayerful; for her the perfect prayer is the Rosary. She would most likely tell us the fulfilment in her life and in her death the 15 promises of Our Lady. As we pay our last respects to Cory and pray to commend her spirit to the Lord, let us be reminded of the 15 promises of the Blessed Virgin to those who pray the Rosary.

1. To all those who recite my Rosary devoutly, I promise my special protection and very great graces.
2. Those who will persevere in the recitation of my Rosary shall receive some signal grace.
3. The Rosary shall be a very powerful armor against hell; it shall destroy vice, deliver from sin, and shall dispel heresy.
4. The Rosary shall make virtue and good works flourish, and shall obtain for souls the most abundant divine mercies; it shall substitute in hearts love of God for love of the world, elevate them to desire heavenly and eternal goods. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means!
5. Those who trust themselves to me through the Rosary, shall not perish.
6. Those who will recite my Rosary piously, considering its Mysteries, shall not be overwhelmed by misfortune nor die a bad death. The sinner shall be converted; the just shall grow in grace and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Those truly devoted to my Rosary shall not die without the consolations of the Church, or without grace.
8. Those who will recite my Rosary shall find during their life and at their death the light of God, the fullness of His grace, and shall share in the merits of the blessed.
9. I will deliver very promptly from purgatory the souls devoted to my Rosary.
10. The true children of my Rosary shall enjoy great glory in heaven.
11. What you ask through my Rosary, you shall obtain.
12. Those who propagate my Rosary shall obtain through me aid in all their necessities.
13. I have obtained from my son that all the confreres of the Rosary shall have for their brethren in life and death the saints of heaven.
14. Those who recite my Rosary faithfully are all my beloved children, the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion to my Rosary is a special sign of predestination.

by Mel Libre