Heavenly Favors Through Irene

Yes, why not? Her personal life and the unusual circumstances surrounding her sudden death are sufficient signs to believe that she is in heaven with God. Of course, we cannot be absolutely certain.

Irene’s personal life was already described in my previous 2 Shaloms. Most important in this was her belief and experience of Jesus Christ in the prison inmates she was helping. She therefore realized in the prison ministry the truth of Jesus’s words, “I was in prison and you visited me… Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do to me” (Math. 25:35-40). She showed the same love for Jesus to others outside of the jail.

The unusual circumstances which were mysterious, and could only be puzzling to a person of not-so-deep faith, were Irene’s words and behavior about dying. She was saying good-byes to friends weeks before December 20 — the day she was admitted to the Davao Doctors Hospital. She was even giving away her dresses and things. Her words and face strangely showed joy and excitement. To an officemate she confided her desire and happiness to see God. This was most puzzling to most of us who fear death. I can only recall reading on this in the Lives of Saints. This is why I use the word “mysterious”. Added to this mystery was the fact that without being invited hundreds of people many of whom were unknown to Irene, 14 priests and 3 bishops concelebrated the funeral Mass on December 26, the date, according to a friend, that Irene foretold would be a day of celebration!

To me and to many others Irene was a saintly person. She experienced in a special way the Paschal Mystery or the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. Working for the material and spiritual needs of the prison inmates and the sudden sting of deadly Dengue was a form of bodily suffering. On December 22 her soul left her body to return to her Creator in new life with God her Father.

It is on the above or foregoing reflection that I base my belief that we can pray to Irene. Yes. let us ask her to present to the Father the disguises of His Son Jesus, the women and men in the City Jail of Davao with all their material and spiritual needs. Let us ask Irene’s prayer for the Holy Spirit to inspire and awaken among the clergy, religious, and laity of Davao many more Christ-like Irenes for the Archdiocesan Prisoners Welfare Ministry.

My personal request from Irene is to pray for the real change in the system of governance that allow criminalities, scams, corruptions and deadly addictions to happen, one that created the inhuman conditions in the prisons around the country.