By Friar Raphael Ameh, OP

“Mercy is the greatest attribute of God.” – St. Faustina Kowalska, Diary (301)

Every vocation is a story of mercy. When I look back on my priesthood, I see not my strength but the steady hands of God’s mercy guiding each step. Mercy found me in my weakness, shaped my calling, and continues to renew me each day at the altar. As I reflect on this journey, a few questions rise from the heart—questions that reveal how deeply mercy has touched both my life and the lives of those I serve:

How has mercy guided humanity from the beginning?

Mercy is not an idea we merely talk about—it’s a heartbeat we feel. From creation’s dawn, mercy has been God’s first language. When Adam and Eve fell, mercy clothed their shame. When humanity strayed, mercy found Noah. When Israel cried under Pharaoh, mercy heard. And then mercy took flesh—Jesus Christ, the face of the Father’s compassion. From the manger to the Cross, He walked among us not to condemn, but to heal. On the Cross, mercy stretched out its arms to embrace the world, and from His pierced side flowed blood and water—the sacraments of forgiveness and love (John 19:34). Through St. Faustina, the Lord whispered again to our time: “Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy.” (Diary, 300) That message has shaped my life.

When did I first encounter Divine Mercy in my own story?

I met Divine Mercy long before I understood its depth, but till now Divine Mercy is incomprehensible to me. As a teenager, I often slipped into the church to pray in silence. During a private novena to the Precious Blood, I noticed people gathering daily at 3 p.m. for a prayer I did not know. Out of curiosity, I joined them. That first encounter changed me. The Divine Mercy Devotion became a rhythm in my soul, a steady heartbeat that guided my steps. Later, while serving as parish secretary and diocesan secretary in Kano, I attended provincial and national Divine Mercy events. In those gatherings, I saw mercy alive in people’s faces—in their tears, their hope, and their stories. It was at the 2010 National Divine Mercy Conference at St. Agnes, Maryland, that my calling became clear. I began to see my life as an instrument through which mercy could flow. The gentle counsel of Bishop Martin Uzochukwu deepened that conviction. His fatherly words reminded me that the priesthood is not a privilege of the worthy, but a mission of mercy. “O priest of God, teach souls where they are to seek consolation; that is, in the Tribunal of Mercy.” (Diary, 1521). Those words from St. Faustina still echo in my heart.

Where was mercy in moments of crisis and confusion?

Born and raised in northern Nigeria, I witnessed the harsh realities of insurgency and religious conflict. The sound of bomb blast, sporadic gunfire, the cries of the displaced, and the uncertainty of each day left scars not only on the land but on the soul. There were moments I asked, “Where is God in all this?” The answer came not in explanations, but in prayer—“For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” The Divine Mercy Chaplet became my anchor. It taught me that even in war, God’s mercy weeps with us and works quietly through those who refuse to stop loving.

What does mercy mean within my Priestly vocation?

To speak of living Divine Mercy in my priestly vocation is most fitting when placed within my Dominican vocation. Every vocation is a gift and a call, and when I began my Dominican formation, I was asked during the rite of entrance: “What do you seek?” Together with my brothers, I answered: “God’s mercy and yours.” This phrase expresses the very heart of Dominican spirituality. The Order of Preachers, founded by St. Dominic, is born of mercy—mercy for souls lost in ignorance and error. Our preaching, study, prayer, and community life all flow from a heart that has first experienced mercy and now desires to share it. During my formation, praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet was not an official obligation, but it became a personal devotion that nourished my soul. My encounters with other devotees of the Divine Mercy were inspiring. Their faith strengthened mine. The daily prayer—“Jesus, I trust in You”—became my compass amid the demands of study, ministry, and discernment.

How do I live Mercy daily as a priest?

During my early years in preaching as a priest, no homily I preached ended without calling God’s people to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. As a priest at the confessional,
Christ is at work. The Diary of St. Maria Faustina that was part of my life was truly instrumental, as I could see in it the encounter of the sinful soul with the mercy of God which is unfathomable.
Divine Mercy inspires hope against all hope (cf. Romans 4:18). Several times I have encountered
soldiers who silently come to pray the Divine Mercy in the church. Here, I must appreciate my then parish priest in Kano Diocese, Rev. Fr. Charles Agunmadu, for always being with us at 3 o’clock for the Divine Mercy and every Thursday for the Precious Blood Vigil. His presence inspired me greatly, such that when I became a priest, Providence helped me to begin my priestly duties in Zamfara State with an understanding pastor, Fr. Felix Udolisa, who permitted me to carry on with these practices—praying the Divine Mercy with consistent Precious Blood Vigil every Thursday. Those moments were Divine Mercy in action. While the mission was challenging, Divine Mercy became incarnate as a source of encouragement and hope. When bandits were kidnapping people including parishioners and even a priest, whose ransom negotiations I personally witnessed, Divine Mercy was at work. The echoes of the Litany of Divine Mercy truly inspired hope against all hope. The celebration of Votive Masses of the Precious Blood and the Divine Mercy are for me concrete ways of living mercy daily in my priestly vocation. Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto Diocese often encourages us priests to live a devotional life: to be men of the Eucharist, men of mercy. The late Bishop Ayo-Maria Atoyebi, OP, my spiritual director since 2008, often taught that the Divine Mercy and Precious Blood Devotions are complementary, for both reveal the same mystery of Christ’s redeeming love. He would remind us that Christ Himself revealed to St. Faustina and Bro. Barnabas Nwoye, CAJC: “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world,” and “Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, save us and the whole world.” These prayers, he said, reveal the same fountain of mercy—the blood and water flowing from the Heart of Jesus (John 19:34). All these were truly sources of encouragement for me, and I remain deeply trusting in the Lord to persevere as the demands of priestly ministry increases, especially in a place like Lagos Archdiocese, and precisely St. Dominic’s Parish, Yaba.

And how can we all live the mercy of God in our ordinary lives

As I live out my priestly mission, I continually encourage God’s people to embrace the Devotion to the Divine Mercy, not only in prayer but in daily action. Let mercy speak in our deeds—through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy: feeding the hungry, forgiving the offender, comforting the sorrowful, praying for the living and the dead, and showing compassion to those who struggle. To the offended, I say: forgive as Christ forgave His persecutors (Luke 23:34). To the wounded, trust in His mercy. To families and workers, to priests and religious, to all young people and students, I urge: For fruitfulness always echo – Jesus, I trust in You. For my children – Jesus, I trust in You. For my business and work – Jesus, I trust in You. For healing and peace – Jesus, I trust in You. For the Church and the world – Jesus, I trust in You. In my studies- Jesus I trust in You.

To this end, Mercy called me, mercy formed me, and mercy continues to sustain me. “It is not by our righteousness but by His mercy that He saved us.” (Titus 3:5) And so, I echo the humble prayer of every Dominican friar: “God’s mercy and yours.”

May I, by His grace, remain a priest of mercy, bringing healing, forgiveness, and peace to a world that still cries out, “Jesus, I trust in You.” May you also pick up your Chaplet in praying and be Merciful as our heavenly Father is Merciful. Harvest of Divine Mercy- Jesus, I trust in You.