Br. Alex Chung, MIC

Philippines

First Vows: 8/15/2012 
Final Vows: 8/13/2016

Previous assignments and dates:
MDiv Student, Holy Apostles College & Seminary: September 2017 - 2020
Sacristan, National Shrine of The Divine Mercy: 2020 - 2025

Do you have a devotion to a particular Saint? 
Saint Thérèse the Little Flower. I don’t really pray much to her, but I do ask her to help me be Jesus’ presence to those that come to the Shrine. She simply seems to be present and helps me to try to be more loving and joyful and grateful for the blessings and struggles that come with living the faith and in community.

Do you have a favorite story from your ministry?  
A lady with her little daughter, probably 6 years old, and her grandmother, asked me if I remembered meeting them after the devotions in the Shrine. I said, "sorry, I don’t remember." Although the grandmother looked familiar, I could not recall the incident. The lady reminded me that about 5 or 6 years ago before leaving the Shrine, she asked me for prayers for her baby daughter, who was at that time probably 3 to 6 months old. The baby was diagnosed with a type of epilepsy. I said I would keep them in prayer, and when I was in the sacristy downstairs getting out of my cassock and surplice, I noticed them from the window getting things put in their car. I came out with the Relic of the True Cross and prayed with them briefly. I mentioned it was a sliver of the True Cross and the grandmother knelt briefly and reverently, with much joy. She had a big smile and was teary eyed, but wrongly presumed I was giving them the Relic, "You are giving this beautiful relic to us?" The daughter of the grandmother had a big smile on her face as she knew the relic was not leaving the Shrine.

I remember that part of the story the most and the grandmother more vividly. She was holding the relic gently and not trying to grab it away from me, simply thinking I will let it go for them to take. I kindly said, "No, the relic must stay here." The grandmother let go, but she still had such a huge smile and joy about her. I believe it was because she was in front of a piece of the Cross that Jesus was crucified on, and she knew God’s graces were flowing to all of them. I held the relic and had the mother and grandmother hold it over the little child too. I said some prayers and had the grandmother and lady kiss the relic. They were very moved and felt very blessed.

Well back to the present, the mother of the baby said her baby daughter was fully healed as there was no trace of the epilepsy in her. They came back to the Shrine to offer thanksgiving to God for the healing. After the mother finished speaking with me, her daughter looked up at me and said, with a simple and childlike gratitude, “thank you for praying for me.” I believe even Ebenezer Scrooge’s heart would have melted at that moment, and for me, the little daughter thanking me was the most moving moment of this story and encounter with the family. 

Favorite quote from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska? 
It is from the Diary entries of 1485 and 1486.

Jesus speaks to a sinful soul that eventually accepts his mercy (see Diary, 1485). Jesus appeals to another soul several times, but this soul is despairing and stuck on his wretchedness, and is not accepting Jesus’ Mercy. The passage continues that God the Father gives a final grace to move the soul to a deeper understanding of God’s compassion and mercy, but souls still may reject this final grace and end up in hell. The passage continues with a soul that has not condemned itself to hell, but accepts this final grace. In this passage, the soul slowly accepts the rays of Mercy. The passages are very beautiful as it reveals the immense love of God and that all sinners have a chance of not being eternally lost, as they all receive the grace for choosing God’s Mercy, which gives them eternal life with God. This passage also reveals that the prayer in the Divine Mercy Chaplet of God being “Love and Mercy Itself” is absolute truth. God constantly pours out His Mercy on us, so that all people may accept and be blessed to receive the gifted privilege of being forgiven and eternal life (see Diary, 1486).

Favorite prayer to Our Lady? 
It is the Hail Mary. This beautiful and graced filled prayer rightly honors our dear mother and also seeks out our final purpose in life - Heaven. The Hail Mary also remains fully focused on Jesus, Mother Mary’s Son, and her and our Savior. I believe those that want to grow in their love of Jesus and their faith, the Hail Mary and Rosary help us desire to grow in loving Jesus more and growing in our faith and the virtues.

I am a member of the Rosary Confraternity. No extra Rosaries or extra Hail Marys need to be prayed, simply pray one 5 decade Rosary for 3 days of the week (Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries). It still makes sense to pray the Rosary daily as it has been said often that the Hail Mary prayer is like a hammer or mallet to the head of the devil. As a Rosary Confraternity member, you receive the benefits in the sharing of the prayers of all the worldwide members and the Masses, prayers, and works of the Dominican Order. If not a member, you should join because your individual Rosary, which is a stream of graces, becomes a Niagara Falls of graces as a Confraternity Member. "That is way too many blessings Jesus," said no one. The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy has its own link for joining the Rosary Confraternity. 

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Meet Br. Alex, MIC 
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