Truth & Mercy Series - August 2nd 2026

Truth and Mercy Series ( Doubts During Retreat) part 2

Yes, indeed you would fall if you do not trust Her to come to your aid. There is a frustration that comes to a mother who has all the help and resources to help their children but the children shoot the door of their hearts to them. They claim, “I don’t need you” or “this is personal to me”, or “this is my private life”. These children lock themselves in their rooms and do not allow their mothers into this trouble, this pain and suffering that is literally eating them up. You have become a captive to the devil who wants to kill, steal and destroy you. He wants you to sever the relationship with your helper. I have found out that Mother Mary has been fashioned to assist the needy who call for help.

One day while I was taking a walk, I was making some intercessory prayers to the saints and the angels, at some points even to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. At one point, I was inspired to pray to St. Isidore, who at a time had a vision of himself being tormented at night by three wolves. They were ferocious and trying to get a hold of him and tear him to pieces. He suddenly heard a voice to remain and not move. Mother Mary promised to take care of him. That those wolves cannot move an inch near him. He believed and was free instantly. She called Herself by the title, “Divine Shepherdess”. While Jesus is the Good Shepherd, She is the Divine Shepherdess. 

As soon as I completed that prayer to him (St. Isidore), suddenly I saw a couple coming in front of me with a big dog. They had a leash in their hand but the dog was roaming freely. So, I thought, ‘the Divine Shepherdess’s got to help me here because I am certainly going to need that’. It is either this couple put the leash on their dog or they give him guidance not to come near me. Yes, prayers always work. They were the friendliest, saying hello when they came past me and “how are you doing”, while their dog just went by, with a little glance at me, of course. A big relief from a big dog. Then I continued my walk.  

In about a mile, I was making my way home and suddenly another dog came by. It was walking through their alley. Seeing me, it started walking towards me without a leash, no guide, no one knew it to make me at least feel an owner was there. This dog kept its gaze at me and continued walking towards me. Now my prayers intensified. At this time, I was actually praying the chaplet to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The refrain was “Oh Mary help us.” This dog sat there and was not leaving. So I stopped walking because it could literally become so near that I don’t know what would transpire. So, I called my Guardian Angel to let the dog go back home. I stood there for about five minutes, hoping that would happen but the dog kept its gaze on me. 

So, I thought ‘I would go back without completing my walk or at least getting to my desired destination’. I started walking backwards from it, then after a few steps, I looked back and the dog had started going back to the house. Then suddenly I saw some lady by the dog who was petting it. Then I thought, ‘This was the best time to begin to continue my walk’. A supervisor is here to take care of the dog. Yes, she instructed it to “Stay there” when she saw me. I thanked her with a thump up. I was able to go by without any hitch. Did my guardian angel show up? Did my prayer work? Let me tell you when I arrive because as you read this I should be back in the parish.

In union of prayers, 

• Fr. Nicholas Akindele, JCL, Pastor