IN MEMORIAM

S. MARIA MERCEDES ARGUELLES SANDOVAL, RVM

(September 24, 1919 – April 14, 2017)

Eternal life is not simply a life after our physical death; it is when we have claimed ourselves that we have lived in the Lord during the moments of our earthly existence that we expect death to be the door to the fullness of life. S. Maria Mercedes, having lived and loved in the Lord all her earthly life, entered the door to eternal life at 8:00 in the evening on Good Friday, April 14, 2017. She had lived her life fully until the age of 97.

In the simple town of Tiaong, Quezon, a couple by the names Genaro Sandoval, a native of Bauan, Batangas and Gertrudes Arguelles from Tiaong, Quezon, were blessed with five children: Nieves, Mercedes, Leocadia, Artemia and Nomida. Mercedes was born on September 24, 1919 in Tiaong, Quezon. She was baptized at the Parish Church of her birthplace on October 27, 1919 by Rev. Fr. Adriano Aranas.

From her very short account of herself, it can be gleaned that the family had a bakery, with her mother taking charge of it. Her father, on the other hand, was with the local government, as the Municipal Treasurer. Her parents, whose dream was for the children to finish college education, took care of them at home, despite of their respective work responsibilities. Both of them lived simply as good practical Catholics, faithful to duty and models of faith and charity for their children.

Her scholastic records showed that at an early age, Sister Mercedes started her basic education in her hometown. However, for her college education, she continued at Manila Central University and pursued a Course in Medicine. As a Doctor, she had the opportunity to serve all kinds of people, needing physical care and treatment. While practicing her profession, the call to religious life, which she had nurtured early in her life kept haunting her. With prayers and courage, she revealed this to her parents. With some resistances from them, still she followed her heart’s desire and finally joined the Religious of the Virgin Mary in 1937.

As a young perpetually professed Sister she was assigned in several communities and schools, always with this prayer in her heart: “For all I am, and all I am called to be is held in the hands of You, my God, with Your love and care.” However, her life was later rocked by trials and difficulties in community. For her, it was a suffering she was uniting with Jesus. She wrote, “I am learning to love and rejoice in the little splinters of Jesus’ Cross that He lovingly showers on me.” But, as days and months passed, her suffering became heavy and burdensome… that, after a canonical retreat, she finally decided to leave the Congregation. The Sacred Congregation of Religious granted her the Indult of Secularization on December 11, 1956.

As a secular, she lived with her family, and went to several places, here and abroad, for some mission work. Though she was “freed” from all the vows of her religious profession, she was constantly in the spirit of prayer and of “living the vows”. With the “call” to the religious life, still in her mind and heart, she made a prayerful discernment and finally decided to return to our Congregation in 1983. She wrote the General Council about her desire for re-entry to the Religious of the Virgin Mary. Discerning prayerfully, the General Council granted her re-entry. With the long years of being away, she was made to undergo again the formal formation, starting with Noviceship on August 8, 1983. On September 10, 1983, she had her First Profession and on August 15, 1988, she had her Final Vows. On August 15, 2008, she had her Silver Jubilee.

To the RVM Sisters who lived and worked with her, she was a sweet, serene and gentle Sister, who quietly sought and did God’s will wherever she was sent as Administrator-Infirmarian, Social Ministry Staff, Retreat Apostolate Staff, Dormitory Staff, Foundation Health Officer in our various communities, namely: RVM Convent, Malaybalay, St. Joseph Home, Immaculate Conception Ladies’ Hall, Manila, Our Lady of Grace Academy, Caloocan, and RVM Motherhouse.

In 2006, with her failing health, she was finally asked to stay at St. Joseph Home, the place which she loved to be in. In this place, she met the God of justice, mercy and compassion. As she surrendered her pains, she prayed to this God: “I give you my trust and my gratitude as you grace my slowly-waning body and spirit.”

On Good Friday, united with Our Lady in her sorrow at the death of her only Son, Jesus, Sister Mercedes offered all her sufferings to Jesus, and finally gave up her life. She succumbed to heart failure due to bilateral pleural effusion.

Farewell Sister Mercedes. We are grateful for the blessing of your life, so blest with simplicity, humility, hiddenness, and fidelity. Your are now face to face with our Risen Lord, who beckons to “Rejoice and be glad”… for LOVE is finally won! Go in peace. You now share in the victory of Christ who died and rose for you, that you may have new life.

Eternal rest grant unto S. Maria Mercedes, O Lord, 

and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace. 

Amen.