BEHIND courtroom walls, battles over truth and accountability unfold. As legal proceedings expose the tensions within the country’s political system, ordinary Filipinos are left to grapple with uncertainty. In moments when institutions, circumstances, and even certainty seem difficult to rely on, some turn to something more personal: faith.

In a courtroom where the high-stakes proceedings and battle for truth unfold, the public was drawn to the sight of Prosecution Attorney Mae Divinagracia, an agent of justice, holding onto her “comfort cross” while performing her duty. The cross serves as a doorway into her reality, in which faith is not a mere abstract concept, but something tangible she can hold in the palm of her hand.

Comfort Cross in the Chamber of Injustice

During the 18th day of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte, Divinagracia conducted the direct examination of witness Lemuel Ortonio while holding a small wooden cross. The cross, identified as a “comfort cross,” bears the image of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, a Capuchin priest known for his devotion to prayer.

Asked in an ambush interview why she held the cross, Divinagracia said, “For comfort. It gives me confidence, clarity of mind, that’s how I feel when I’m holding it.” Her explanation offers a glimpse into how faith can become a source of comfort during moments of pressure and uncertainty. 

For some, spiritual practices provide a way to find strength when circumstances remain beyond their control.

The Texture of Filipino Faith

Filipino faith has always been expressive and deeply felt. In times when facts are scrutinized, evidence is weighed, and outcomes remain uncertain, the “comfort cross” that rests in the palm of Atty. Divinagracia shows that faith can become something people physically and emotionally hold onto— reflecting not only a story of personal faith, but also a national truth: Filipino faith is forged not in ideal circumstances, but in the daily, quiet realities of human struggle. 

Beyond resilience, Filipinos navigate fear and uncertainty through communities that nurture faith. Schools and colleges hold recollections and retreats as part of student formation, while churches and prayer communities provide spaces for reflection, worship, and fellowship. These spaces allow people to practice and carry their faith into everyday life.

In the Philippines, where Catholicism remains a major part of religious life, faith is often woven into everyday routines and difficult moments. A rosary clasped between fingers, a candle lit in silence, or a familiar prayer repeated when words fail can become a source of comfort. These practices can offer both personal reassurance and a sense of connection to a larger community.

For some, faith is found at the kitchen table when unpaid bills pile up, in the waiting room of a hospital, after a job disappears, or when someone they love is hurting and there is little they can do. In these moments, faith can become a source of comfort when certainty is difficult to find.

Faith When Fear Remains

Tragedy can come without warning or explanation. Amid political uncertainty, public distrust, economic anxiety, and other pressing national issues, the story of Atty. Divinagracia is a reminder that faith is not a naive concept that erases reality or replaces actions with hope. 

In Mark 5:36, Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.’’ God’s words do not deny fear. Rather, they acknowledge it. Although prayers cannot pay our bills or heal a broken heart; it cannot undo the injustices we face, nor can they promise that every uncertainty will resolve itself. Yet perhaps faith was never meant to give us certainty. To believe is not to pretend that suffering does not exist, nor is faith a naive concept that erases reality or replaces action with hope. Perhaps it gives us something else: the hope to endure, the strength to continue, and the courage to face what cannot yet be changed.

And sometimes, that is enough to keep us moving and to live for the hope of it all.