OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIVERSITY

Valenzuela City • Quezon City • Antipolo City • Cabanatuan • Pampanga

Veritas et Misericordia

Name: ZYALKH MAE DAMASO Date: 11/10/22

Program: BSN Section:

Session 9 & 10: What is Misericordia?

INTRODUCTION
While there is a lack of consensus on the definition of compassion and misericordia, its importance is widely
recognized and is receiving increased attention, (Strauss, Taylor, Gu, Kuyken, et al., 2016). Compassion is now an
interest in the fields of researchers, clinicians, teachers, and other professionals. The importance of compassion is well
recognized by the Our Lady of Fatima University as it is imbued in the University logo and in its vision as an institution
improving man as man by developing an individual through a legacy of excellent education and compassionate value
formation.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the end of this module, students are expected to:
1. Identify MISERICORDIA
2. Differentiate mercy and compassion
3. Enumerate the different elements of compassion
4. Discuss the major types of compassion observed in society
5. Analyze each type of compassion

MODULE LESSON

Misericordia - is the Latin for "mercy", derived from misericors, "merciful", which is in turn derived from misereri, "to pity",
and cor, "heart".

Compassion – In the Oxford English Dictionary, the word compassion came from the Latin word “Compati” which means
to “to suffer with”. In current literature, there is a common idea that compassion is related to feeling the suffering of others
and being motivated to act on it (e.g. Goetz, Keltner, & Simon-Thomas, 2010; Lazarus, 1991).

Compassion leads you to have mercy, which is like forgiveness.

There are 5 Elements of compassion, as concluded in the study of Strauss, et al.in 2016:
1. Recognizing suffering others
2. Understanding the common humanity of this suffering
3. Feeling emotionally connected with the person who is suffering
4. Tolerating difficult feelings that may arise
5. And acting or being motivated to act to help the person

Common types of compassion seen in society:

1. Self-compassion – is where we take care of ourselves in response with a persons’ own suffering and trials.
Taking care of ourselves gives us the capacity to take care of others.
2. Extending compassion – is the feeling of love and care that we give to those we know or even to those we don’t
know personally.
3. Receiving compassion – is where we allow others to care for us in times when a person is in a phase where
he/she is not currently self-reliant
 OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIVERSITY
Valenzuela City • Quezon City • Antipolo City • Cabanatuan • Pampanga

Veritas et Misericordia

MODULE ACTIVITIES

A. VIDEO PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

In this part of this session, students will watch a video entitled “Compassion | Future Shorts”

(Session 10)

B. REFLECTION

Instructions:

Think about a specific scenario time when your close friend felt bad about himself or herself or is really struggling in
some way. How did you respond to your friend in this situation (especially when you’re at your best)? Please write down
your responses following the five elements of compassion discussed by Strauss, et al., 2016.

1. Recognizing suffering of others

2. Before I give advices or

It is important to be kind to let my friends know that they are not the only one who feels pain.
Being with the pain of another person does not mean that you are kind to that person, it just means
that I can understand her feelings. As I know their feelings, I tell them that I understand their
emotion and that they are not alone. I tell them that all problems had a solution and they should
start to love their selves first. And if they need me, I will always be there to support and help them.

Understanding the common humanity of this suffering

3. Feeling emotionally connected with the person who is suffering

When taking to someone who is suffering, I don’t know how to talk or communicate with them. I
don’t know what to say. But when they start sharing with me, I am always afraid to give them
advice or talking to them about their concerns because they may get angry or insulted. So, I only
listen to them. It is more important to be a compassionate listener than to give advice. I listen to
them talking about their feelings and problems without interrupting them. This is to let them know
that I will be there to listen and support them.

4. What difficult feelings did you experience during that situation?

Nervousness, worries, and I feel like I will cry. At that time, I feel like I’ll cry whenever I listen to
my friends not just because they are suffering, Its’ also because I am easily influence by the
atmosphere that surrounds me. If I see someone cry or my family or friends sad my mood will also
change. At that time, I experienced anxious feelings. Anxious feelings often cause us to keep
moving, thinking and turning and our mind can be stunned by the "what if?" and worries about
what will happen next.
 OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIVERSITY
Valenzuela City • Quezon City • Antipolo City • Cabanatuan • Pampanga

Veritas et Misericordia

5. What was your motivation to help the person?

Ask them how they are feeling, provide support, examine their pain, and share my own reactions.
Sit down and watch TV, play games or videogames together, etc. to make and maintain a lively
environment. If you need it,
listen to them talk about their concerns and problems. The feeling that someone is on their side
listening to them relieves some of their burden. As a result, they become more energetic and do the
things they normally do.

CLOSURE

Journal Writing

1. Now think about times when you feel bad about yourself or are struggling. How do you typically respond to
yourself in these situations? Please write down what you typically do, what you say, and note the tone in which
you talk to yourself.

2. Did you notice a difference? If so, ask yourself why. What factors or fears come into play that lead you to treat
yourself and others so differently?

3. Please write down how you think things might change if you responded to yourself in the same way you typically
respond to a close friend when you’re suffering.

1. Whenever I feel bad, disappointed or stressed, I suppress my emotions and not letting everyone
know what I feel. I will only good to my room lock myself and then cry. Then I listen to my
favorite music and sometimes I also listen to such playlist that contains calm song. But every time
I cry, I create or imagining scenarios in my head which makes me cry even harder. However,
After I cry, I talk to myself that I should think positive and reassuring my self that all of them are
just imagination and I will be fine.

2. Yes, I don't seek help from others because I am always afraid that if I tell someone about what I
feel, they will judge me, like calling me dramatic. That is why I always keep it to myself not
letting anyone know what I feel because I know to myself that I can overcome my problems
without telling them even though its’ hard.

3. Maybe things will be different and get better because I've trusted them and tell my own problems
that will make our friendship stronger. No hesitations that will lead us to have misunderstandings
that will make our friendship end because we don't trust each other. No talking behind each other,
no slandering or insulting each other.

REFERENCES

Cohn-Vargas, B. (2016). How to Develop the 3 Most Common Types of compassion. Sixty and Me. Mindset

Goetz, J. L., Keltner, D., & Simon-Thomas, E. (2010). Compassion: An evolutionary analysis
and empirical review. Psychological Bulletin, 136(3), 351–374.

Jazaieri, H., Jinpa, G., McGonigal, K., Rosenberg, E., Finklestein, J., Simon-Thomas, E., Cullen, M., Doty, J., Gross, J.,
Goldin, P. (2012) Enhancing Compassion: A Randomized Control Trial of a Compassion Cultivation Training
Program. Springer Science-Business. Springer
 OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIVERSITY
Valenzuela City • Quezon City • Antipolo City • Cabanatuan • Pampanga

Veritas et Misericordia

Misericord. (n.d.). In Webster's II New College Dictionary. Retrieved May 3, 2018, from
https://books.google.com.ph/books?
id=OL60E3r2yiYC&pg=PA717&lpg=PA717&dq=misericordia+meaning+webster+dictionary&source=bl&ots=CzQ
MCOP0zm&sig=tJx5oTT7c7I9NJT3XgODD-
jpEVk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj1ycHZqenaAhXBHJQKHfc1DE8Q6AEIczAH#v=onepage&q=misericordia
%20meaning%20webster%20dictionary&f=false

Strauss, C., Taylor, B., Gu, J., Kuyken, W., Baer, R., Jones, F., Cavanagh, K. (2016), What is Compassion and How Can
We Measure It? A Review of Definitions and Measures, Clinical Psychology Review, Elsevier