MANILA, Philippines?"What a great gift the Lord gave us in her and what a great gift she was."

This summed up the end of the 40-hour vigil for former president Corazon Aquino, who passed away early Saturday morning.

It was an emotional mass at the Adoration Chapel in Edsa shrine Saturday noon as hundreds of Aquino supporters mourn her death.

Fr. Catalino Arevalo, SJ, gave a tearful homily remembering Aquino and how much she loved the chapel.

"This church was built as a memorial to Edsa 1. Cory loved this church so much. That's why we thought of holding the wake here but it?s too small for thousands who would want to see her," he said.

There were no politicians in sight at the wake, only supporters offering their condolences coupled with quiet sobs.

Arevalo said Aquino chose to die on the first Saturday of the month because of her devotion to the Lady of Fatima.

"She loved the Blessed Virgin Mary. She was supposed to die last Monday. The doctor gave her 72 hours but she passed this. It was a very, very peaceful death. She went in her sleep," Arevalo said.

The Filipinos should follow Aquino in how she loved God and the country, he said.

Arevalo said that after Aquino stepped down as president, she could have retired from the limelight.

"But whenever she felt the democracy, the rights of people being undermined, she would come up. She would not claim she was always right. She was willing to make sacrifices to the very end," he said.

"Her love for the country is very strong? Arevalo said. ?I wonder how many of us really love our country and willing to make sacrifices like she did."

The 40-hour vigil started on Thursday.