In The View from the Ark, a professor at a Catholic University gives the readers of the Catholic Times some background on the spirituality some Korean scholars see the world.
Pope Francis released "Laudato si'" in 2015 and the new Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum "Praised be to God" in 2023, calling for a new way of life in the age of the climate crisis. One notable Catholic believer in this context is Chang Il-soon (John the Baptist). He was born in Wonju in 1928 and passed away in May 1994. This year marks 30 years since he became a citizen of heaven.
Pope Francis, through his 2015 encyclical "Laudato si" invited an ecological conversion to care for our common home, the Earth--- an integrated ecology, encompassing humanity and the environment, economy, culture, and society. His 2023 document "Praise be to God" examines the causes of climate change based on scientific evidence, a survival issue for our generation. The document urges effective action before greater tragedy does occur.
Chang Il-soon was baptized in 1940, a scholar who was opened to the religious traditions of Asia. He was so well-versed in Donghak and referred to as 'the walking Donghak' [A movement in Korean Neo-Confucianism that was a reaction to Western learning and called for a return to the Way of Heaven].
He was also knowledgeable about Buddhist traditions, Confucianism, and Taoist philosophy. He deeply internalized the Catholic faith to the extent that he could call himself a 'Jesus' freak'. He lived a life that helped deepen the Korean Catholic's integrated ecological way of life together with the late Bishop Ji Hak-soon (Daniel), the first bishop of the Wonju Diocese.
Pope Francis says: "God has written a precious book, whose letters are the multitude of created things present in the universe." (Laudato si', 85) God allows us to look into his infinite beauty and goodness through this book. Therefore, the world should be contemplated with gratitude and praise as a joyful mystery. (12)
Chang Il-soon expresses this as follows: "In a single blade of grass, the Heavenly Father exists." (一草之中聖父在矣) Here, Chang Il-soon refers to God as the 'Heavenly Father.' Recognizing God as 'Father,' which is natural for him, faithful to the prayer taught by Jesus (Πάτερ: starting with 'Father'). Saint Francis, based on the 'common origin' (un’origine comune) of all created beings, called grass and insects 'brothers' and 'sisters.' (11) The Pope continues this tradition, calling for us to live as a 'universal family' (89) and 'universal fraternity' (228). All beings created by God, created in the image of God as 'part of the universe' (89), living with the breath of God, are revelations of God, temples housing God, and God's family.
All beings that come from one God (common origin, 11) and have God as a common point of arrival (83) are connected as one through this 'commonality.' The Pope expresses this as "all creatures created by the one Heavenly Father are connected by invisible bonds." (89) In a calligraphy he wrote in the spring of 1984, he sang of this 'connectedness' as follows: "I did not realize that you were me, that the moon is my age and the sun is my age, surely you are me."
The statue of the Virgin Mary in a church of Wonju holds the earth in her left hand. We live as beings connected on one earth within the Trinity and the Virgin Mary, which means 'you are connected to me,' and 'I am connected to you.' Chang Il-soon presented this integrated ecological truth to the church and society more than 30 years ago, beautifully, warmly, and powerfully. In this age of climate crisis, I hope that his 'one grass' spirituality and 'you are me' spirituality can be more deeply internalized ecologically in our church and society.
