"My Withered Spirit was Fired Up"

On May 1st I translated the first installment of an article in two parts and did not notice it was going to be continued. This continues the story of the priest who went to Lourdes on a pilgrimage.("Before Asking for a Miracle, First 'Believe'")

That night the priest returned to the shrine where he spent a great deal of time in prayer and meditation, after which he returned to his lodging. Next morning he got up early, said Mass with the sisters, and after breakfast hobbled over to the shrine. Saying the rosary, he waited for the submerging ceremony.  

After undressing and putting on a gown, he was led to the stone tub to be submerged. All he  could think of was how cold the  water was. That was his only thought.

At the end of the ceremony he remembered he did not thank God for the expected cure. With all kinds of thoughts running through his head, he decided to leave everything in the hands of the Blessed Mother and returned to his lodging.

After eating lunch at the convent and still hobbling, he was taken by the sisters to the railroad station in Lourdes. On the train, his knee hurt as before but his body and spirit were refreshed.

When he arrived in Lourdes the desire for a miracle was urgent but after one night and two days in Lourdes, he felt like an innocent child, able to pray with a purity which gave him much joy. After a tiring two days, he easily fell asleep on the train, and was just 30 minutes from Paris when he awoke.  He stretched, picked up his luggage and, as he got ready to leave, was surprised to find that he could walk without a limp.

"Why," he asked, "am I  no longer limping? My knee gave me a great deal of trouble and now the pain has disappeared" He did a little running in place and it hurt a little. When he arrived at the place of lodging, the knee no longer hurt. "Was that a miracle cure?" he wondered.

The writer, after listening to the priest's  movie-like story, told him: "You  have been blessed with a miracle!" The priest answered: "In fact, more than the healing of my knee, I was able to pray with a pure heart. My withered spirit was fired up. That is the real miracle."

Importance of Study

In the religious life of communities, study has always had an important place. We have the Benedictine tradition of work, prayer and study. We use our minds in search of wisdom, use our bodies to work and our hearts and spirit to pray and to practice the virtues. 
 
Consequently, it is not surprising  that  a word  Korean children often hear is 'study'. It may be the word they find most loathsome, according to the writer of the  Desk Column in the Catholic Times. Not only children but adults also hear the word, and it is not always welcomed for it implies  some fault is found with their behavior.

In jest, one often hears: "One more hour of study and the face of the husband changes." And "For three years you are nobody but you are changing who your husband will be." With words of this type, our high school girls are told to study not for itself but for what will likely happen if they do and if they don't; there doesn't seem to be any understanding of the value of study itself.  These two sayings are displayed on classroom walls in high schools for girls to prod them to study.  The message? The more you study, the better your chances of finding a husband that meets your standards.

The word for study comes to us from its use in Buddhism. It is the cultivation of the teachings of Buddhism, especially the earnest study of Zen meditation. For this reason study has to be done earnestly, getting rid of all distractions and, whether sitting or standing, giving yourself totally to the study at hand.
 
The word for study in Korean is made up of two Chinese characters: 工夫 (gong bu). The first character, with the two parallel lines, shows the joining  of heaven an earth, the effort to penetrate the truth of heaven and earth and humanity. The second character signifies man with his two hands outstretched and a topknot  on his head. The word contains the meaning that it is man's work. And even though the writer was somewhat embarrassed to say this, he explained that the Korean ancestors considered study as the means which enables a man to gain the ability and to fulfill the duty to feed and care for his family. It was also the way to cultivate a person who would be respected by society; in today's world, we would say "to become someone."

The writer reminds us that the parents of Jesus also told him to study. The way he related to the teachers in the temple and his disciples clearly shows that he studied. He has all the marks of a person steeped in the world of study. As in the world of Buddhism and Confucianism, study is an important part of what we do as human beings and as Christians.

In the last sentence of the second chapter of Luke there are the words: "Jesus, for his part, progressed steadily in wisdom and age and grace before God and men." Here we have the growth in wisdom, in the body and in grace; the  fourth, relating well with all our brothers and sisters.The lack of any one of the four leaves us less than complete. It is the sign of a whole person, and an important part of achieving this wholeness is the necessity of study.  

A Pioneer In Korean Sacred Art

One of the early Korean artists who was a pioneer in sacred art was Louis Pal Chang (1901-2001).The Catholic Times brings him to our attention in their series of articles on the Third Order of St. Francis. He became a Tertiary while in the United States, majoring in art at Columbia University.  It was at this time that he became a member of the Third Order of St. Francis, following his older brother John Chang, who was the premier of the country before his civilian government was toppled by Park Chung-hee.

When Louis Chang returned to Korea from the US in 1925 he was already a leader in art education and administration. He laid the foundation for religious art in Korea, and with other artists, after the liberation, had the first sacred art exhibition in the country.  He started the art department at Seoul University and became its first president.

Many of his works, appearing in churches, convents and monasteries, were made for churches in the North, but only one has survived. In 1960, at the building of Hei Hwa Dong Church, he gathered  his students and was in charge of the plans for the church, and for selecting the sculptures.  This is the first Church built without the help of foreign missioners, and it is universally admired for its beauty.

When Korea had  no appreciation of inculturation in art, Louis Chang was depicting Jesus and Mary not only in Korean dress but with the colors and composition used in the traditional technique. He  followed  the iconography manner of painting but  developed a Korean type of icon.

Because of the difficulties experienced by his older brother and the turbulent situation in the country, he left for the  United States in 1964. While there he taught and continued painting until his death. He did return many times during his  years in the States for exhibitions and church events. He was selected in 1996 as "a great man of Seoul" and his sculptured bust can be see on campuses.

Louis Chang Pal passed away on April 8 a few days after his one-hundredth birthday. An exhibition was planed to celebrate his 100 birthday in the Korean Cultural Center gallery of New York but he died a month before the planned exhibition.

The Cathedral church in Seoul has his portrait of the twelve apostles with Paul and Barnabas, which he painted in 1926. He is one of the few who attended both the beatification ceremonies of the 79 in 1925 in Rome and of the 103 who were canonized in 1988. The painting in the Cathedral, begun after his return from Rome in 1925, is considered the first painting to be placed in a sanctuary of a Korean Catholic Church. 

Pal Chang was a deeply spiritual artist and a precursor in the sacred art of Korea, transcending in his art the distinction between East and West. He will be remembered fondly and many of his works inspiring our new sacred artists.

Headache for the Archbishop of Kwangju

We hear again about the events in  Naju Korea. The Catholic Times featured the story on the front page, including the official announcement concerning Naju by the archbishop of Kwangju.Those who are followers of this private revelation to Julia Kim are publicizing it as having the approval of the Vatican and they list the names of those who have given credibility to the events of Naju. The three ordinaries of the archdiocese have made it clear where they stand, but this has not received  credibility among the Catholics because those in Naju are saying that John Paul II  and Benedict, along with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, have looked favorably on the miracles. 

The followers of Naju are saying the beatification of John Paul II is "an implicit and certain confirmation of the Holy See's positive stance." 

In the official announcement in response to the events in Naju, the archbishop's statement makes clear there has been no change in the way the archdiocese looks upon the events. The supporters have spread their rumors throughout the country and the archbishop feels that another official statement is warranted.

The news that the Vatican is positive on the events at Naju is upsetting the Catholic faithful.The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has accepted the decision of the two previous ordinaries and the present ordinary. The present archbishop of Kwangju, on his visit to the Congregation in July of last year, was informed that nothing has changed. In conclusion, the archbishop  says that he has been in communication with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and is notifying all the Catholics of this fact.

The problem arises because of the publicity that events in Naju is getting on the internet. Many in Rome have been quoted as being favorable to Naju and this is  continually  being  emphasized.This has  made  the position of the ordinaries awkward when the promoters of Naju continue to use the words of the Popes in favor of the events.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has given permission for the official  proclamation of the archbishop of Kwangju. The Congregation said, "That what the supporters of Julia have sent to the Congregation concerning the miracles of Naju bear little resemblance to Christlike spirituality. And, concerning the miracles of Naju, the Congregation is not thinking of changing its stance, which makes their position no different than that of the archbishop's. Hopefully, this will see the end of the dispute. Check the previous blog for reasons why the problem continues to annoy the Korean Church.                                        

God Works Through Secondary Causes

An article in the Peace Weekly recounts the success story of two parishes in a Korean country diocese. Although the number of Catholics in the country has increased in the last 10 years, the number attending Masses has decreased. The article mentions two parishes that have not followed this trend.

According to the statistical report of 2009, only one of every four Catholics attends Mass. When those in pastoral work hear that some parishes are getting over 40 percent attending Sunday Mass, they are interested. The article goes on to tell us the secret of this success.

One of the parishes has 1,744 parishioners registered and 784 coming out to Mass on Sundays. The numbers on Sunday are such that they are required to put chairs in the Church to accommodate them. Even at daily Mass it's difficult to find a seat.

Explaining his pastoral policy, the pastor said, "More than having many events I try to make every one of the parishioners feel the joy and delight of the life of faith. When the Catholics at Mass feel a sense of peace the numbers increase."

He makes clear that he has not used programs to  evangelize or made efforts to get the tepid back, and yet the numbers increase.  Instead he stresses the joy of the Christian life. "The parishioners, who are often tired by the daily chores of living," he said, "when they come to our church feel respected. It's what we want them to feel."

The pastor and the assistant and the office help make sure that no one is irritated  or pressured; everyone is always greeted pleasantly and kindly. At the end of every Mass, the pastor and assistant are always outside the church greeting the people and sharing in their concerns. The telephone is always available to contact the priests, and they are always eager to help. This spirit of the parish gets communicated to others and is a reason for the return of the tepid and the automatic increase in evangelization.

Most parishes are large and intimacy is not easily achieved. The personality of the pastor and assistant is certainly a part of what  goes into the mix to bring about a welcoming atmosphere in a parish setting. We should probably all be given courses in human relations and what goes into making a good salesperson. Our trust in the grace of God  to break through  all the human frailties and lack of charisma in the pastoral teams is necessary, but neither should we forget that God  works through secondary causes.

Before Asking For a Miracle, First "Believe"

The Catholic Times spiritual column tells us the  story of a priest who was in France for a number of months and complained of pain in his right knee that was progressively  getting worse.

We are told that he  bumped his knee against  the car door;  he thought it was just a bruise but the pain not only increased, but he began to walk with a limb. Since he was in France and didn't have any insurance, he was not considering going to the hospital. An operation would be out of the question fearing the cost of such treatment without  insurance. Returning to Korea in his situation he didn't think possible, and he was not able to function as he desired with the pain.

Since he was in France and Lourdes was not  far away he decided to make the trip. Grabbing at any possibilities to remedy the situation. Going to Lourdes, he thought, something good could happen. He took the train to Lourdes the next day. In one way, he felt shame and childishness in asking for a miracle.

However, arriving at Lourdes, he convinced himself that he  was not  looking for a miracle but was on a pilgrimage. He went to the place of lodging run by Korean Sisters, left his luggage and hobbled over to the shrine.

It was the beginning of March, and the weather was bad and there were few pilgrims at the site but even that being the case, there were those  from many different countries. He sat outside  the cave and recited the rosary and took a drink of the water, and returned to his  place of lodging. That night  while eating with the sisters one of them said:

"Father, Lourdes is truly a place not easily to figure out. Many who live around the shrine  daily prepare their rice and tea with the water from the shrine, and nothing happens, and you have those who take the  miracle water home to their country in a small bucket, and  give it to those who need it, and just taking a drop of it are blessed with a miracle.

"I without much thought have drunk a great deal of the miracle water." the priest said.

"If you have drunk the water today, tomorrow go and wash in the water" the sister said.

"I plan to do it, the pain is just too much.  I will participate in the ceremony of being submerged in the water tomorrow"

"Father, tomorrow when you go to the shrine and attend the submerging ceremony  don't pray  for a miracle,  but  just thank God that your knee has been cured."

Pilgrimages to Macau

The  Catholic Times introduces us to Sister Theresa, a Korean Sister who is a  pilgrimage guide stationed in Macau. Officially accredited  by the  Macau Touring Office, she is the first sister to have worked in that capacity. She not only is a tour guide in name, but in reality is a competent  guide both in Lourdes, Japan and Macau.

She was invited to come to the Diocese of Macau in 2007 to work in the pilgrimage center. She began instructing guides in 2009, and in 2010 starting working as a guide herself.

Macau's  relationship to the Korean Catholic Church goes back to the time when three of the first seminarians Kim Tae-gon, Choi Yang-eop and Choi Bang-je were sent  there to study for the priesthood. They walked for over six month, enduring many hardships, before arriving at the seminary and beginning their studies for the priesthood. There are many historical reminders of these first seminarians in Macau, but few Catholics, she laments, are familiar with the history.

For 450 years the history of the Church in Asia can find a connection to Macau.The Jesuits were in the forefront, sending missioners to different parts of Asia and bringing  Western culture to  Asia. It was from this base in Macau that missioners departed for, among other countries, China, Japan, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Without mentioning Macau, it is difficult to give a true picture of the Church's history in Asia.       
     
She finds it satisfying to be a pilgrimage guide for our Korean Catholics, and since Sister is familiar with our Catholic history the pilgrims find the time spent with Sister very worthwhile. She says that showing the Chinese around, however, is even more satisfying when she can  introduce them to Catholic history and the life of the religious.

She volunteers her services  every Saturday and Sunday to guide the pilgrims to the  the churches of St. Lawrence, St. Augustine and St. Joseph.  When she is showing around those who come from China, the religious habit is a point of curiosity and they  all start looking for their cameras.

The  diocese of Macau is a great deal older than Korean Catholicism and yet still needs foreign missioners. Sister is proud of the fact that the Korean Church is younger and  is blessed with zeal and many vocations. This is envied by the Church in Macau, and sister finds  joy in sharing  with them some of the passion of the Korean Church.