"I am a happy driver." "I will look often into the eyes of the baby." These are the resolves the unmarried mothers are shouting out in the school for mothers conducted by the diocese. The priest president of the New Life Center in a diocese begins his article in Window from the Ark of the Catholic Times, with the above short phrases and explains the importance of gazing into the eyes of the newly born babies.
He began reading some of the books he had in his library. One of the books was written by Christine de Marcellus de Vollmer who came to Korea in 2011 to receive an award from the Seoul Diocese Committee on Life.
Science, he says, has shown us a new understanding of the importance of the brain especially in the first 6 years of life. The cerebral cortex grows according to the stimulation and not automatically during the first 6 years of life. We tend to give credit for a person's talent and temperament to the family history, but even the cortico-limbic lobes develops with stimulation given to the baby during the first years of life. Simply expressed, the brain develops by the concern the baby receives: the self-consciousness, feelings, discipline, peace and happiness are all related to the love and caresses the baby receives from the mother.
The priest introduces us also to Dr. Allan Schore whose ideas on the brain and emotional life of a child are epoch making. The time the mother spends gazing at her child are important for emotional growth. It is a mutual gazing. When the mother gazes into the eyes of a baby she is transferring her energy to the baby which in turn stimulates the brain of the baby. This transaction between the mother and child brings about a neural biochemical reaction that releases endorphin and similar matter which helps to develop the brain but also makes for a happy mood in the child resulting in a smile.This reaction will allow the mother to know how to react and give the baby a chance to return to a more quiet state. The baby will be asking for more stimulation with growth which the mother can respond to.
In Korean society today both parents in many cases are working and have to put their children in nurseries and day care centers. The priest is not against the woman's desire for self realization by entering society, but hopes that they will find quality time to spend with the babies.
Not only the mother but all the family members should be conscious of this reality. He recalls seeing a family in a restaurant where everybody was busy with their smart phones and nobody was talking. We have to put people first in our culture and see the importance of the eye to eye contact between husband and wife, parents and children.
When Pope Francis came to Korea his words were important, but his eye to eye contact, his clasping of hands and embracing of many had much meaning. The pope's dream to see a culture were persons are at the center should also be our dream and we can begin to work for this realization by our eye to eye contact with those whom we meet, especially those who are having difficulties in life.
In the
Catholic World, today is Mission Sunday. The Peace Weekly carried an
article on the 'Francis Effect' after the visit of Pope Francis to Korea.The
religious figures who have the most influence on Korean society,according to a recent survey, are
Cardinal Yeom, deceased Cardinal Kim in number two spot, and number
fourth was Cardinal Cheong. Pope Francis' visit to Korea has noticeably
nourished the Church.
One
of the signs that many have noticed is the increase in the number of
those attending Sunday Mass. Catechumens attending classes at the
Cathedral parish in Seoul in the month of September have increased
twofold.
The
Cathedral parish in 2004, in one year's time, had 771 baptized, after
the death of John Paul II the number increased to 951, and in in 2006,
1351 were baptized. After the death of Cardinal Kim there was another
jump and now it has leveled off at about 1100 a year and this is expected
to rise again after the pope's visit.
The
number of those tepid, and want to return to the community have also
shown an increase, and this is true for the whole country. There are
reports from parishes that the lines for the confessional are longer
and the numbers returning to the Church have increased.
There is also an increase of interest in the work of evangelization. "Let us call upon him today, firmly rooted
in prayer, for without prayer all our activity risks being fruitless
and our message empty. Jesus wants evangelizers who proclaim the good
news not only with words, but above all by a life transfigured by God’s
presence (Joy of the Gospel # 259). In the pope's exhortation we have five steps for evangelization that the article outlines.
First,
a need to pray. Secondly, confidence and zeal, without conviction and
love little can be done. Thirdly, we have to be concerned for the good
of the other.Fourthly, begin with the marginalized and the poor.
Fifthly, do all with joy.
In today's Gospel we heard what Jesus told the first community of believers. He wanted them to go and make disciples
of all nations, and teach them what he has commanded. He would remain
with them until the end. The mission is not only to gain heaven after
death but to enjoy the gift of life that God has given us now. Jesus is the way the truth and life and he wants us to enjoy this gift now and for all eternity.
One
of the Korean proverbs expresses a feeling about the life here on earth
very graphically: "Even if I have to roll in the field filled with dog
excrement this earthly life is good." We who are Christians are able to
say this with much more meaning. Life is not fair for many. There are
many difficulties, problems and crosses that make up this life, it is
not a level playing field, but with a correct attitude and the trust
that God is always walking with us the obstacles add to our glory.
Extreme Unction was the term we used for the Sacrament of the Sick previous to the Second Vatican Council. It was the last anointing and always attended with a certain amount of urgency. A pastor writing in the Catholic Digest recalls the Sacraments of the Sick he administered in the past with surprising results.
In one of his mission stations when he was an assistant, after finishing the morning Mass, and ready to eat breakfast he was approached by one of the Christians asking for the Sacrament of the Sick for one in the community. He wondered if he could finish his breakfast before leaving but decided it was best to go. The trip took 30 minutes to walk to the house, along a narrow path separating paddy fields.
When he arrived at the house, the sick person was out in the yard ready to greet him. The priest was a little bit put out for not having finished his breakfast for there was no great hurry. The sick person also knew that he didn't have his breakfast and expressed regret. He gave the Sacrament. They probably were taking advantage of his visit to the mission station to give the Sacrament to the Sick. He went back to the mission station and took the bus back to the parish.
As soon as he arrived at the parish he received a telephone call. The person who received the Sacrament had just died. He found it hard to believe. As soon as he received the Sacrament he died and a family member went to the mission station to tell the priest, but he had just left on the bus for the parish. The family member waited for him to return to the parish before telephoning.
Another sick call was to a mother. She was living with her 60 year old daughter,both widows living together. They were respected and loved by the community. Two o'clock in the morning he received a call from the daughter asking for the Sacrament of the Sick. He had just given the mother on a visit to the home the Eucharist, and was surprised at the call, but he got ready and went to the home.
The grandmother was unconscious and her hands were cold.The daughter speaking loudly in the ear of the mother told her the priest was there to give her the Sacrament of the Sick. She showed signs of understanding, and he gave her the Sacrament of the Sick. It appeared that she was on the point of dying and the grandson was ready to cry when the mother told him that he was not to cry. The daughter told the mother that she had received the Sacrament and should be at peace, and it was alright to go.
The priest also thought that she was near death, and said the prayers for the dying. After the prayer he returned to the parish; went to bed but couldn't sleep, and prepared for the morning Mass. After Mass while he was eating breakfast a telephone call came from the home of the grandmother. The grandson, was on the phone. He thought it was to notify him of the death and asked: "Did she die peacefully?"
The unexpected answer: "Grandmother regained consciousness and is now eating. He was ready to laugh at the ludicrousness of the situation. He had prayed in all earnestness for her to die peacefully and... Even after he left the parish he heard that she lived many more years. The ways of God are not our ways.
A
pastoral bulletin has an article by a priest on happiness. He tells the
story of a teacher who was always laughing and one of his disciples
recalls he never showed any signs of sadness. Nearing death the
disciple asked him what was the secret of his happiness.
"You are facing death, how is it that you can laugh about it? Without
doubt there have been times in life when things have been unpleasant and
you have experienced sadness, how come you never showed that in
your demeanor?"
The teacher quietly responded: "I met my teacher when I was 17 years
old. I already knew sadness and suffering, and always felt depressed. My
teacher was always laughing and I asked him the secret. 'Why are you
always laughing?' He answered: 'I was like you for many years, overcome
by sadness. One day the thought came to me that I was in charge in the
way I was to live my life. From that time on when I woke up in the
morning I would ask myself what would it be today? Would I be happy or
unhappy?' "
Happiness is something that I will have to choose. Are we walking with
God or not? Saints are those who have made the decision to walk with
God and they are our example of a life well lived. This requires
'metanoia' -- change.
Every
morning when we awake from sleep which is like death, we are born again
to a new day. We like the saints are living a life of 'metanoia' and walk
with God. It is my decision to make, and we know that we have the
help that we need so life should be one long 'Deo Gratias' (Thanks be
to God).
Paul Bourget (1852-1935), a French thinker said: "One must live the way one thinks or end up thinking the way one has lived." A person who is always walking with God will even at death be able to thank God for his life.
Every morning when we open our eyes, we give thanks. Our life is one of change and each day we are giving another chance to walk with God which elicits from us a heartfelt: Deo Gratias.
The Catholic Times had an article on how the Catholic Philosophers want to solve the problems of our competitive society.At an academic conference the philosophers considered the evil in society that came to light with the Sewol tragedy, and our response.
Participants discussed why do we have evil, and what to do about it? Noted was a close connection of evil with money matters, and our insensitivity and lethargy to suffering and evil. Mentioned was the place of education in bringing about a change.
The Sewol tragedy was not just an accident but showed corruption and evil.The participants made clear that to keep silent is to be negligent, lack love for neighbor, and in the process end up doing evil.
Two of the participants asked was it possible to find some good in the evil of suffering? Does society see evil and make it known? Does our education contribute to eradicating evil? Does society criticize evil? Absence of political ethical values promotes the culture of death.The ways of God and human responsibility were all subjects for the talks.
After the Sewol tragedy the existence of our indifference urges us to change. If the evil that continues to spread is to stop, and we want to change course and make suffering a reason to establish the good, we need to seek the reasons for pain and make them known. In this way we will avoid future pain that the families of the victims had to experience with the tragedy.
The word accident was changed to tragedy in the mass media because they saw the workings of evil. We have been educated for success in our economic life. We have not worked to create capabilities to oppose evil, but educated for competitiveness which has entered the education system and into society.
We need to integrate our life and knowledge for maturity. In conclusion there was a desire to put an end to the stereotypes in our text books and look at the problems, worries the students face in their daily lives and come to grips with them and work through them to form the whole person.
A celebrity blogger said that with the passage of time his personal life began to get complicated and ostentatious. As the readers began to increase he began to feel uncomfortable in reading his own blog. In the beginning it was like a diary and pictures were added, but he did not feel free and was overcome with discouragement.
A Salesian religious sister who has a degree in media ecology and conducts retreats writes about the benefits of writing in her column in the Catholic Times. Many who have blogs use them as a diary: an open diary for all those connected to the Social Network Service. What is written for the viewing of others usually has more concern for the audience than for inner integrity of the person doing the writing. When this is repeated, she says, the danger is to have it intoxicate one.
The more a person uses Facebook and the SNS sites the less of an appreciation they have of their own self-worth. The sister reports a psychologist discovered this in his investigation. Many are looking for approval and praise from those with whom they are in contact. Another psychologist in his experiments found those who excessively make known information on their blog do not have a good feeling for their efforts. The friends they make on SNS are only virtual friends, and their real friends, with the overload of information, makes their relation with the blogger more difficult.
Moreover, using the SNS diary pages the intense feelings of elation one feels makes the gentle communications with family and friends unappreciated. SNS becomes a means of showing our pictures and writings and making our self known on an event page.
How about getting back, she says, to a paper diary that we have forgotten? Especially in the digital age going back to the pencil and paper diary has a lot of meaning. We put aside for a time the digital equipment and with pencil and paper concentrating on what we write, we become intimate with ourselves. Stress, outside noises, our business concerns are put to sleep, our emotions subside, and as we write in the diary our inattentiveness becomes regulated.
She remember the years during overseas study when she had to deal with a new language and culture; her diary writing helped her solve many of the difficulties she faced. She has never forgotten the help she received from the writing and the closeness she felt to God.
She concludes with the words of a novelist who said that when he picks up a pencil to write, the body is pushing the pencil. This feeling is very important to him, without this feeling he would not be able to write even one line. Wouldn't it be wonderful, she asks, if we all had this feeling when we pick up a pencil?
After the visit of the pope to Korea we have been looking to see what sprouts have begun to appear within the Church. A recent seminar wanted to know what we can expect from the visit as seen by a priest, sister, and a layperson. An article in the Catholic Times gives a synopsis of the talk of each of the participants.
The priest mentioned the centrality of the clerical in the make-up of the Church: this needs to be addressed for a reformation. The original understanding of Church,he said, was for the pope and bishops to deepen the faith life of the Christians, giving them hope and to energize them for renewal of the world in which we live. The aim is to extend the kingdom of God, to spread the faith and not a place where we make our last will and testament to pass on our treasures. We want to have a deeper relationship with God: sharing among ourselves, a desire to learn, question and resolve our doubts; the lack of communication is a problem .
Justice and mercy are two concerns of our Christian life but there is no reason to discuss which is prior, for they are tied together. To be only interested in love and forgetting justice is a temptation we face. Without concern for justice, he says, and thinking love is all that is necessary, we deceive ourselves.
The renewal of the Church requires a change in the structures of administration and culture. Secondly, make our Catholic identity clear, a need to change our discipline to achieve unity. Thirdly, a need to deepen our religious life, which will require effort from our leaders and more openness. He feels there is a need to change the culture of our priests to a more Gospel based culture.
The sister reminds us that without a change in the way we looked upon a great many of the habits of the past in our religious life we will not have change.When the religious orders in the past were faced with a crisis they were able to change: because of the strong impact this made on the religious. Religious were not under the organizational system of the Church which gave them more freedom. When difficulties arose the religious walked with God as their companion which was the hallmark of the religious.
Religious are the first to face the crisis and react to it. They are the prophetic voice against the unhealthy individualism, and against the accommodation with the times, and open to a greater courage to overcome the difficulties.
The layperson mentioned the Church has not been concerned with the poor but with external growth. We have become a middle class community for fellowship which makes change difficult. He looks around and sees much that goes contrary to the image of the Church that the pope stressed in his visit. The lay people are by far the largest segment of the Church and wants them to take the message to heart and work for its implementation.
