Need For Angels in Society!

The Catholic Website Here/Now has an article with a reminiscence of the past from a retired priest who wants us to be more angelic in our life here on earth.

In the past, school teachers were in charge of both day and night shifts. A common sight on Sundays in spring when they were on duty was a middle-aged woman sitting alone on a bench under a tree at the end of a playground. A woman in a well-dressed outfit and a hat with a brim, looking out over the playground and the classrooms beyond... 

Looking at such a scene, teachers could be imaged saying: 'Spring has come! Just as spring is said to be the women's season, when the vitality of spring arrives, one feels the urge to escape from the repetitive daily grind and return to the dream-filled days of the past. Of course, it's a short trip but an escape.

When autumn comes, men often go to the movies alone and drink alone at a food stall or a bar. Fall approaches with melancholy and a feeling of loneliness. That too is a runaway. It may have been only a few hours, but where does life go? His state of mind as he sighs and drinks a glass of alcohol is ultimately running away.

However, running away from home in his teens was not like that. He ran away from home when he was a teenager. He returned after a week. He was 17 years old, burdened by the guilt of being nothing more than a worthless human being. He wanted to throw away his useless existence, so he left home without a plan. 

On Christmas Eve in December, he went north from Busan Station on the railroad line in the city. He was going to a place where he would be cold and hungry, and where he had no one to ask for help. But when he got off at dawn with a ticket bought with all the money he had, he found himself in a desolate small station with a bleak landscape and biting cold weather. Moreover, the reality of hunger made him think only of returning home as the days passed.

No money in his pocket. From then on, he began the journey of struggling to return home. Surprisingly, many people appeared like angels and offered a helping hand. As he returned home after barely a week, he couldn’t help but think of the angels who helped him without asking or saying a word. He was truly grateful to these angels. 

When he returned home, he stopped at the church before going home and offered a prayer of thanks to God.  God silently accompanied him by the angels he met. He also had this vague realization— The core of the problem was not to compare himself to others, but to love and care for himself as he was…

So he wants to say this to all the teenagers wandering the streets or thinking of doing so to listen to his story. If you want to run away in a cool way. There are many reasons for running away, so he doesn't want to pretend to know them or fail to sympathize with reasons that go beyond imagination, but if you want to run away in a cool way and gain new strength to live a cool life in the world, then you want to face the difficulties as a God-given challenge and with courage. without running away.

Truly, runaway teenagers need many angels to stand with them. The moment they leave their homes and schools, what they need immediately is the hand of an angel. These angels are needed to lead them to the well of water and guide them to the light, so they do not fall for the many temptations all around. What if we reach out to the youth and say: "If you dream of running away, listen to my story and have hope to face the future."

"Do not cast me off in the time of old age" (Ps.71:9)

 

The Catholic Peace Weekly in an article on Ageism shows why it is a topic society can no longer ignore.  Interpersonal ageism takes place between individuals, towards yourself and your age group, and when social norms, practices, and rules are unfair to the elders in society it is institutionalized.

As Korea enters an aging society, the label ‘gerontophobia’ has emerged. This grows from ‘conflicts with the elderly’ and ‘discrimination against the elderly’ that occur throughout society as we enter a super-aging society next year. Expressions of gerontophobia are being used excessively online, and gerontophobia is happening daily. Just look at the recent series of accidents involving elderly drivers, and the criticism of the elderly.

In his message for the 4th World Day of Grandparents and Elderly, Pope Francis said: "The accusation that the elderly ‘steal the future of the young’ exists everywhere these days, the unfounded prejudices continue to fuel the conflict between the young and the old." He urged us to have open hearts and happy faces toward the elderly. In celebration of the ‘World Day of Grandparents and Elderly', the article looked into the problem of gerontophobia in society.

Inconvenient Beings—

The article gives the example of a young office worker who was approached by an old man as she went home on the subway feeling tired and reminded by the elder: "I am an old man who has to stand but a young person sits— is this appropriate?" This seat was not for the elderly, she gave up her seat but did not understand the old man's request. Another old man pushed her away as she was getting out of the train. It was an especially difficult commute home for her. 

Another example was a 30-year-old office worker, who recently felt uncomfortable after visiting a cafe with her colleagues after lunch. After ordering drinks and sitting down to wait, old people came into the cafe. The old people seemed to be friends. They not only spoke to the cafe staff rudely but also asked for understanding.  Even after the old people sat down, she continued to feel uncomfortable. They laughed and talked loudly, completely disregarding the people around them. In the end, she and her friends had to leave their seats.

According to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea's Comprehensive Report on Elderly Human Rights (2018), 80% of young people have negative prejudices against the elderly. The reasons for this are changes in perception between generations due to changes in social structure and an increase in the economic burden of support due to the increase in the elderly population. According to the survey of the Presidential Committee on Low Birth Rate and Aging Society (2021), Korea's level of discrimination against the elderly ranked second among 15 OECD countries.

Recently, as the number of elderly people aged 65 or older in Korea exceeded 10 million for the first time, voices of concern about discrimination and hatred against the elderly are growing louder.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, as of July 10, the number of registered residents aged 65 or older reached 10,006,200, exceeding 10,000,000 for the first time ever. This is 19.51% of the total registered population of 51,269,012, meaning that one in five people is aged 65 or older. Next year, the elderly population will exceed 20% of the total, entering a “super-aging society.” As the elderly population increases, conflicts between generations will gradually intensify, and as the economic burden of supporting the elderly increases, discrimination and hatred will also intensify.

In reality, there are quite a few elderly people who are hurt by the words, actions, and uncomfortable stares of others.

A university professor in the Department of Social Welfare said: "Compared to other countries, discrimination and hatred against the elderly in our country are serious. The younger generation tends to view the elderly as unproductive in economic activity, so discrimination and hatred against the elderly seem to be more prominent."

A religious sister working with the elderly said: “When I counsel elderly abuse cases, I often see children viewing their parents as 'unhelpful beings'. Discrimination against and hatred for the elderly often starts at home. The tendency to view slow and unproductive elderly people as unnecessary in our society is fostering discrimination and hatred.”

The professor emphasized: “We need to make an effort to understand what kind of life we ​​have lived and what kind of life we ​​are living now. It is important to acknowledge the differences between generations.  Elderly people need to think about what role they can play for young people, and young people need to think about what role they can play for old people. Education to understand the differences between generations from a young age should be carried out at home, school, and in society, and the media should also sufficiently inform this awareness.”

The Sister concluded: "It is a wrong perspective to distinguish between the elderly as unnecessary and the young as needing protection.  Instead of looking for each other’s shortcomings and confronting each other, our society should highlight each other’s strengths and roles and strive to act accordingly. I hope the elderly can show their generosity by sharing their experiences."

What Needs to Change?

In the Catholic Times, a lay missioner working within the Korean military gives us his thoughts on the young people and the empty pews they no longer frequent.

Many thoughts arise when he looks at an empty church without young people. With interest, he considers the pastoral considerations and efforts to call young people to the church or keep them from leaving. He wants to make a few suggestions based on his experience of 15 years of providing catechetical education for new believers and re-education of parishioners, special forces, soldiers, officers, and military families at the Military Ordinariate.

Some people refer to today's young people as a 'fragmented individualistic generation' that seeks "what works and pleasure" and say they are experiencing a serious "post-religious phenomenon." Is this true? 

Near the church in the Military Ordinariate where he works, there is a Protestant church and a Buddhist temple beside each other. In the case of trainees, more than 120 people attend the Protestant church during Sunday service, about 80 attend the temple, and about 20 attend the Catholic Church. Compared to 15 years ago, when he started his military mission work, there was not much difference in the numbers; today, the number of people attending Mass at church has decreased significantly.

Why is that? These days, young people are interested in social order changes related to equal opportunity and inequality, the climate crisis, sustainable future communities, and the common good. This means they have retained their religious faith. So why are they absent from Mass? In rare cases, there are cases where they feel the solemnity and holiness of Mass and decide to receive Baptism themselves. However, many young people think that Mass is boring, uncomfortable, and just a religious ceremony that has nothing to do with their lives. He doesn't see them experiencing salvation from the Lord.

The core of the faith of Resurrection is that everything is 'renewed' every day. "I prefer a church that is hurt, wounded, and defiled by going out on the streets rather than a church that is closed off and unhealthy, only caring about its comfort. I do not want a church that is desperate to be the center but caught up in a web of obsession and procedures. If something truly disturbs us and torments our conscience, it is because so many of our brothers and sisters live without strength, without the comfort and light of communion with Jesus Christ." (Evangelii Gaudium, 49)

This is the 'new wine' Pope Francis gave us ten years ago. However, ten years later, we are still stuck in the 'old wineskins' of volatile self-centeredness, cafeteria faith for self-satisfaction, and obligatory Sunday attendance at Mass. If we cannot experience the fullness of grace by breaking away from 'the old way' and the church cannot reverse its decline and restore its dynamism, shouldn't we be looking for new wine?

Many young people say that they always feel sidelined in the church and that the church is not willing to listen to their problems, which is why they turn away. Instead of teaching and demanding, there is a need for an attitude of learning and acceptance, creating space for them to participate. Therefore, we must also ask the young people: Can you not make suggestions? Can you demand your own space? Have you tried? If you try and it doesn't work, then you can leave. I want to see young people who find their role as church owners.

Young people! If you think you will share, care, and sacrifice after you have received something, the opportunity will never come. Just as 3% of salt makes the entire sea water salty, love this moment and be the salt within the church!

Difference Between Dialogue and Discussion

The attitude of listening and dialogue requested in the Synod process is 'being more open to the voices of those who think differently from us, as well as those we tend to easily ignore and exclude'. It is difficult to accept that we should listen to those we do not want to talk to. This is the kind of preparation given by the Catholic papers, magazines, and news reports within the teaching Church.

“Strong and well-written phrases can attract consumers’ attention, but they are not enough to lead them to purchase.” We can make people accept the importance of listening, but it seems that some preparation is needed to become a Synod that willingly listens to and talks with even those with whom we have uncomfortable relationships.

Our relationships with others improve through listening. It would be good to gradually learn the skill of listening, but first, listen to other people’s stories with sincerity. When the other person feels that they are sincerely listening to my voice, their attitude toward me changes. At some point, you will feel that the other person’s voice toward you has become softer. Experience the power of listening. Listening is not just hearing what the other person says, but also examining what the other person is trying to convey even though they haven’t expressed it in words, and giving feedback to the other person.

Even if we have something we need, it takes some time and effort to become accustomed to it. For example, people want to lose weight. So they choose extreme weight loss methods, but it seems that they rarely succeed. People who have confidence in weight management by reducing overeating and increasing exercise time regularly seem to be relatively more successful. The same goes for listening. As you accumulate daily experiences of listening, you gain the power to willingly listen to even the most difficult words of the other person.

The article from which these words were taken mentioned a writer who began practicing listening and started a new life by improving his relationships with people around him. He listened to the stories of people around him and responded to them, and could feel his attitude toward himself changing, and the author confesses that this change became the starting point for living his life actively.

Listening is more than just hearing. It requires patience and effort to focus on the other person’s voice. Even if you make an effort to listen, it is difficult to continue listening if the other person shows a wary attitude toward you. Nevertheless, Synod emphasizes conversations of listening that sincerely listen to the other person’s story. Synod’s demand that we listen to the voices of even those we want to ignore and exclude seems unrealistic. However, if the change in relationships that occurs through listening is helpful not only to the other person but also to ourselves, it is definitely worth trying. 

A help in doing this is to remember the difference often heard between dialogue and discussion. Dialogue means using your ears as much as your mouth, asking questions to learn, agreeing with what you can, discovering the similar and common values you have, and expressing emotions to help to understand. Discussion may often mean debate—giving answers, wanting to be right and win over the other, and seeing it as competition and not a means to seek the truth but looking only for the points of conflict and not valuing the other as a person of dignity. 

Let us remember the theme of the Synod— "For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission."

Defectors from North Korea

Over the years we heard a lot about defectors from  North Korea to South Korea. Below is a summary of some of the news that the Catholic papers have covered over the recent past on those who have come from the North.

As of 2023, there are approximately 34,000 North Korean defectors who have settled in South Korea. When defectors come to Korea they go to the North Korean Defector Settlement Support Office operated by the Ministry of Unification commonly called Hanawon.

Here, they are introduced to Korean society and are trained for jobs. It is a place all defectors must go, a second home to them. To write this article they met with the Hanawon Director to discuss Hanawon’s work and role, the characteristics of recent North Korean defectors entering the country, and ways to strengthen cooperation with religious organizations to ensure the emotional stability of North Korean defectors.

According to the Ministry of Unification, 196 North Korean defectors entered South Korea last year. This is three times the number in 2021 (63 people) and 2022 (67 people), during the COVID-19 pandemic. There were also two cases of defection by sea, which had not occurred in the previous three years. By gender, women accounted for the majority at 164. In particular, more than half of those entering the country, 99 people, were in their 20s and 30s. 70% of defectors came from the provinces, bordering North Korea and China. 

The Director said: "Recently, more people defected because they dreamed of a better future rather than because of hunger. In the past, the main reasons for defecting were hunger and economic hardship. Then came dissatisfaction with the political system and a yearning for freedom.  However, now the main reasons for defecting have changed to a better future and an improved quality of life, such as children’s education. They want to live in a freer world."

"This change is largely influenced by South Korean broadcasts and TV dramas, K-pop, etc. Many of the people who come to Hanawon now have some knowledge of South Korean society.  Just looking at the fact that North Korea has recently greatly strengthened its laws to crack down on the (Korean Wave), it shows that the yearning for South Korea is growing in North Korean society and that it is becoming a threat to the system."

When North Korean defectors come to South Korea, they are investigated by the National Intelligence Service and then transferred to Hanawon. Here, they receive 12 weeks of adaptation training before entering South Korean society. They learn what is necessary for living in Korea. 

"Defectors think of Hanawon as their second home, they really felt like they were on a picnic. They invited defectors who were physically disabled or financially struggling. Everyone was very touched. Many people said they wanted to hold such events more often."

The director said: "The number of North Korean defectors who entered South Korea in the first half of this year exceeded 100, and although North Korea is increasing sanctions such as border control, he expects the number of people entering this year to increase by about 30% compared to last year."

Religious events play an important role in the Hanawon educational program. The director said: "For North Korean defectors to settle down in society not only material support but also emotional stability is very necessary. Religious events provide psychological and emotional stability to North Korean defectors.  On Sunday mornings, four major religious events are held: Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist, and Won-Buddhist."

The director especially praised the Korean family experience event for North Korean defectors in which the Catholic Church participates. Currently, the Catholic Church is holding family experience events in the Suwon Diocese and the Archdiocese of Seoul. "Among our programs, there is one called ‘Family Culture Experience.’ It is designed to enhance the understanding of our culture and market by allowing North Korean defectors to come into contact with ordinary citizens, share feelings, experience real family life, and engage in shopping activities with volunteers. They eat, sleep, and live in (volunteer) homes for one night and two days, and see how each family lives. The Catholic Church proposed this and connects many with (volunteer) homes. It is a significant experience for many North Korean defectors to feel the warmth of our society during the initial settlement process."

The director said, "Many defectors have no ties to South Korea, so they still have a hard time adjusting to society. We will continue to find ways to strengthen cooperation with religious circles."

The Director stated: "I will continue to do my best to help North Korean defectors settle well into Korean society. During the recent North Korean Defectors’ Day event, the president talked about settlement, capacity, and harmony for North Korean defectors. It’s all related to Hanawon. We are providing education related to the initial settlement of North Korean defectors, and we are doing the initial preparation stage to help them get a good job. Lastly, harmony is about being able to leave Hanawon and live better with our people, and education at Hanawon ultimately plays an important role in this as well." 

Defectors are a large group working for the unification of the Country.

Japanese Bishops' Plea For Peace

In the recent Catholic Peace Weekly, a journalist gives the readers the words of the Archbishop of Tokyo, the president of the Japanese Bishops' Conference, and his fears about the direction of the world.

He appealed on the 6th to join the "Synod’s Journey to Find Peace" as the Japanese Church began the "10 Days of Prayer for Peace."  He expressed his reflection on World War II which broke out in 1939 and asked that the world not be allowed to be caught up in the whirlpool of war and violence again.

On July 16 the Archbishop released a message titled “Indifference Takes Lives (無関心) on the website of the Bishops’ Conference of Japan, expressing concern about the “violence” spreading around the world— Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, and Myanmar. He lamented, “After World War II, the world swore that ‘we will not repeat evil,’ but looking at the world today, I wonder if this pledge is being kept,” and added, “Once (violence) begins, there is no end.”

Archbishop Kikuchi especially noted the phenomenon of ‘human alienation’ that has spread behind technological development, saying, “Along with the spread of artificial intelligence (AI), a ‘globalization of indifference’ is in progress.” Archbishop Kikuchi emphasized; in today’s society, everyone seems to be treated as isolated ‘somethings’ on screens. However, in reality, our brothers and sisters are being deprived of life.” He added, “It is humans who create violence, and it is our indifference that fuels it.”

Archbishop Kikuchi prayed that the upcoming Jubilee of 2025 would be the starting point for the ‘Synod for Peace.’ Archbishop Kikuchi said, “Pope Francis is asking us to walk a synodal journey path, accompanying our most vulnerable brothers and sisters,” adding, “We must remember that only we can stop the violence against life that we have witnessed countless times, and in the depths of despair, the Church must be a pilgrim of hope.”

The Japanese Church has been praying the “10 Days of Prayer for Peace” every August since 1982. This is a time to remember the ‘original sin’ of the past and pledge to participate in actions to protect peace, following the teaching of Pope John Paul II in Hiroshima, Japan in 1981 that “to remember the past is to participate in the future.” During this period, Japanese churches held peace prayer masses, prayer meetings, lectures, and seminars to raise awareness of peace and justice.

Everyone is Destined to Die

In the Catholic Peace Weekly a reporter introduces us to an article from Church Unity and Interreligious Dialogue of the Catholic Bishops' Conference on— Is Reincarnation Real—

“Everyone is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)

Stories about ‘reincarnation’ that appear in movies and novels are influenced by the New Age movement, which seeks to understand death as a process of being reborn as a new life beyond biological separation.

The New Age movement does not recognize the finiteness of humans. Simply expressed it rejects biblical monotheism in favor of monism or pantheism.  Christianity has firmly rejected these teachings since ancient times. In addition, modern reincarnation theory arbitrarily interprets the Buddhist idea of ​​reincarnation. While Buddhist reincarnation teaches that humans must attain enlightenment and escape the cycle of life and death, which is like a wheel of suffering, modern reincarnation theory insists on an endless cycle of life.

Christians do not believe in reincarnation. Humans are born into this world with the gift of one life from God, and after ending their earthly life through death, and the journey to reach God, who is eternal life. Some people try to justify reincarnation by arguing that a “resurrection battle” is necessary for those who have ended their lives in misfortune. However, humans can never be freed from evil and contradiction by their own power alone. True salvation for humans is given only through forgiveness, peace, and eternal life given by the just God.

Can we be punished or suffer if we serve our ancestors poorly?

“Those who have shown abundant love, endured suffering, and left behind an example of innocence and truth give strength to others. This is the reality of the “redemption” that is the basis of all the mysteries of Christ. Christ’s abundant and overflowing love saves us all.” (Mystery of the Incarnation, No. 10)

The idea that if we serve our deceased ancestors well, our descendants will receive great blessings, and if we serve them poorly, we will suffer misfortune is widely spread among the public. The Confucian belief that “serve the dead as you serve the living” (事死如事生) is connected to the idea of ​​gratitude which has a great influence on our folk beliefs.

Recently, the false belief in “family healing” has been spreading. The belief in family healing, which says that if there are ancestors in the family who committed great sins or died with resentment, the well-being of descendants cannot be guaranteed, so many gifts and prayers should be offered for them, is the result of distorting the idea of ​​filial piety and respect for ancestors within the Christian framework. 

Christians believe that all the dead are in the arms of God and can hope for God’s mercy. Also, Christians who believe in the “Communion of Saints” believe that the souls of the deceased receive the necessary help through the intercession of all saints and the prayers of the entire Christian community, beyond the family circle.

Where should the graves of the deceased be located?

“The Church offers the children of grace to the Father in Christ, and buries in the ground the seeds of the flesh that will rise again in glory.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1683)

'Feng Shui' (Chinese geomancy, is a traditional practice that originated in Ancient China and claims to use energy forces to harmonize individuals with their surrounding environment) It is the study of good land to block the cold winds of winter and obtain water for farming. Feng Shui, which developed based on the theory of yin and yang and the five elements, closely connects the natural environment with human life and determines human fortunes and misfortunes based on geographical conditions. They have good places to live  not only to the house where they live extends to  the grave site, where the dead are buried.

The folk belief that descendants will be blessed if  they bury their deceased ancestors in a comfortable place arose when 'Feng Shui', which has a long history in our people, met with the Confucian idea of ​​filial piety. In the late Joseon Dynasty, there was a great obsession with good burial sites, to the point that there were constant disputes between families trying to secure good burial sites.

The attitude of valuing ancestral burial sites is a unique religious nature of ours that stems from filial piety to place ancestors in a comfortable place. However, the obsession with good burial sites because of the good or bad fortune of descendants can obscure the true meaning of filial piety and respect for ancestors and can become a worldly desire of descendants. Furthermore, this does not conform to the Christian faith.

When a person dies, he or she goes before God hoping to enjoy eternal life. Therefore, entrusting the dead to God’s mercy and praying for them is the attitude of a true believer.