We hear a lot about religious and clerics and their love for others but last year in August, we had the beatification of 124, and only one was a priest; the rest were lay people--Paul Yun Ji-chung and 123 companions. A Catholic Times' column recounts the lessons we learn from those early martyrs.
Our times are different; these martyrs practiced their faith in their society and gave witness to Jesus' love. We have many examples of how they lived the social Gospel. Hwang Il kwang (1757-1802) was one of those martyrs from the lowest class within the Joseon society who was moved greatly by the social equality and freedom in the new community he joined. He could sit in the same group of Christians and talk about Jesus at a time in which this was not cultural habit. Simon was moved by the noble class's treatment of him and is quoted as saying: "There is not only a heaven after this earthly life but we have heaven here and now."
Blessed Son Kyung-yeun, Gervasio, Korean martyr, in order to help the Christians bought a large house; in the front of the house, he made it into a tavern; inside was a gathering place for the Christians. Gervasio knew the reason for the use of money. The inside and outside were different; our exterior and interior are not as altruistic.
Blessed Chon Suk and Kwan Chon-rye knew the preciousness of life, and in the world of today where the meaning of sex has disappeared, they as a virgin married couple showed the Christians the deep meaning of love. People of faith know that without our giving of ourselves, all our actions become lifeless, self-centered.
September is the month of the martyrs. A month in which we realize there is something more important than life. They fought against what they found in society that was not just, with their lives. They fought against a way of thinking with another, armed only with the teachings of Jesus.
"The example of the martyrs also teaches us the importance of charity in
the life of faith. It was the purity of their witness to Christ,
expressed in an acceptance of the equal dignity of all the baptized,
which led them to a form of fraternal life that challenged the rigid
social structures of their day. It was their refusal to separate the
twin commandment of love of God and love of neighbor, which impelled
them to such great solicitude for the needs of the brethren. Their
example has much to say to us who live in societies where, alongside
immense wealth, dire poverty is silently growing; where the cry of the
poor is seldom heeded; and where Christ continues to call out to us,
asking us to love and serve him by tending to our brothers and sisters
in need." These words are from the sermon of Pope Francis at the Beatification on August 16, 2014.
On the
spiritual page of the Catholic Times, the columnist tells us about a
professor, he and many others admired. He was a respected teacher
within the church who was fighting a number of diseases; one of the
them was diabetes and was doing it for thirty years and joyfully.
Exercise,
and control over his eating, was always done carefully; on a work trip,
he would check his blood sugar. On trips with the columnist, he would
come to his room and ask to check the columnist's blood sugar.
He
would habitually check the amount of food he ate: the calories in
each meal. If you were beside him, you would hear him give each food the
number of calories. On one occasion the columnist hearing the
counting of the calories and the number given to one particular food,
said to the professor: "Hey, that couldn't have that many calories!" He
was right on; out of curiosity, the columnist did his checking, and his
count was accurate.
On
one occasion at a meeting with the professor, there was a table set up
for snacks. As in the past each plate was given the amount of calories,
and he ate accordingly. One of the dishes was cups of noodles. This
would have exceeded his caloric intake on that day, and he passed it up.
After the snack and a period of rest, they headed for the area for the
liturgy of the Mass. One of the study group members asked the professor
how many calories in the Eucharist.
The question came from one who hadn't been baptized very long and left
the columnist with a strange feeling. He must have heard all the talk
of bread from heaven, and the bread of life and wanted to satisfy his
curiosity.
The
professor answered: "Eucharist has zero calories." These words were
greeted with a period of silence and the nodding of heads in agreement.
The columnist found the answer ripe for meditative reflection. A young
scholar asking a vivid, graphic question, the professor without thought:
zero calories, and the columnist tongue tied but with many thoughts
running through his head.
That
night the professor and the study team at the Mass each would have
different responses to the 'o' calories of the professor. The columnist
was at the back of the church and at the elevation of the Eucharist, the
meaning of 'flesh and bread' came to him with more force than in the
past.
View from the Ark in the Catholic Times has a meditation on driving,
by a pastor who was assigned to a busy area in his rural diocese and one with many accidents. According to OECD statistics, Korea continues
to be in the number one or two spot. Speed of life may be one of the
hidden reasons for the large number.
The columnist says that although in the country, he feels there are more accidents than in Seoul and believes the few cars on the road, speed, and a relaxed understanding of traffic regulations may be the problem.
In front of the church, he mentions the large number of illegal left turns that are made. He has reported the problem to the authorities on many occasions, but they seem to be more interested in aesthetics than preventing accidents. Pedestrians with their jaywalking are at fault, but he puts more of the responsibility on the drivers who are in the possession of a very heavy machine, with speed. They are very efficient, and we find it difficult to resist the dangers that are present.
On
long trips he finds himself asking: Am I driving safely? What does it
mean to drive well? What does it mean to drive? Seeing the other cars
he asks himself why are they driving so dangerously? Why don't they
use the signal light? Why is the driver going so slow in the first
lane?
One day suddenly, this thought came to him: we are all traveling on the same road shouldn't we be cooperating? Others also have a destination, and we should be helping each other. Like in life, we should have trust and love, and concern for those who are using the roads with us. We should be looking on them as cooperators, neighbors, associates, but often we see them as competitors, obstacles and even enemies. He wants to see them as the Samaritan saw the poor man on the side of the road.
Driving, we can be concerned only with our situation: we are in a hurry, tired; the traffic is backed up for miles; other drivers are breaking the rules. However, when I am in the driver's seat and my hands are on the steering wheel I am in a position to practice graceful living: concern for the other, trust and love, for we are traveling together to our respective destination. If we saw the other driver as an associate, cooperator and brother/sister traveler, wouldn't this kind of attitude make life more enjoyable?
Korea has for the last ten years, as a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, placed first in the number of suicides: recorded was 29.1 persons for every hundred thousand, which was twice the average. Peace Weekly News gives the readers an understanding of the situation within the church.
From 1985, most of the countries which are members of the OECD have decreased in the number of suicides but Korea continues to increase, which makes for a gloomy future. Efforts are made to throw off the stigma by programs and seeking to understand those who are contemplating suicide. They have hope to decrease the numbers. Finland and Japan did succeed, and are good examples for Korea to follow.
The international Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) with the World Health Organization (WHO) has established the World Suicide Prevention Day which we remember today. The day alerts us to the ways we can prevent suicidal behavior, lessen the effects and educate those working to prevent suicides.
Preparing
for the day were many events, educational programs and campaigns in
society and churches. The Catholic Church also has programs for the
prevention and to spread the culture of life movement.
One Heart One Body Center of Seoul in preparation for September 10, conducted a survey and published their results. This is the first survey made dealing only with suicide. They wanted to determine the attitude and understanding of suicide within the church in order to establish programs in the future.
81% of those that responded felt that the problem was more with society than with the individual. With a change in society 84 % thought we would see a change in the number of suicides. 86,38 % had never had contact with those who were contemplating suicide. The majority have never attended any programs in the prevention of suicides. 78 % thought there was a need for such programs.
Respondents to the survey 88.54 % never had any suicidal thoughts-- reasons given: religious convictions 19.18 %, children 16.2 %, spouse/sweetheart 13.2%, parents 12.4%. The longer they lived and deeper the religious life, less thoughts of suicide. This coming December there will be a symposium with a Japanese counterpart in which the Center wants to conclude with a strategy for the future in suicide prevention.
Korean conglomerates helped by the government have done much to bring about the economic growth in Korea, but at the same time we have many negative results.
The Catholic Times has an article on Korean economics and the 'chaebols' ( business conglomerates). Both government parties have promised to make the 'chaebols' more transparent and democratic.
Is this not a sign that all see the abuses that we have and the need to remedy the situation? They have done much to develop Korea no one denies, but there is something else besides material development and economic growth. Many of the problems in Korean society stem from this close arrangement with the government.
The article sees two aspects of the problems with the chaebols. One problem is that a small number of businesses are influencing how industry, and the market are going. One easy example to illustrate the point is the way the big super markets have stopped the flow of money in the small stores and our traditional markets. Few people know, says the columnist, that it is not only the super markets, but the chaebols are the main share holders in many other businesses. A reason why the independent operations, and the ordinary folk have difficulties in the market.
The second problem is the chaebol families have control over many affiliates and subsidiaries. Consequently, their influence on economic matters is great even when their share of the financial holdings is small. Easing the control of a few of these chaebols on the market will make for a more democratic competitive playing field, and a brighter future for the independent entrepreneurs and the labor force,
In the encyclical Quartragesimo Anno (1931), Pius XI stressed how financial monopolies hurt the economy and also that it is the death of capitalism's central tenet of freedom for competition, Pope Pius also saw spreading to the political area as it did in Germany.
In our society, this monopolistic tendency continues and is hurting the free and healthy movement of our economy. Without efforts made to remedy the situation the condition of the citizens will be difficult. What we need is not the reformation of the labor force, but the reformation of the chaebols; necessary is to work for the democratization of the economy.
"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called
resignation is confirmed desperation." This quote from Thoreau's Walden
we hear often, and sadly it may be truer to our reality than we would
like to believe, not only individually but in families, and for his
reasons.
In the Kyeongyang magazine, we have an article on the scars inflicted on the family and the church's concern. On October 4-25 we will have the Fourteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, the topic: “The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and the Contemporary World.”
The family in modern society is in extreme difficulty. The Church tried to surround the family with all kinds of protection in its laws and other safe-guards, but they have been seriously damaged. We need efforts and wisdom to work for a new culture and understanding of the Gospel to protect the family.
Pastoral care has a variety of environments in which we find families: immigrants, foreign workers, separated, prison, refugees, exiled, alienated/marginalized in the city, homeless, single parent, living with grandparents, handicapped, families with drug addicts, and alcoholic related problems. Families for cultural or societal reasons feel alienated, families who experience discrimination for one reason or another, elderly living alone. Families because of church laws have left the community, have divorced, remarried and living separated from their mate are all a concern for the church.The nation and society need to help these families with structures and systems. Those who are in the community of faith and facing these many problems are the concern of the church.
Church needs to help the nation assist families with their rights, with laws and structures, and help families gain these rights. Furthermore, we have families that because of church laws are having difficulties; their rights as believers have been taken away, concern has to be shown to them and the bishops in the synod will search for ways according to God's will to help these families.
Each diocese has a marriage tribunal to help with the process for annulments and concern for those with marriage problems. In many of the dioceses, the number of clergy whose concern is to help those with family problems continues to increase, which is encouraging.
The synod will have as its goal to help families live with less difficulty, and we need to pray for the success of the gathering of bishops in finding the will of God in these matters. The future of the world depends on family life and the reason our prayers need to be heart-felt.
Priests of Seoul gathered in their fourth meeting after the visit of Pope Francis to Korea last year. The topic of this meeting was how to move from a quantitative to a qualitative growth. The bishop in attendance reminded the participants that they were discussing for the whole diocese. The discussion was written up in the Catholic Times.
In attendance were about twenty priests. The results were not open to the public but with groupware programs, the priests of the diocese would be notified of the results. The inaugural talk dealt with the renewal of the priests of the diocese. "From the year 1980, we have heard requests for the renewal within the church and at the center was the renewal of priests." He explained this was saying we were not living up to our calling.
The priest took 7 points of renewal from Pope Francis' Joy of the Gospel.
*Does the Seoul Diocese have the will to renew?
* Do we have the will to see the decentralization of authority to the different zones in the diocese?
* Are the diocese and parishes willing to make the poor the central dimension of the work?
* Do we know the structural reasons for poverty, and have the courage and energy to work to improve the situation? Do we have the willingness to get involved with the Social Gospel?
*Do we have a plan for our own renewal?
* Specialization for city work.
*Improve the place of women within the church.
The priest presenter stressed the most important of these seven was the renewal of priests and programs to implement what is decided. He would like to see a committee established with clergy, religious, and laypeople present, and religious and lay people in the decision making.
This requires the solidarity of priests and the need to make decisions known to all-- a (manifesto). Study of Scripture, Church documents, and study in small groups would be required for our development. He would like to see all the clergy tithing; with the best of intentions the renewal, if we take it seriously, will have results after 10 or 20 years.
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