Even though we live in an individualized society, what we long for sincerely is the community. Even Kakao talks and Facebook build the community in various ways. In the face of individualism and materialism, what is revealed is, in fact, communion, community and solidarity.
One of the characteristics of the Catholic Church in the world is a universal
sense of community, communion and solidarity. We have various charism to live
and mission to realize, but each of us belong to one spiritual community based
on integrity, communion and collaboration.
In a broad sense, this community can be called “the kingdom of God” filled with
spiritual fruits like love, peace, joy, mercy, forgiveness or compassion.
The sense of community in solidarity lets us be rich and abundant through
sharing and collaboration in communion. It also lets us have co-responsibility
and work for the common good.
For this purpose in pursuit of the common good, the most fundamental mission
for each of us would be to get out of the selfish ego in order to have an
open-minded personality who is willing to give the self out unconditionally and
share with others wholeheartedly.
Last year in September, “Pauline” in Korea released the third album of CD music
series on prayer, entitled “Spread Your Wings”. Seven Pauline Sisters sang 12
songs in the tunes of piano, violin, flute, viola, cello, clarinet, guitar,
etc. The title song is taken from the well-known Swedish hymn, “Spread Your
Wings over Me”.
This album includes 12 living hymns, including some adapted foreign songs and
several pieces of music that Pauline Sisters composed. Kwon Oh-jun produced and
directed the arrangement of the songs, and Jeong Soo-gyoung directed the
vocals.
In the hope of bringing peace and consolation to the world under the wings of
the Lord, the choir performed last year in various venues such as Pauline books
and media center in Seoul, Peace Radio Broadcasting in Busan, Book Cafe Leven,
run by the Society of St. Paul in Nonhyeon-dong, and so on.
As St. Augustine said, those who sing with joy and gratitude surely pray twice,
or even more. Singing is one of the touching ways to proclaim and witness the
joy of the Gospels.
Personally, I also wanted to sing together, but I had no time to practice.
Furthermore, nobody recommended me to be involved. I could not join in that
initiative, but I feel I already participated in it thanks to the universal
sense of community in solidarity.
This sense of solidarity brings such a marvelous and mysterious co-involvement
that goes beyond all the boundaries of time and place and capability. The sense
of community in solidarity is also led to the principle of subsidiarity or
auxiliaries and complement that realize justice in the society.
St. Theresa of Lisieux did not go abroad as a missionary at all, but she is the
patron saint of missionaries. It is possible through prayers and solidarity.
How marvelous to see and experience the communion of saints in our lives!
Beyond time and place, we support and complement one another.
The solidarity lived in the community is something like the constant prayers of
parents who always wish their children to be successful and happier even though
they are apart from each other. The unseen chain of prayers lived through
sacrifices and endurance create the true community in communion.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2019/03/162_264552.html
The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ March 3 online/ March 4 offline, 2019
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