I don't know how to clarify such questions properly. Nevertheless, I do believe that miracles are still happening around the world. Healing is happening at Lourdes and many other places. Such diseases like Cancer and tuberculous are healed by constant prayer and grace. Lourdes is one example of a famous pilgrimage for Christians, where an apparition of the Holy Mary appeared 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous, the Lourdes seer, who was born in 1844 and died in 1879.
It would be interesting if we read "Healing Fire from Frozen Earth" recently translated into Korean under the title of "Miracles of Lourdes" introducing various healing experiences. Once you observe miracles represented in this book, you would probably rediscover the loving Creator. The miracles at Lourdes and other pilgrim shrines occur very often by means of the Eucharist, Reconciliation, and the Anointing of the Sick.
One of the messages Bernadette received in 1858 is that our lives are only a journey. Life can be painful but its ultimate destination is sharing in God's full life of love. The pain and struggle of the journey are eventually worthwhile. Many suicide, divorce, and abortion are happening these days because people find no sincere meaning in life. As a result, they choose death with profound doubt, pain, and loneliness.
It goes without saying that our enduring and single-hearted faith can cure such darkness. Korean Catholic church is especially dedicated to the title of Mary's Immaculate Conception. Mary is the patron of the Korean Catholic church. So we have deep devotion towards Mary leading and helping us to live the way, the truth, and the life.
In line with this piety, the rosary shrine of Namyang was built in 1991. Namyang was the site of unknown Catholic martyrs who died during the Byeong-in persecution in 1866. Since the time of persecution, there has been a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother. Thus, many people are gathering to deepen their faith by praying and asking the special help and protection. They believe in Mary's powerful intercession.
Near the front gate of the Rosary shrine is a little house where we can offer a lighted candle to Our Lady. Many small or large candles are beautifully lit at the same time. Then, we can say the rosary, praying each decade with various intentions. We can go from one stone bead of the rosary to the next bead on the shrine grounds. It is quite a considerable walking area. And they say Mass at 11 o'clock every day.
Large stone beads supported by stone angels are very specially arranged along the path. It seems that they stand for our constant and solid faith. We can also make the stations of the Cross and make a visit to adore the Blessed Sacrament in the Eucharistic Chapel. Statues of Our Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph are somewhat cozy and consoling. The child Jesus is innocently and comfortably leaning on each of them as if the chick follows the hen. Those images surely make us feel like depending on them unconditionally.
Another image on the shrine grounds is that of Padre Pio(1887-1968) of Pietrelcina, who was called a walking rosary. His hands and feet were hurt and bled for 50 years, and he became another symbol of the wounded Jesus. He had the stigmata like the wounds of Christ. Being a humble Capuchin priest, he suffered until his death but helped and cured many people.
His gifts were perfume, bilocation, prophecy, conversion, reading of souls, spiritual healing, and miraculous cures. People are still being cured through his intercession in ways that cannot be explained by medicine or science. His devotion to Mary was so exceptional that she said people to go to Mary always. He also heard confessions for over 10 hours a day.
When I recently visited the rosary shrine on Sunday, I realized a little miracle happened to me. I was somewhat gloomy and depressed those days, but I felt refreshed by the surrounding trees and prayerful atmosphere. The church was so crowded that people were standing outside on the ground while saying Mass. In the afternoon, I found a very interesting thing: a group from a Protestant church paid a special visit.
One of them said that they used to come here to pray to Mary. It was unexpected because Protestants are not usually known to do this. They even said their pastor is a single monk and some of them live in the community like Catholic nuns and monks.
Another group was from the Osan base. They were a group of American Christians living in the camp and were under the guidance of a leading priest. Many people paid homage to this pilgrimage. This is not the only place where we can practice our devotion. Many martyred pilgrim sites are spread across the country. Especially in October and November, we often think of death and the dead. It would be a good chance for us to visit such pilgrim remains and ponder on the meaning of life.
The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ Nov. 1, 2003
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