Fratelli tutti 모든 형제들

Talking much about the countermeasures for the pandemic, some religious leaders point out the importance of living in brotherhood or fraternity and solidarity in our daily lives.

Following two encyclical letters, "Lumen Fidei" (The Light of Faith, 2013) and "Laudato Si'" (Praise be to you, my Lord, 2015), Pope Francis recently presented his third encyclical letter, "Fratelli Tutti" (All Brothers) on fraternity and social friendship. Inspired by St. Francis who regarded every creature as his brother and sister, this document was proclaimed at the church of St. Francis, in Assisi on October 3, 2020.

In this social encyclical letter, written with 287 articles divided in 8 chapters, Pope Francis sincerely calls for "a social love" that transcends all kinds of the barriers.

Much more than fraternity in solidarity, "Fratelli Tutti" is a plea to reject wars and nuclear weapons and terrorism by focusing on contemporary social and economic problems such as immigration, capital punishment, the dignity of women, wastefulness, consumerism, international politics, interreligious relations, racism, etc., and by proposing an ideal world with fraternity, equality, and liberty in which all countries can be part of a "larger human family".

The dark clouds of the pandemic and various other calamities will remain as long as we remain in a closed and throwaway world. Our dreams will be shattered by conflict and fear, and our historical consciousness will be diminished gradually.

Is there still hope? Where is hope? How can we create an open world with dialogue and friendship? How can we move beyond ourselves, our borders and limits? How can we live an open-mined, gracious, and universal love integrating everyone while promoting the moral good and the value of solidarity?

Deeply pondering on these fundamental questions, Pope Francis presents the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37) as the theological core of the encyclical letter. The good Samaritan witnesses the beauty of bearing the pain of other people's wounds and troubles.

"The pain, uncertainty and fear, the realization of our own limitations, brought on by the pandemic have only made it all the more urgent that we rethink our styles of life, our relationships, the organization of our societies, and, above all, the meaning of our existence." (Fratelli Tutti, 33).

In the Jewish faith there is a concept of year called the Jubilee. When, according to the Book of Leviticus from the Torah, Hebrew slaves and prisoners would be freed, debts would be forgiven, and the mercies of God would be manifest. It bears particular significance to ownership and management of land in Israel.

Apparently we need a Jubilee year. The Jubilee year for the earth would not only protect and conserve our nature but also make us more mindful of every form of modern slavery; like human trafficking and child labor.

Above all, we shall have to look back at our way of consumption and eating habits to get rid of unnecessary and destructive aspects of life and to promote life itself. At the same time, we will have to reflect on excessive development of the land and profit-seeking activities performed by multinational companies.

More than ever, what is most needed for us is to witness the fraternal solidarity in faith. The pandemic invites us to recognize the interdependence and co-relationship of our beings. Whether close or far away, we are all interrelated with one another.

Even if the means are constantly changing, the essence of life remains the same. That is "love" in the name of fraternity, brotherhood, friendship, solidarity, and compassion.

"Love one another as I love you" (John 15:12).

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/10/162_297506.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ Oct 18 (online), Oct 19 (offline), 2020

‘Pauline Hoehwa Namu’ 바오로딸 혜화나무

"Hoehwa namu" is a species of tree in the subfamily of the pea family Fabaceae, growing into a lofty tree up to 10-25 meters tall, with an equal spread. It produces a fine, brown timber whose outside layers are light brown while the inside is grey-brown. The flowers and leaves are used for teas. The flowers are good for arteriosclerosis and hypertension, and the bark, fruits, and branches are good for hemorrhoids.

As big as a zelkova, it becomes the arbor tree even living a thousand more years. The tree becomes very hard and strong after dying; so, it is good for making durable and long-lasting products that are good for making pagodas. It is also used for wood carvings.

Our new apostolate center called "Pauline Hyehwa Namu" was opened on Oct.18, 2020. The terms "Hyehwa Namu" is a pun of "hoehwa namu", the so-called Chinese scholar tree or Japanese pagoda tree, symbolically meaning reverberation, resonance, or nostalgia.

Used in landscaping, memorials or to line streets, the Hoehwa Namu is believed to be able to defeat demons. If it is planted in a house, a great person or a scholar is supposed to originate from that house. The tree is also resilient against pollution. "Namu" (meaning "tree" in Korean) also signifies the name of "Alberione" (meaning "tree" in Italian) our founder.

Since December 15, 1971, the "Pauline Books and Media Center", run by the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Paul, was located in Chungmuro in the midst of Myeongdong's most hectic shopping area.

But the streets in Myeongdong have since been developed. Every day, the streets are so crowded with people, both locals and tourists, and the value of the area is very high now.

After 47 years of service, our Myeongdong center closed on Dec. 15, 2018, and finally, by the providence of God, we could find another more suitable place.

The whole building was recently restructured for several months, and this new venue had the benediction ceremony led by the Cardinal Andrea Soo-Jung Yeom of the archdiocese of Seoul on Oct. 17 and was opened with the exhibition of the biblical illustrations painted by Sr. Pacis Hyang-Sook Park on Oct. 19, 2020, in Daehakro.

This venue is more cultural and artistic with the presence of various indie theaters, restaurants, cafes, universities, mahogany bricks, agora park called "marronnier", as well as Seoul Catholic University, Dongsung High School, and Hyehwa Catholic Church.

This new center, called "Hyehwa Namu", will provide people with a newly designed bookshop and cafeteria on the first floor; several workshop rooms that can be used for one-day classes and the exhibition of various holy articles as well as some hideouts for oneself only in the second place; the "Ladice" small theater that can have various programs and performances at the basement level.

Thanks to this new place, we can deepen spirituality, prayer, consolation, communion, and communication with others in fraternal solidarity with the post-COVID-19 era. Blessed are those who come to take a rest under the shade of this newly born "Hyehwa Namu"!

"There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven: a time for giving birth, a time for dying; a time for planting, a time for uprooting what has been planted… a time for knocking down, a time for building…"(Qohelet 3:1-8).

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/11/162_298288.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ Nov. 2(online), 3(offline), 2020

‘Obaekjeon’ 오백전

It is always interesting to learn the stories behind historical sites. Whenever I have a chance, I go hiking in the mountains. Walking on and on, I like to read the stories explaining historical legends.

During my last vacation, I took a walk on one of the hiking trails at Mount Mudeung in Gwangju with my sister. On the way, what caught my attention most was a hall called Obaekjeon in Jeungsim Temple. Obaekjeon is Gwangju Tangible Cultural Heritage No. 13.

According to legend, there was a serious drought due to bad weather. As a minister of the local administrative unit, Kim Bang decided to build an embankment named Gyeongyangbangjuk to provide sufficient water for agriculture. Building the embankment took over three years from 1440 to 1443, during the reign of King Sejong in the Joseon Kingdom period.

At that time, Gyeongyangbangjuk was the Honam region's greatest artificial lake in half-moon shape, about 15 hectares with 10 meters deep, but two-thirds of it was reclaimed in 1940, and again the remaining area was reclaimed in 1968 to create a residential area. Because of this plan, the nearby Mount Taebang was removed to fill up the lake.

While building the bank, Kim Bang discovered anthills at the construction site, and kindly enough, he moved them to another safer place. Later on, those ants without forgetting their gratitude brought rice for people suffering from drought.

One day, Kim Bang prayed hard to Buddha to send the folk much rain. His desperate petition was heard in heaven, and he heard in his dream that he should expand Jeungsim Temple and build Obaekjeon to prevent drought. That is how Obaekjeon was created.

Obaekjeon means a hall with Buddha's 10 principal disciples and 500 arhats, which means noble persons who deserve an offering and respect as the perfected disciples of Buddha, who escaped from the chains of desires and the reincarnation of life and death and finally reached the level of never being born again.

Arhat was a nickname for Buddha, but later it implied the utmost state of enlightenment that Buddha's disciples achieve.

Obaekjeon is very historical in the sense that there is no other hall named Obaekjeon in Korea.

It is quite interesting to look around each feature with various gestures. Among the 500 disciples placed uniquely with their diverse positions in a small space, one figure drew my attention. He looked peaceful and calm while concentrating on reading the Script of sacred writings placed on his lap. Unlike other disciples, he was so skinny that even his ribs were visible. Probably meditating on the holy words of Buddha could have taken so much energy.

That skinny figure reminded me of John the Baptist, a saint who ate wild honey and locusts when he was converting himself in the desert, or Elijah, the prophet who drank water from the stream and ate what the eagle brought him in the high mountain before preaching, and thousands of other saints.

When we do our spiritual exercises, we are also advised to refrain from taking too much food and instead to fast with temperance. Self-control is necessary to be free from desire and ultimately to arrive at the level of merciful love which is regarded as the utmost goal of every religion.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/11/162_298933.html

the Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ November 11(online), 12(offline), 2020

‘Querida Amazonia’ 사랑하는 아마존

As all of us know, our planet is the most marvelous creation of God, but now, because of climate change, we are not sure of its destiny. Now the whole world is trying hard to present various countermeasures.

Following "Laudato si" (Praise be to you, my Lord) that invites us to take care of our "common house" with ecological conversion, another post-synodal apostolic exhortation by Pope Francis, "Querida Amazonia" (The beloved Amazon: New Paths for the Church and for an Integral Ecology) was published on Feb. 2, 2020, as a result of a special meeting on the Amazon region in Rome from Oct. 6 to 27, 2019.

Through four chapters, such as "a social dream" for a sense of community, forgiveness, social dialogue, the protection of the rights of the poor and the least and the original peoples from injustice and crime; "a cultural dream" for the preservation of distinctive cultural riches, the beauty of our humanity, caring for roots, intercultural encounter; "an ecological dream" for the conservation of natural beauty and the superabundant life; "an ecclesial dream" for the communities with generous commitment and inculturation of various fields in the Amazon region, "Querida Amazonia" cries for the dignity of Amazon people and the recovery of their happy life.

As the lungs of the Earth, the Amazon is "a multinational and interconnected whole, a great biome shared by nine countries" (Art. 5) such as Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Surinam, Venezuela and the territory of French Guiana. The Amazon is a region with its distinctive cultural riches, natural beauty, and superabundant life.

Living in this world "without being swallowed up by its immanence, its spiritual emptiness, its complacent selfishness, its consumerist and self-destructive individualism" (Art. 108) will surely lead us to unity, collaboration, and solidarity.

In order to change our way of living, good publications and wise talk are not enough ― conscious individual practice is needed in our daily lives.

Group by group, our congregation used to make pilgrimages to several Biblical places. This year, it was my turn. I could have joined in the pilgrimage, but our group couldn't make it due to the pandemic. I don't know when we can resume this inspiring initiative, but I don't feel like taking an airplane that produces so much carbon emissions…

Let me introduce you to the closing prayer of "Querida Amazonia" (Art. 111) to Mary, Mother of the Amazon region:

"Mother of life……
Show yourself the Mother of all creatures,
in the beauty of the flowers, the rivers,
the great river that courses through it
and all the life pulsing in its forests.
……
Bring your Son to birth in their hearts,
so that he can shine forth in the Amazon region,
in its peoples and in its cultures,
by the light of his word,
by his consoling love,
by his message of fraternity and justice.
……
Mother, look upon the poor of the Amazon region,
for their home is being destroyed by petty interests.
How much pain and misery,
how much neglect and abuse there is
in this blessed land
overflowing with life!
……
Do not abandon us
in this dark hour. Amen."

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/11/162_299234.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ November 16(online), 17(offline), 2020

CaFF 2020 가톨릭영화제 2020

More than ever, watching films seems to be more interesting and moving than reading books and the Catholic film festival (CaFF) is a site where we can see spiritual films with a universal theme in the new media era of spirituality that 200 million people enjoy watching every year.

This year, CaFF was held from October 29 to November 8 on the theme, "Living with joy".

As a romantic poet, John Keats (1795-1821) talked about "a thing of beauty" in his epic poem "Endymion" written 1818: "A thing of beauty is a joy forever: its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness; but still will keep a bower quiet for us, and a sleep full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing…"

He regarded "joy" as eternal youth, but the joy as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is more spiritual coming from the grace-filled providence of God.

Where can we find such a blessed joy? With what and with whom can we experience joy? Joy is such an essential and vital element of life that everybody is looking for in our daily lives.

Because of the pandemic, the films were also screened on the Catholic Peace Broadcasting Corporation (CPBC) with the special intention of giving consolation and hope to those who are searching for the universal meaning of joy, and the essential happiness of human beings. Especially this year, CaFF considered people with difficulties in communication and meeting due to COVID-19.

During the film festival, 39 long and short films from 16 countries, 7 world premieres and 17 Korea premieres were presented.

Among CaFF features were films such as "Opus of an Angel" directed by Ali Zamani, "Letters of Happiness" by Svetlana Sukhanova, "The Fashion Lover" by Marco Pollini, "The Woman" by Otgonzorig Batchuluun, and "The Etruscan Smile" by Oded Binnum and Mihal Brezis, as well as short films such as "Red Balloon" by Avi Federgreen, "Moon Power" by Yoon Dong-ki, "New Year's Eve" by Hao Zheng, "The Man Who Can't Park" by Song Hyun-seok, and "Vera" by Laura Rubirola Sala.

The opening film was the 17 minutes film "Vera" directed by Rubirola Sala of Spain. As a great fan of classical music, Vera enjoys listening to the classics on headphones while working as a nighttime cleaner in the room of the illustrator Miguel.

Fifty-five year old Vera imagines Miguel from the pictures on the wall and the objects on his desk. Miguel also appreciates Vera for her careful cleaning and memos. Their communication begins when Vera finds a button dropped by Miguel.

In spite of the implicit differences in role, their dialogue is kind and warm-hearted. Truly, joy comes from generous attention and thoughtful consideration for each other.

As the most effective element of love in communion, joy in our daily lives witnesses the essence of evangelization as Pope Francis mentioned about "joy" as the key point in his apostolic exhortations, "The Joy of Gospels" (Evangelii Gaudium) on the proclamation of the Gospel in today's world and "The Joy of Love" (Amoris Lætitia) on love in the family.

Truly, joy is the true face and the authentic expression of Christians as St. Paul advises us to be "always joyful" (1 Thessalonians 5:16).

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/11/162_299853.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ Nov. 29 (online), 30 (offline) 2020

In memory of my aunt 이모님을 기리며

Those who try hard to build a better future talk about "the world since the pandemic" by means of such issues as "sustainability, resilience, solidarity via connectivity, great reset, deep change", as in the 11th Asia Future Forum held from Dec. 2 to 3.

With those topics, our lives go on ... My community had a three-day "gimjang" (making winter kimchi). On the first day, I received a Kakao Talk message from the sixth daughter (my elementary school alumni) of my aunt, saying "My mom went to God at 11 a.m."

So, instead of making kimchi, I went to the funeral of my aunt, So-Jeo (Magdalena) Park who passed away at the age of 97 on Nov. 19, 2020. My aunt was three years
younger than my mother.

In general, she was healthy, but she couldn't move properly for several years due to a stroke. In the end, she had to stay in a nursing home. Then, almost with bare-bones, she was moved to her home just two months before her death, and her second daughter took care of her until the end.

She struggled with pain. Her fourth daughter, a Christian church deacon, prayed for her most sincerely on her dying bed. Finally, she took the last breath and dropped her arm when all her daughters had called her, saying "I love you, mom".

Among her seven daughters, two are Catholics, four are Christians of various denominations, and one is non-religious; but they had been very collaborative and supportive of their mother who always felt sorry that she had no son.

When my aunt was young, she learned to write by watching over my mother's shoulder at school.

She was very sociable and warm-hearted always greeting people with a smile. She was kind and listened to others. She danced with her shoulders when she was happy and played "janggu" (a kind of drum) well.

I still remember how she was proud and joyful to see us, two sister nuns, when my elder sister and I visited her.

When she had her mobility, she liked to organize sightseeing groups in the village. When she gathered 20 or 25 neighbors for sightseeing tours, she could go on the trip for free.

Like my mother, she was born Catholic, but she became inactive in her faith for many years due to the hardship of her married life. In front of a bowl of water, she prayed to Heaven and Earth to have a son. Then, only after the death of her husband in 1983, she returned to the Catholic faith.

She liked to wear traditional Korean clothes; she bundled up her head and wore it with a hairpin.

Even though she had little, she was fond of sharing with others. When the Sunday bus came to pick her up for Sunday Mass, she never forgot to give something to the driver and the secretary of the Church.

Looking back, I recognize that she truly knew how to share with others and to enjoy her life. With good skill, she even made her clothes such as Jeogori (upper garment), Baji (loose pants), Chima (skirt), and Jade Durumagi (overcoat).

My aunt's ossuary is enshrined in the place just below my parents in a Catholic mountain cemetery. May she rest in eternal peace in Heaven!

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/12/162_300225.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ Dec. 3(online), 4-6(offline)

Patris corde 아버지의 마음으로

"With a father's heart…" A newly proclaimed apostolic letter, titled "Patris corde," begins with the appeal to live with fatherly love.

In memory of the 150th anniversary of Pope Pius IX's proclamation of Saint Joseph as the "Patron of the Universal Church," Pope Francis proclaimed a special "Year of Saint Joseph," together with a proclamation from the Apostolic Penitentiary about special plenary indulgences extended to the elderly, the sick and the dying, from Dec. 8, 2020, to Dec. 8, 2021.

Pope Pius XII proposed Saint Joseph as the "Patron of workers," and Saint Pope John Paul II proposed Saint Joseph as the "Guardian of the Redeemer." Saint Joseph is also invoked as the "Patron of a happy death." So, we pray to him that our time of death may be a moment of joy despite the presence of sorrow.

In general, Saint Joseph is mentioned in a most modest way in the Gospels according to Matthew (Cf. 1:18-25; 2:1-23;13:55-56) and Luke (Cf. 1:27; 2:1-39). Joseph was a lowly carpenter and a just man, betrothed to Mary. Nevertheless, Joseph was always ready to do God's will and to follow God's providence in faith and fidelity.

In "Patris corde," Saint Joseph is described as "the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence ― an intercessor, a supporter and a guide in times of trouble. Saint Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the history of salvation."

Pope Francis says that he proclaimed this apostolic letter "to increase our love for the great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession, and to imitate his virtues and his zeal". With this goal, "Patris corde" urgently encourages us to cultivate hope and dream in patience in the midst of the expanding pandemic. It also inspires us to have the strength to overcome this miserable crisis through the exemplary life of Saint Joseph.

Seven particular features of Saint Joseph are described in the following definitions: a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father, a creatively courageous father, a working father and a father in the shadows.

Many years ago, "Father schools" were created across the country to recover the true identity of a father in the family. With the catchphrase, "A family can live only when a father lives," various organizations have offered some programs regarding the spirituality of fatherhood. Truly, fathers are not born but made. Being a father means to be responsible for another life and to take care of others.

We also pray to Saint Joseph every Wednesday with a special intention, and the feast days of March 19 and May 1 are dedicated to him.

Pope Francis concludes his apostolic letter with the following prayer to Saint Joseph:

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man. Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/12/162_301161.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ Dec 21(online), 22(offline), 2020