The truth about Jesus Christ also reached Korean soil. It came by
means of books brought from China. And in a most marvelous way, divine grace
soon moved your scholarly ancestors first to an intellectual quest for the
truth of God’s word and then to a living faith in the Risen Savior.
Yearning for an ever greater share in the Christian faith, your ancestors
sent one of their own in 1784 to Peking, where he was baptized. From this good
seed was born the first Christian community in Korea, a community unique
in the history of the Church by reason of the fact that it was founded entirely
by lay people. This fledgling Church, so young and yet so strong in
faith, withstood wave after wave of fierce persecution. Thus, in less than a
century, it could already boast of some ten thousand martyrs. The years 1791,
1801, 1827, 1839, 1846 and 1866 are forever signed with the holy blood of your
Martyrs and engraved in your hearts.
Even though the Christians in the first half century had only two priests
from China to assist them, and these only for a time, they deepened their unity
in Christ through prayer and fraternal love; they disregarded social classes
and encouraged religious vocations. And they sought ever closer union with
their Bishop in Peking and the Pope in faraway Rome.
After years of pleading for more priests to be sent, your Christian
ancestors welcomed the first French missionaries in 1836. Some of these,
too, are numbered among the Martyrs who gave their lives for the sake of the
Gospel, and who are being canonized today in this historic celebration.
The splendid flowering of the Church in Korea today is indeed the fruit of
the heroic witness of the Martyrs. Even today, their undying spirit sustains
the Christians in the Church of silence in the North of this tragically divided
land.
His Holiness Pope John Paul II
Homily, Mass for the Canonization
of Korean Martyrs, 6 May 1984
Seoul, Korea
For the complete text, please
visit:
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| Karen M. Hurley, WUCWO President General; Dr. Helen Kwon, Korea Council of Catholic Women, President Shrine of the Korean Martyrs |
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St Andrew Kim Taegon… often paused to meditate on the divine Teacher's
words. At the crucial hour, encouraged by the Lord's prayer, he did not
hesitate to "lose" everything (cf. Phil 3: 8) for him.
He was faithful unto death. It is said that, while he was waiting to be
executed, he encouraged his brethren in the faith with expressions that
impressively echoed Jesus' prayer to the Father for his disciples. "Do not
let misfortunes frighten you", he begged them; "do not lose heart and
do not shrink from serving God, but, following in the footsteps of the saints,
promote the glory of his Church and show yourselves true soldiers and subjects
of God. Even if you are many, be of one heart; always remember charity; support
and help one another, and wait for the moment when God will have mercy on
you".
"Be of one heart!".
St Andrew Kim Taegon exhorted believers to draw from divine love the strength
to remain united and to resist evil. Like the early community, in which all
were "of one heart and soul" (Acts 4: 32), the Korean Church
had to find the secret of her own cohesion and growth in following the teaching
of the Successors of the Apostles, in prayer and in the breaking of bread (cf. Acts
2: 42).
His Holiness Pope John Paul II
Homily, 23 March 2001
For the complete text, please
visit:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/homilies/2001/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_20010323_collegio-coreano_en.html
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| Lydia praying after lighting a candle at the Shrine |
Our hearts
brim with joy. How shall we ever give enough thanks and praise to the Lord of
Heaven, Father of us all, who has done such "great things" in this
his beloved land of Korea? And for having given us in these holy Martyrs such
splendid models of faith, courage, and love?
…Your holy
ancestors are glorified with the glory of the Risen Lord. Because they bore
witness to him unto death, united to his Cross, they now share in his risen
life forever. They have thus entered into the joy of Mary, who at the foot of
the Cross shared in the passion and death of her Son, our Saviour. The Queen of
Martyrs rejoices with you!
But, as with
most great feasts, we cannot fail to remember those dear to us who could not
come to share in the joy: those brethren in the North of this land, and those
also in China through which Korea came to know Christ. We pray that they may
continue to be strong in bearing witness to the faith. May Mary the Mother of
us all comfort and strengthen them as we now invoke her as the Queen of Heaven.
His Holiness Pope John Paul II
Regina Caeli, 6 May 1984
Seoul, Korea
For the complete text, please
visit:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/angelus/1984/documents/hf_jp-ii_reg_19840506_en.html
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| Gracious ladies after the Opening Liturgy at the Cathedral in Seoul, Korea |
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What a joy it was for me to visit Korea during my service as President
General of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO)! How humbling it was to be greeted upon
arrival in my mother tongue by women who devoted many previous months to learning
to speak English, under the gracious leadership of Theresa Duck-Choo Oh Kim,
WUCWO Vice President for Asia-Pacific!
And speak it very well they did!
It was life-transforming to go on pilgrimage with the ladies to the Shrine
of the Korean Martyrs. The witness of
the martyrs’ faith is powerful and inspiring beyond what words can express. Since my visit I have new devotion for Saints
Andrew Kim Tae-gon, Paul Chong Ha-sang, and Companions, whose Memorial we
celebrate on 20 September.
Let us give thanks to God for the witness of the Korean Martyrs and for all the
Catholics of Korea who live the Faith with joy and fidelity.
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| Grace-filled dance interpretation pointing us toward heaven was displayed by elegant Korean ladies. We were hosted for an interreligious tea ceremony and dinner at a Buddhist temple. + |
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| Our Korean hosts and hostesses enjoyed celebratory cake-cutting ceremonies! Yes, we are using sabers--very carefully! |
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| We visited a new church being constructed near the DMZ, the border between North and South Korea. The church in the South was designed to be identical to a church in the North. Pray for the reunification of these special people. |
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| Jeoldusan Martyrs' Shrine |
Jeoldusan Martyrs' Shrine is the site of the Byeonin Persecution
of 1866, where many Roman Catholics were brutally murdered. This site was built
to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Byeonin Persecution and to remember
the spirit of martyrdom at Jeoldusan. The Martyrs’ Museum and Martyrs’ Memorial
were built in 1967, and in 1972 Martyrs’ Park was opened to the public. Pope
John Paul Ⅱ visited in the site in 1984.
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