Hearing The Word and Acting On It.

We in the United States know little about the Church in Korea, but today's Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang, and Companions gives us a glimpse of faithful followers of Jesus who willingly gave their lives for Jesus.  There were four persecutions of Christians in the 19th century in Korea, 1839, 1846, 1866, and 1867. One hundred and three were martyred. St. Andrew was a priest and Paul was a "lay apostle".  Most of the martyrs were lay people who after hearing the Word, refused to give it up, even to the point of giving up their lives.  Today the Catholic Church is growing in South Korea and so are many other Christian denominations.  The Marist Brothers went to Korea from Mexico in 1973 and have helped in this growth through their ministry to children.  They never owned and operated their own Marist School,  but taught in at least one, and after leaving it, focused on a home for the young and centers which catered to the religious formation of youth via retreats, camps and classes in the faith.  It was not long before Korean young men sought entrance into the Marist Brothers and now there are over 20 Korean Marists. There is no longer the possibility of martyrdom now as there was in the 1800's, but the steadfast holding on to and living of the Word of God continues to bind the brothers together in strength to proclaim the Marist Mission to a very disciplined and receptive people.  May the prayers of St. Andrew, Paul and their Companions inspire us to hold on to our faith and live it.
Bro. Rene