Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Fides Service) - The Blessed Virgin Mary can help Koreans to be reconciled, experience forgiveness and find lost unity and harmony. The Blessed Virgin Mary can lead the people “towards new beginning” in their tormented hustory and restore peace to the Korean peninsula. The Korean Bishops said this in separate letters issued in the different dioceses on the occasion of the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Recalling that 2005 marks the 60th anniversary of Korea’s liberation, the bishops said this should lead government and citizens to reflect and strive to make greater efforts for the reunification of the Korean people divided by a frontier which has split familes, friends and a whole society.
“For a new beginning for the Korean people: Peace be with you”, was the title of the letter issued by Archbishop Nicholas Cheong of Seoul who stated: “On the occasion of the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the 60th anniversary of liberation today we hope for authentic liberation of our people and authentic peace. Let us pray to God that we may overcome our divisions with his Grace and move towards reconciliation and unification”.
Bishop Chrysostom Kwon of Andong in his letter, “Holy Mary, Woman of Grace”, asked the Blessed Virgin Mary to protect and guide the people of Korea on new paths of peace and harmony and told the people “If like Mary, Woman of Grace we entrust our life to God every day, we will experience the joy of salvation in this life, in this world”. Bishop Lazzaro You of Daejeon, in his letter, “For a community of communion”, encouraged the faithful to pray for freedom of religion and respect for human rights in North Korea and for the evangelisation of Asia. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 30/8/2005 righe 23 parole 237)
