CBCK News
2009-08-27 11:37
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Communication on August 15, 2008

* Messages for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

On the occasion of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15, 2008,
five Diocesan Ordinaries in Korea issued messages.

In a
message entitled 'The Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of True Peace,' His Eminence Nicholas Cardinal Cheong Jinsuk, Archbishop of Seoul and Apostolic Administrator of Pyongyang, said, "The greatest threat to peace is to refuse to solve conflicts and problems through love, justice, dialogue and compromise. There will be disorder and disunity, unless we recognize the differences among us." Then he said, "Leaders in society must take true peace as the criterion of their political activity and evaluation. Then they must listen to the voice of the people more attentively and accept their opinion more humbly." He asserted that the Church must be a sign and an instrument for the peace of the world.

The Most Rev. Andreas Choi Chang-mou, Archbishop of Kwangju, said, "
As one nation, we have to stop mutual defamation on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the Liberation and the 60th anniversary of the Foundation of the Government. Let us render great service to the prosperity and development of our nation, supplementing for each other's deficiencies, and complementing each other's wrongdoings." Then he asked the people to do all they can to respect human persons and to respect life. 

In his message, the Most Rev. Lazzaro You Heung-sik, Bishop of Daejeon, invited the faithful to actively participate in the diocesan campaign 'save a dime per meal' for needy neighbours. He urged self-examination following the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary who abided in God's will. He also urged them to take the initiative in healing all the wounds of our age which are stained with mistrust, sin and disunity.

The Most Rev. Joseph Lee Han-taek, Bishop of Uijeongbu, said, "It means much that our nation was liberated on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Furthermore, Korea has eventually achieved democratization and has become one of the ten great economic powers, standing out among the many nations that newly emerged after World War II." He also invited the faithful to habitually recite the
Magnificat of the Gospel of Luke (1,46-55) and to read the Constitution of the Republic of Korea.

The Most Rev. John Chrysostom Kwon Hyeok-ju, Bishop of Andong, also issued a message entitled "The Pascha and the Blessed Virgin Mary." In his message Bishop Kwon said, "The Blessed Virgin Mary was assumed into heaven and became the hope and sign of our salvation, because she lived as a woman who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled in all situations (Cf.
Lk 1,45)." Then he asked the faithful to pray with the Blessed Virgin Mary for the people who are poor and suffering now.