September 21, 2004

Today the Church honors the Korean martyrs, 103 courageous Christians who gave their lives during persecutions between the years 1839 - 1867. There were bishops and priests among them, including the first Korean priest, Fr. Andrew Kim Taegon, but most were lay people - men and women, children, young people and the elderly. It was in fact the laity who steadfastly kept the Catholic faith alive in Korea from the early 17th century to the early 19th century, despite frequent arrests and torture. There were approximately 9000 Catholics in Korea in 1839. Today the Church in Korea continues to grow rapidly with over 1½ million members - the fruit of their sacrifice.

This is not a matter of ancient historical interest. We honor these martyrs from the time of some of our great-grandparents so that we may be ready to imitate them. St. Francis has a tough reminder for us in his Admonitions (#6) when he says, "It is a great shame for us, the servants of God, that the saints have accomplished great things and we want only to receive glory and honor by recounting them".

As I recently took our postulants for their training and first attempts at sidewalk counseling outside of an abortion site, they were quite honest about their fears in being such public witnesses for life. They prayed for a steadfast love to forget about themselves, and began to receive a grace to overcome those fears. Sister Dorothy Rothar of the Helpers of God's Precious Infants in Brooklyn, whose instructions for them were based on years of experience on the front lines, continues to be an example of the fruitfulness of courageous Christian witness. There were at least 15 "turnarounds" (mothers who decided not to have an abortion) that day. These amazing graces are a daily occurrence that follows the daily persecution that she and so many other faithful pro-lifers endure.

As Andrew Kim, a priest for only one year before he was martyred, said: "(By) grace we have received baptism, entrance into the Church, and the honor of being called Christians. Yet what good will this do us if we are Christians in name alone and not in fact?... No matter how fiercely the powers of this world oppress and oppose the Church, they will never bring it down. Ever since His ascension and from the time of the Apostles to the present, the Lord Jesus has made His Church grow even in the midst of tribulation."

Fr. Richard Roemer, CFR
Community vicar residing at St. Joseph Friary in Harlem
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