763. Mr. Bong Was Raised up to Heaven During the 100th-Day Memorial Mass After His Passing

💌 763. Mr. Bong Was Raised up to Heaven During the 100th-Day Memorial Mass After His Passing

After Mr. Andrew Bong passed away, I served as the chief mourner and offered Masses for his soul for 100 days. In the 1990s, the average life expectancy for men didn’t even reach sixty-two years. People all said in unison, “Mr. Bong regained eyesight and lived five more years, reaching the age of 90 before passing away. Truly, it was a blessed death.” Yet my heart felt only empty. 

I was filled with guilt for not having done more for him, for not visiting him every day after he regained his eyesight, and for refusing the kind gifts and tokens of love he so earnestly wished to give me. “How much must it have hurt him that I never accepted his money?” With that thought weighing on me, I did my best each day—with a heart of penance—for the salvation of his soul.

I tried to live out more love toward the visiting pilgrims and the poor around me, praying fervently and offering Mass every day. On June 15, 1990, we held Mr. Bong’s 100th Day memorial Mass at the House of the Blessed Mother of Naju. Our parish priest celebrated the Mass in the room of the faithful (previously used as the video room). Though I was in deep pain at the time, the only thing on my mind was sending him off well on his final journey.

Practicing Semchigo as if I were holding a memorial for my parents, I offered the Prayers of Life while busily preparing food to ensure his final journey would be without disappointment. Collaborators, members of the prayer group, and neighbors of Mr. Bong gathered. During the Mass, after receiving the Lord in the Holy Communion, I closed my eyes in quiet prayer for his salvation.

Because a sudden bright light shone down, I opened my eyes and saw Mr. Andrew Bong appear before me wearing a white robe that gleamed like radiant silk, looking like a young man, who then called out to me, “Ajim (Ma’am in the dialect).” Startled, I looked closely and saw that his aged face had completely vanished, transformed into the beautiful appearance of a young man.

At first, his face and body were covered with many moles and water warts, but while a few moles remained, all the water warts had completely fallen away, revealing skin that was remarkably clear and smooth. His hands, which had shriveled and become somewhat misshapen from aging, had also fully regained their normal form. Even his rough, hoarse voice had transformed into a youthful tone.

I had missed him so deeply for so long that I was filled with longing when he finally appeared before me. He spoke with heartfelt gratitude: “Ajim, I am truly thankful for everything. Thank you for caring for me in every possible way over all those many days, and even helping me open the eyes I could no longer open. Angelic Ajim! But what I am most grateful for is that you led me to receive baptism and allowed me to meet God. I will never forget it. I will pray for you.”

When I quickly reached out to grab his hand, he gave me a gentle smile, high-fived me, and waved his hand side to side as he ascended into Heaven. Though my eyes were filled with tears, I let him go with joy, knowing he was going to Heaven. In fact, he had lived such a genuinely good-hearted life that he could have gone to heaven right away.

But before he passed away, a young woman came to stay at his house. One day, I stopped by and was shocked to see him lying next to her. Startled, I left right away. After that, it became one of the reasons difficult for me to visit his home. Of course, what could possibly have happened between a 90-year-old man and a young woman?

However, because he had briefly lived that way with the woman, and because he felt resentment that I hadn’t come as often after he opened his eyes—even forgetting the gratitude he once had—he only appeared at the 100-day memorial Mass and then ascended to Heaven. Still, because he had lived a life of goodness, he was able to enter heaven quickly. But knowing that even a single day in purgatory can feel like one to 10 years on earth, I felt heartbroken thinking of how difficult the penance must have been for Mr. Andrew Bong.

However, knowing that he would spend the rest of his eternal life in Heaven, enjoying the blessings of Jesus and the Blessed Mother, I was truly overjoyed. After the memorial Mass when I finally saw him go to Heaven, we shared a simple meal in the parish hall with fellow parishioners and close neighbors of Mr. Bong, coming together in love and fellowship.

After seeing off everyone who attended the memorial Mass, I silently said to him in my heart, “Dear Mr. Bong, thank you so much for sharing your love with your unworthy daughter so far. Let’s definitely meet again in Heaven someday and share love once more!”

My personal reflection note with Mama Julia🌹💗 

Link 👇🏻

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