702. The Exact Circumstances of Enshrining the Statue of Our Lady Naju Who Later Shed Tears

💌 702. The Exact Circumstances of Enshrining the Statue of Our Lady Naju Who Later Shed Tears

I said, “Let us just leave here quickly. The customers are waiting. I have been gone for too long.” But despite me saying I was busy, Rufino stubbornly continued to choose a one-decade rosary. Feeling frustrated, I decided to offer up my anxiety through Semchigo as if I were loved, and quietly browsed through the religious articles shop. At that moment, my gaze met the gaze of a statue of the Blessed Mother.

The mysterious beauty of the Blessed Mother statue instantly captured my heart. The statue of the Blessed Mother of Mercy, with her sky-blue cloak and arms open wide, seemed as though she were speaking directly to me. There were many identical statues of Our Lady of Mercy displayed in the religious articles shop. Still the one that met my eyes looked more radiant and beautiful than any of the others.

It felt as if the Blessed Mother was alive, smiling affectionately at me. Without realizing it, I murmured to myself, “Oh, the Blessed Mother is so pretty,” and a small sigh of admiration escaped me. That was when I decided to place a statue of the Blessed Mother in my home. I had successfully run a beauty parlor for several years, but I did not have much to spare as I was giving my mother-in-law the money she demanded of me and paying off debts for various people. So, after being healed from terminal cancer, I had been keeping the small statue of the Blessed Mother that I had first brought into my home.

However, since I had immediately followed Mr. Rufino, I could not bring any money with me, so I had none. Still, the strong feeling that I must have the beautiful Blessed Mother, who had deeply captured my heart, made me decide to bring her home on credit.

I am the type of person who cannot live with debts or owing anyone, but since this was my parish, Naju Church, and because I wanted so much to bring that statue of the Blessed Mother home, I decided to make the exception. However, when Mr. Rufino overheard my muttering, he said, “Julia, I will buy it for you.” I immediately responded, “No, it is okay. Since it is the statue of the Blessed Mother that I will be keeping, I will buy it myself.”

But Mr. Rufino insisted on giving it as a gift, pleading with me. No matter how much I refused, it was useless. If I had not stepped out of the parlor, I would have refused him completely, but I was in a hurry, and he stubbornly would not listen to me. So, practicing Semchigo as if I had been loved by him, I reluctantly said, “Then let us split it in half.”

Actually, as soon as I got home, I planned to give him the full amount for the statue of the Blessed Mother. I had never accepted anything in return for the prayers I had offered and this principle was something I intended to uphold until the day I die. At first, in the religious articles shop, Mr. Rufino paid 7,500 Won for the statue. After returning home, I gave him 10,000 Won.

Although he did not ask why I was giving him money as he accepted it, I added 2,500 Won to the 7,500 Won for the statue and gave it to him. Now that I had enshrined the beautiful Blessed Mother who had captured my heart, I expressed my gratitude to him—the one who had taken me to the religious articles shop—regardless of the circumstances.

Since he had so earnestly pled to give it to me as a gift, I did not say that the 10,000 Won I gave him was for the statue—I wanted to put his heart at ease—but in truth, it was the price of the statue. I gave him more than the price of the statue and practiced Semchigo as if I had received a gift from Mr. Rufino.

Mr. Rufino then asked me to accompany him to Mokpo, where he was taking a boat. The parlor was very busy, and my mother had a lot to do as well, so she seemed unhappy with him taking me out again. However, I decided to go once more, offering it up with Semchigo as if I were receiving love, and followed him again with a heart of obedience.

Knowing that Mr. Rufino was financially struggling, I considered it as if supporting his mission work through Semchigo and covered the transportation fare to Mokpo, even buying his ferry ticket and seeing him off. Therefore, the money I spent on him was far more than what I had spent on the statue of the Blessed Mother. Moreover, I spent three days and nights not working at the parlor, only praying for him.

So, I was told that there were many customers who could not get their hair done and had to leave. It only takes me five minutes to cut one person’s hair. If I had done their hair, I could have earned a lot of money and would not have felt sorry for the customers. However, I have never once thought about such calculations. How could I put a price on what happened when Mr. Rufino was healed? 

I only gave glory to the Lord. Thinking that he was healed of tuberculosis and would reveal God’s glory and preach the gospel more diligently in the Mission Station, my heart was filled with joy, knowing I could pray and sacrifice. As for the customers who could not get their hair done and had left, I made up my mind to give them better service the next time they came.

My personal reflection note with Mama Julia🌹💗 

Link 👇🏻

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