709. Just Passing a Street Stall From a Distance Gives Me Hives All Over My Body!

709. Just Passing a Street Stall From a Distance Gives Me Hives All Over My Body!

One day, I prayed, “Lord, since I already have hives, please let them break out even more densely so that I can offer them up for the repentance of countless souls.” And sure enough, He gave me hives that covered my entire body without a single gap! Even though the itching was intense, I gave thanks and praise with joy, singing hymns as I offered it up, because it was a suffering filled with hope that countless sinners could repent through it.

♬ For me, who is in the Lord, what worry there be?

I came before the cross and laid down my burden♪

Praising the Lord, Alleluia, Alleluia! Though my path is long and rough, I will follow only the Lord ♬ Amen♩

Whenever I praised the Lord, I was so overwhelmed with joy that it felt as if all my pain disappeared. I offered up an earnest Prayer of Life, saying, “Oh, my beloved Jesus! Please joyfully accept the small suffering of this unworthy sinful handmaid, and through it, heal all the wounds—both spiritual and physical—of the poor leprosy patients, so that they may be filled with joy, love, and peace.”

The very large hives that had broken out on my body did not subside at all, and it was not until Easter of the following year—after a full seven months—that only the smaller hives remained. Though the large ones were all gone, the small hives still covered my entire body, including my face, leaving no space untouched, so the suffering continued. Nevertheless, I praised and glorified the Lord for at least removing the large, unsightly hives that could have looked disturbing to the customers.

From that time on, for several years, even just seeing a bar from a distance while walking down the street—or merely passing a street stall that sold alcohol from afar—would cause large hives to break out on my body. The itching would become even more intense in those moments, but I offered it all up completely, with Semchigo as if I were being loved—for the repentance of sinners. Then one day, I attended a gathering where all the families of the county office staff were present.

Someone kindly offered me a seat, and as I sat down without thinking, I was suddenly startled and stood right back up—hives had broken out all over my body. Wondering what might have been under the seat, I looked and saw an unopened 360ml bottle of soju placed there.

Just sitting on a sealed box of liquor bottles caused severe hives to break out all over my body. It reminded me of a childhood memory when I became intoxicated by the smell of makgeolli while filtering it, and fell from the kitchen stove onto the floor. These reactions did not go away for several years. After enduring this for a long time, in 1988, I obediently went on a pilgrimage—including to Lourdes—following the guidance of my spiritual director, Father Oh Gi-seon.

People said, “Now that you are going to Lourdes, you will come back completely healed!” and “You will definitely be healed.” In my heart, I offered a Prayer of Life: “Lord, I will be grateful if You heal me, but even if You do not, I will accept it as Your will and give thanks regardless of the outcome.” To them, I replied, “Yes, I will definitely come back healed.”

When I went to immerse myself in the miraculous water at Lourdes, I saw a huge number of people waiting in line. Since only one person could enter at a time, it took quite a long time. After waiting for several hours, it was finally my turn. The basin holding the miraculous water was deeply recessed—just wide enough for one person to enter and somewhat long. (It was different from how it is now.) All pilgrims went in and came out through that single spot, sharing immersion in the same miraculous water.

After taking off my clothes and being wrapped in a towel, two sisters stood on either side of me, each holding one of my wrists. Then, in a swift motion, they briefly dipped me into the miraculous water and pulled me out just as quickly. It was so quick that only my feet were barely submerged. Although I was left hoping for more, I offered it up with Semchigo as if I had immersed my entire body in the miraculous water, and gave thanks to the Blessed Mother. I offered it up with a Prayer of Life: “Jesus, Blessed Mother! Please personally immerse every pilgrim who comes to the Blessed Mother’s House (in Naju).”

Still, the hives showed no signs of healing. Although the distance from the hotel to the Lourdes Shrine was quite far, I made up my mind to fill 20-liter water containers with the miraculous water and bathe in it. Carrying one container at a time back to the hotel on foot, I fetched five in total, and by the time I was done, it was already late at night. I poured all five containers of Lourdes’ miraculous water into the bathtub and soaked myself in it overnight, but it had no effect. Yet, what is there that the Lord cannot do if He wills?

Even though I had come all the way to Lourdes and immersed myself in the miraculous water, the fact that the Lord did not heal my hives was also a sign of His profound love, so I could only give thanks. I joyfully offered it up as a Prayer of Life, practicing Semchigo as if I were being loved by the Lord, praying that not even a single drop of the miraculous water I had immersed myself in would be wasted, but that the Lord would transform it into His Precious Blood and let it flow as grace to all the pilgrims who come to Naju.

My personal reflection note with Mama Julia🌹💗 

Link 👇🏻

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