[Naju Priest’s Conversion] “I Was Once a Worldly Priest Who Enjoyed Golf and Playing Cards…”

A Change in my priestly life thanks to Our Lady of Naju

Fr. Aloysius Chang Hong-bin 

Up until 17 years ago, I was a fairly well-known priest in the Archdiocese of Gwangju. I was known as a worldly priest who loved having fun, singing, golfing, drinking, and playing cards, and I was satisfied with that kind of life.

Since many priests lived that way, I didn’t even realize it was sinful. I thought, “As long as a priest celebrates Holy Mass, hears confessions, and carries out pastoral ministry through home visits, the rest of his life is his own freedom,” and so I lived however I pleased.

Then, 20 years after my ordination to the priesthood, I traveled across the United States. One evening, I stayed at the home of a parishioner, where I watched a video on the tears and tears of blood of Our Lady of Naju.

I was deeply moved and astonished. “Even people in faraway America are watching videos about Our Lady of Naju, yet I, living so close in Korea, have ignored them without even looking into them. When I return to Korea, I must visit Naju,” I resolved in my heart.

Afterward, I visited the Chapel and prayed with all my heart, “Blessed Mother, my faith is weak. Please open my hardened heart and guide me, so that I may love and honor you more deeply.”

As I approached the statue of the Blessed Mother shedding tears and gazed at Her, I noticed something forming in Her left eye. “What could this be? Could it really be tears?” Wanting to make sure, I gently touched Her cheek with the wooden crucifix attached to my rosary. Immediately, tears began streaming down.

“Blessed Mother, I am sorry. Please forgive me for trying to see whether your tears were real or not. Those tears are because of me. They are being shed because I, as a priest, have not lived as I should have. Please stop weeping because of me. From now on, I entrust my entire life completely to you,” I prayed.

Then I continued, “Blessed Mother, what would you have me do for you? I will truly become an interior ‘little soul.’ Because of my pride, I have made myself into a ‘great soul,’ and that is why I have ignored the Blessed Mother. From now on, I will become a priest who honors and loves the Blessed Mother with the heart of a child,” I prayed as I consecrated myself to the Blessed Mother.

Then I began offering up, one by one, the things I had loved most. “First, I will offer up (give up) golf. Second, I will offer up drinking. I will watch only the news on television,” I promised the Blessed Mother. From that moment on, I tried to live completely as ‘another Christ.’

At that time, I used to play golf with fellow priests every Monday and into Tuesday morning. But after making this offering to the Blessed Mother, I spent that time instead going to Naju to pray before Our Lady.

As I spent two days and one night each week in Naju devoted to prayer, I witnessed many extraordinary phenomena there. In particular, as I watched Julia endure her sufferings, I felt both deep admiration and sorrow, thinking, “She participates in the sufferings of Christ for the conversion of sinners, but how can any human being joyfully offer up such immense suffering?”

Because I believe in the Resurrection through suffering and the Cross, I am convinced that Naju will ultimately triumph through Julia’s sacrifices and sufferings. I personally witnessed and confirmed the fragrant oil flowing from the Blessed Mother’s statue and even applied it to pilgrims. During Holy Mass, I also directly witnessed the Sacred Host received by Julia transform into flesh and blood. In addition, I received the grace of the Precious Blood descending directly upon the back of my neck.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ could also be called “the great feast of Our Lady of Naju,” because nowhere else in the world have the Holy Eucharist and Precious Blood descended repeatedly as they have in Naju. Therefore, Naju will one day become one of the greatest pilgrimage sites in the world. 

So do not worry. Do not hate those who persecute you. Instead, forgive them, and let us pray together for them.

Fr. Aloysius Chang & Julia Kim

May 26, 2008

Fr. Aloysius Chang Hong-bin