[The Five Spiritualities Testimony] 💓Whenever depression tries to return, I DEFEAT IT through the Five Spiritualities.

"Whenever depression tries to return,

I DEFEAT IT through the Five Spiritualities. "

This is Isaac Park from South Korea. 

Since childhood, I had been going on pilgrimages to Naju, always led by my grandmother. Because I went out of obligation, the practice of the Five Spiritualities felt distant and unrelated to me.

However, everything began to change when I joined the Youth Retreat in Naju.

What touched me the most was the life of Mama Julia.

Watching her offer up her sufferings with love—and seeing how that love transformed others—made me realize something profound: “Ah… love is truly essential for our lives! Yes, it is really through love that the world can be transformed!”

With that realization, I made a resolution: I, too, want to embrace others with love, just as Mama Julia does. 

In the Naju Youth Group, we practiced one of the Five Spiritualities each day—for example, one day “Amen,” the next day “It’s My fault”—and at night we shared with one another how we lived that spirituality throughout the day.

It may have seemed like a small activity, but in truth, it brought tremendous grace into my life.

First, the very beginning of grace I received was developing a “Five Spiritualities Readiness.” What does that mean? It means always keeping my inner antenna beep-beep switched on, asking myself, “Which of the Five Spiritualities can I practice right now?” to offer up everything. 

For example: “I’m trimming broccoli right now… Then I should turn this into prayer and ask the Lord to cut away my bad habits as I cut this broccoli!” Or when I go to a restaurant and the food tastes bad: “Ah! Then I can offer it up with Semchigo as if I’m eating at the best restaurant! 

“Nice! Today again, I have something to practice the Five Spiritualities with!” 

The second grace I received is that I realized that the Five Spiritualities are the BEST TOOL for practicing love.

Jesus taught us love 2,000 years ago. We all know how important love is—but many of us don’t really know how to live out the love concretely.

How do we practice love in daily life? Here in Naju, the Five Spiritualities show us exactly how!  This is a tremendous blessing and grace to all of us! ✨

As I continued practicing the Five Spiritualities in small ways, they became a natural part of my daily life. Through that, I can feel that I’m drawing closer to the Lord and Our Lady day by day. Amen! 

In today’s society of South Korea, many young people suffer from depression. They say that in 2022, the number exceeded one million, and it continues to rise steadily.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), there are nine diagnostic criteria for depression. If five or more of these symptoms persist for at least two weeks, it is diagnosed as Major Depressive Disorder. And if this condition continues for more than two years, it is called Persistent Depressive Disorder.

I myself suffered from severe, chronic, high-level persistent depressive disorder. How did someone like me overcome it? I tried all kinds of things to get better, but what helped me the most was the power of love I learned from Naju! – That is the Five Spiritualities!  

This power of love greatly helped me overcome my depression. Now I want to share this love with the depressed young people of our time, so that together we can create a better world! 

Isaac, who was healed of his depression through the Naju Youth Camp, is now joyfully dancing in praise.

Even when I thought my depression was completely gone, there were still moments when it crept back into my life. But what do I have now? I have the Five Spiritualities! 

So whenever depression tries to return, I defeat it with the power of love which I can practice through the Five Spiritualities. And I want young people who struggle with recurring depression to know how powerful and helpful this truly is. 

Now I am grateful even for my depression. 

Why, I am grateful? Because I experienced depression, I came to understand love. Because I came to understand love, I came to know true happiness. Through this, I realized that even my depression was something the Lord allowed in my life.

If I had never been depressed, I would not have truly understood love—and without that, I would never have developed the desire to share love with other young people.

Is this not also something the Lord had prepared for me? So I love even this depression, and I am deeply grateful. I offer all glory to the Lord and the Blessed Mother. Thank you Mama Julia for living out love through the Five Spiritualities! 

Naju Shrine 2025 Advent Retreat

💗 DAY 2 💗 

https://youtu.be/g8kIdjNo5Dc