[The Five Spiritualities Testimony] 💖"After having heard Mama Julia's words, my anger turned into love, and my life changed!" - Testimony by Gregoria

✨A Life Transformed Through the Grace of Naju✨

1. Living in Anger, Pain, and Isolation

For many years, I carried deep wounds from my family situation and felt inferior. I hated showing my true self to others, living a double life throughout almost all of my school years. I stopped going to church for about seven years, even though I had been baptized. My pride and ego made me unwilling to let anyone know my struggles. I often asked, “Jesus, why don’t you answer my prayers?” Even praying the Rosary felt empty, and I envied others who seemed to succeed effortlessly.

2. A Glimpse of Grace Through Mama Julia

One day, videos of Mama Julia appeared on YouTube. I kept seeing her wearing a hanbok and eventually watched her videos fully. Tears flowed endlessly as I listened to her words. Through her, I discovered the Five Spiritualities, and I began to understand sin, true faith, and the meaning of offering up my pain for Jesus. I realized that suffering, illness, and trials could become a source of grace, not only for myself but also for others.

3. Healing and Transformation

I suffer from a rare allergy, anaphylaxis, which often put me in the emergency room. In the past, I was frustrated and resentful, questioning God’s love. But through Mama Julia’s teaching of the Life of Offering Up and Semchigo, I learned to transform my suffering into love. I began to see trials as opportunities to offer penance, to bring glory to God, and to bear crosses with joy. My anger and resentment toward others began to melt away, replaced by compassion and understanding.

4. Rebuilding Relationships

One of my greatest struggles was with my elder brother, who has schizophrenia. I used to resent him, thinking, “Why do I have to suffer because of him?” I often wished, 'Ah, I wish he didn't exist.

I used to clean up a lot of the mess my elder brother made, and because it was extremely difficult, I think that even though I was living a life of faith, I prayed mechanically to keep myself alive. Because I used to pray formally without love, I struggled, and my relationship with my elder brother was always strained. I used to hate my elder brother, only seeing his disruptive behavior and constantly cursing at him. I always said to myself, 'I've been hurt. I've been hurt.' 

But the fact that I have never truly extended a warm hand to my elder brother, even once, and only cursed at him, is really... It's such a shameful realization. 'How dare I claim to love Jesus while not being able to love my own brother.' I feel ashamed.

But now, as I listen to Mama Julia's words and learned the Five Spiritualities, something that had been stuck in my chest cleared away. I started to think, ‘What if I had such an illness? Would I also have gone crazy? How frustrated would my elder brother have been?'

Mama Julia always advises us to try to see things from the other person's perspective and even swap roles. When my brother calls, it can be annoying. However, when I answer his calls with kindness, my brother also treats me kindly. Mama Julia's words are truly profound. I realized once again that when I change and improve myself, the other person also changes. Through the Five Spiritualities that the Blessed Mother of Naju and Mama Julia teach, I have come to understand many truths.

Now, I feel a sense of peace and have gained courage. Since the anger and resentment that used to exist between my elder brother and me are now gone, I feel reconciled with him without burdens.💓

5. Sharing the Grace of Naju

Through watching Mama Julia and learning about the Blessed Mother of Naju, I felt compelled to share the grace I had received. I showed colleagues the tears of blood of the Blessed Mother and shared her story. Many were moved, and some even received baptism. I realized that experiencing the love and sacrifice of Mama Julia and the Blessed Mother could inspire others to encounter Jesus.

The Naju family members are all without any burden. They feel like real family, and it seems like the Blessed Mother has truly made us all like her own children with her mother’s milk while we take the Miracle Water. 

Discovering the Blessed Mother of Naju and the Five Spiritualities has transformed my life in this way, always making me happy. Whether my illness gets better or not, it allows me to encounter Jesus more deeply.

While making pilgrimage to Naju and listening to Mama Julia’s messages, I began to repent, breaking myself down. I blamed myself for not understanding my elder brother struggling with illness, for not praying with love, and for all the stings and daggers I threw while questioning, 'Jesus, why don’t you answer my prayers?' I prayed to discard the crosses, but at some point, I decided, 'Ah, I must bear the cross.' Now, I decided to embrace the cross. I realized the great truth that by carrying the cross, Jesus is with me, making the burden lighter.

I still feel inadequate and lacking, but through Mama Julia, I have come to realize profound truths of faith. I want to offer all this glory to the Lord, the Blessed Mother. Thank you.

December 2, 2023 Gregoria, South Korea