Miracles in Naju, Korea   Roseline Ang, Singapore      
Since 30th June1985, when the statue of Our Lady belonging to Julia Kim, a humble Korean housewife, began to shed tears, tens of thousands of pilgrims have flocked to the small city of Naju in South Korea to visit the shrine of Our Lady, after hearing about the miraculous signs and happenings that occurred there. Many have personally seen the supernatural signs such as the shedding of tears and tears of blood as well as a fragrant oil oozing from the statue of Our Lady. Many more have witnessed the Stigmata on Julia and the Eucharistic Miracles that repeatedly happened when the Sacred Host turned into flesh and blood on her tongue. Physical healing has also occurred on numerous occasions when Julia was praying and when people washed themselves with water from the miraculous spring on the mountain near Naju.
 
On 19th-20th May 1997, a group of 30 Singaporeans led by Fr Vincent Lee of the Church of St Michael, Singapore, and Fr Augustine Mundackatt and Adv A M Mathew from Potta, India, on their way to Pusan, Taegu, and Masan to conduct retreats, stopped at Naju to pray in the chapel where the famous statue of Our Lady is enshrined. In the chapel can be seen many photographs and relics of the miraculous happenings. Julia Kim spoke to the group and told them that they had been led there by the Holy Spirit because Mother Mary wanted them to evangelize and spread the word of God. Many in the group could smell the fragrance that surrounds Julia wherever she goes and which she passes on to anyone who touches her hand. The group also visited the miraculous spring on the mountain nearby where Julia Kim washed the heads of some of the group, with water from the spring.     How It all Began  
Korea, torn in the last hundred years by suffering from foreign occupation, has experienced much in its Catholic history, having seen martyrdom and persecution especially during the 19th century when ten thousand Catholics died for their faith, leading to the canonisation of many of them. Despite the small number of Catholics-only 7.5%-the sight of lighted crosses on roof tops in the cities in Korea, is quite common. This is a sign that Jesus is very much present there. Naju, located on the southwestern tip of the Korean peninsula, is a quiet, serene town with narrow streets lined by simple houses and shops. The population is about 80,000.
 
It all began in 1980 when Julia Kim, who was suffering from terminal cancer, was miraculously healed. She was at that time a Protestant but eventually converted to Catholicism. In 1982, Julia saw a vision of Jesus with his Sacred Heart bleeding and asking for suffering for the conversion of sinners. Thus began a life of suffering for Julia. On 30th June 1985, the statue of Our Lady in Julia's home shed tears for the first time and the weeping continued intermittently for a period of about 700 days until January 1992. In 1986 the statue began to shed tears of blood and in 1992 it shed fragrant oil. During this time, Julia received many visions and messages from Our Lady supported by numerous amazing miracles.     Messages of Love  
The messages of Our Lady call for prayer and sacrifice for world peace and conversion of sinners, for the millions of babies being aborted, for families who are suffering, and for people who receive Holy Communion sacrilegiously. The Blessed Mother has also asked for the consecration of the First Saturdays to her Immaculate Heart, to observe the Holy Hour on Thursdays and for the consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in reparation for the sins of the world. The Blessed Mother who emphasized that her messages are for the whole world, not just Korea, also asked people to pray constantly and live consecrated lives, and promised that those who put her messages into practice would be saved.
 
Julia, who has continued to receive messages, also experiences terrible pain and afflictions almost daily, including the pain of babies being aborted, the crucifixion of Jesus, and arrows piercing her heart. She has also taken on the pains of people for whom she is praying. Through these messages and miracles, many have experienced spiritual conversion and regained peace and love and humility in their hearts.     The Eucharistic Miracles  
The first Eucharistic miracle took place in the Naju Parish Church on 5th June 1988 during Mass when Julia Kim received Holy Communion and the Sacred Host turned into flesh and blood in her mouth. Since then, she has experienced this miracle on many occasions, both in Naju and abroad. It has been witnessed by many people, including priests, the Pope's representatives and even the Holy Father himself when Julia visited the Vatican in October 1995. During a private Mass celebrated by the Holy Father, Julia received Holy Communion and the Eucharistic miracle occurred again, for the twelfth time. The Sacred Host turned to flesh and blood on Julia's tongue. The newsletter, Mary's Touch, reported, "Immediately after the Mass, the Holy Father, came to Julia and witnessed this miracle. His Holiness blessed Julia and her companions. "On 17th September 1996, a Eucharistic miracle took place in the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Sibu, Sarawak (Malaysia), when Julia Kim, together with about 3,000 people, were present for Mass concelebrated by Bishop Dominic Su, Mgr William Bos, Fr Tom Connors, Fr Francis Su, Fr Jacob Ong and Fr Paul Chee. During the homily, Bishop Su emphasised the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and the healing power of the Eucharistic Lord. When Julia Kim received Holy Communion a short while later, the Sacred Host on her tongue turned into flesh and blood in the shape of a heart. Many people witnessed this miracle and, as on previous occasions, photographs were taken. A few minutes later, Julia consumed the flesh. In his testimony, Bishop Su said,"Our Lord performed this miracle in order to confirm our faith in his Real Presence in the Eucharist. To him be the glory and praise for ever and ever!"
 
Other miraculous signs that have occurred in Naju include a vision in July 1995 during a service to celebrate the anniversary of the first time Our Lady's statue shed tears. Julia saw the wooden figure of Jesus on the cross turn to flesh and bleed at seven places on his body. The seven wounds then turned into white round hosts which floated down to rest on the altar before Our Lady's statue. When Julia consumed one of the sacred Hosts later, it turned into flesh and blood. The two priests celebrating Mass, dipped their fingers in the blood, showed this to the people and wiped their fingers on a piece of white cloth, which is preserved in the chapel at Naju. All these signs and wonders have touched many people and a committee has been formed to investigate and examine the evidence. The Church in Naju hopes that the revelations there will be officially approved by the Pope, and the Church and the whole world will be renewed by the mercy of God through our Blessed Mother.     From the Nunciature  
The Apostolic Pro-Nuncio in Korea, Most Rev Giovanni Bulaitis, wrote to Bishop Dominic Su, "It has come to my knowledge, the wonderful manifestation of the Holy Eucharist which took place in your presence last September.
 
This Nunciature is gathering material relating to events involving Julia and I should be most grateful if you could share with me the experience with a documentation, witness-reports and photographs.
 
As you may know, I myself assisted at a marvelous presence of the Eucharist in November 1994"(Page 50, The Holy Eucharist and the Blessed Mother. Publisher:Sacred Heart's Audio visual Centre, PB-495, 96007, Sibu, Malaysia)     Bishop's report  
In response to this letter, Bishop Dominic Su wrote, "Thank you for your letter, dated 1st November, 1996.
 
I was caught totally unprepared when this extraordinary Eucharistic phenomenon occurred in our Sacred Heart Cathedral, Sibu on 17th September, 1996 during our Eucharistic celebration from 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.
 
When I think over it now, I can see that it was good for me to be caught unprepared. Had I expected before hand that this mysterious incident would happen, I would have got a pyx ready to get this "flesh" and "blood" from the mouth of Mrs. Julia Kim for laboratory analysis. This would show that my faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist would have to depend on scientific proof. What Jesus wants from us is our child-like faith in Him and not an intellectual type of faith based on science and reasonings. That is why some Catholics, including a few priests, no longer believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.... In my humble opinion and judgment, I would consider this extraordinary Eucharistic phenomenon as an Eucharistic "miracle". I enclose here 3 photos which were taken during the incident. Let the Name of Lord Jesus be praised forever and ever!"(Page 51, 52,Ibid)     Julia speaks  
Julia Kim herself told about what happened in Sibu. "I attended the 7.30 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral at Sibu, Malaysia. When I received Holy Communion and also when I was in meditation in my seat after communion, I smelled a strong odour of wine. The man next to me also smelled the same odour. The Sacred Host that I received turned into visible blood and flesh, and this was witnessed by Fr. Francis Su, who gave me Communion, His Excellency Dominic Su, who was the main celebrant of the Mass, other priests and lay people. While I continued a deep meditation, light came down from Heaven and shone upon everyone, and I heard a loving, kind voice from above. It was the Blessed Mother's voice. 'Daughter! What are you so worried about? My Son Jesus is in glory in Heaven, but comes to you in Love even today as the sacrificial victim for the children in the world. You have been called to spread (the truth about) the Lord's Real Presence and, thereby, to help many souls repent."(Page 49 Ibid).     Fr Francis Su testifies  
Father Francis Su who administered the Holy Communion to Julia Kim reports: "My brother, Bishop Dominic Su, delivered a powerful sermon on the Healing Power and the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. He exhorted us to have faith in the healing power of the Eucharistic King. After the communion of the priests, I administered the Holy Eucharist to Julia Kim. As I continued to distribute Holy Communion to the others present, those who were sitting close to her noticed blood in her mouth. The Sacred Host that she received from me transformed into visible "Flesh and blood"(John 6:51,55-56).
 
I went to Julia and prayed over her. I could smell blood and then, I saw the Sacred Host on her tongue moving and forming the shape of a heart. Photographs were taken and some of them showed the "Pieta".(Mother Mary holding the body of Jesus after He was taken down from the cross)(Page 47, Ibid).
 
Miraculous manifestations and visions are drawing many people to Jesus. Numerous cases of healing and conversions are taking place in the presence of the Eucharistic Lord.
 
The 30-member team from Singapore visited Naju and spent two days on May 19th and 20th 1997, with Julia Kim during our preaching ministry in Korea.
 
[ Contents ]