The Eucharistic Miracles of Naju

This article was written by Fr. Joseph P. Finn, Ph.D. a retired priest of the London, Ontario diocese and one of the key eyewitnesses in Naju, setting forth his experiences, discusses possible responses and some thoelogical aspects of the miracle.

    Within the history of our Catholic Church during the past twenty centuries, there have occurred incidents in which the Flesh and Blood of Jesus hidden under the outward appearances of bread and wine become openly visible and perceptible to the human senses of sight, taste, touch and smell. After careful, reverent and prayerful investigation by legitimate Church authority several of these happenings have been duly authenticated and approved.

    The foregoing reflections are essential to keep in mind when examining what now follows. At this point likewise in the interest of clarity the undersigned begs leave of the kind reader to proceed in the first person pronoun, "I."

The Korean Miracle

    A Eucharistic episode of the type described above I was involved in on Friday, September 22, 1995 at an outdoor Mass celebrated at approximately five o'clock in the evening at a mountain site near Naju, South Korea. May I set the scene.

The setting

    Encircled on all sides at quite a distance by a range of low-ridged mountains was a small clearing of an acre or two. Here a group of seventeen younger Catholic Koreans first spread on the bare ground carpets on which to sit and kneel in the Korean manner. Then they set up a temporary altar table for the Eucharist to follow.

    Quietly the celebrants. Bishop Roman Danylak, Apostolic Administrator of the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Toronto, Father Aloysius Chang, a pastor from Kwangju City and myself, a retired priest of the diocese of London, Ontario vested for Holy Mass. Because only the Korean texts of the Mass were available. Father Chang became chief celebrant with Bishop Danylak and myself as concelebrants.

    Among the lay persons present was a devout lady, Mrs. Julia Kim, a convert (as are most Korean Catholics), a mother of two daughters and two sons and a grandmother of two grandchildren. Her husband, Julio Kim, a devout convert also, was not present.

    Julia Kim claims that for the past decade she has received many messages chiefly from Our Blessed Mother, but also some from Jesus, her Son. Apparently, she experiences the stigmata from time to time.

The Mass begins

    Holy Mass began in Korean led by Father Chang. After he read the Gospel in the Korean tongue, a short homily preached by His Excellency was capably translated by a young man, Raphael, who hopes soon to study for the priesthood. At Communion time after the three celebrants had received the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus, the fifteen lay persons began also to receive with the Bishop distributing the Sacred Hosts from the ciborium and Father Chang offering the Precious Blood from the chalice. Meanwhile, taking my seat behind the little altar, I was adoring Jesus within myself.

The Miracle

    Julia Kim happened to be the first person after the celebrants to receive Holy Communion under both species. She was about three metres away from me when I happened to look towards her. IMMEDIATELY, I perceived that something out of the ordinary was happening with Julia. With hands together, eyes closed and leaning far back as she knelt, her mouth came open. When I reached her side, I could still see the white outer edge of the Sacred Host dissolving into bright red blood. Intuitively I knew this to be the Precious Blood of Jesus, Our Lord!

   Fearing that some of the Precious Blood might drip from her mouth, I reached behind me quickly to pick up from the altar the corporal, which I then folded and held under her chin with my left hand as I leaned over her. My right hand supported the back of her head as I was concerned that leaning so far back as she knelt, she might fall completely backwards to the carpet surface behind her.

    Standing beside Julia to her left, I had a sideways view of her face and mouth—not a view from the front. This point is significant. From my position on her left I saw clearly the bright red Precious Blood on her tongue in the forward portion of her mouth. Thus, I did not see the darker red flesh forming towards the back of her mouth that others saw and the camera photos later plainly revealed.

    During these awesome moments I was aware that photos were being taken. What I was entirely unaware of was the presence of Bishop Danylak and of Raphael, the youthful interpreter, standing in silence to my left in front of Julia Kim.

    Having realized that Julia was having this experience, the Bishop had momentarily interrupted the further distribution of Holy Communion, and still holding the ciborium, stood before her for several minutes before he resumed giving Holy Communion to the six or seven persons who had yet to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, the Lord.

    Only after the Bishop had finished the distribution of Holy Communion and resumed his position in front of Julia, still with her eyes closed, her hands joined in prayer and her mouth open, did I become aware that the Bishop was close by. He gently requested her to consume. Julia complied.

    Soon this eventful Eucharistic celebration came to a close. Spontaneously after Mass, each person in this small group felt deep spiritual joy which was shared together for a good half hour and more. Alleluia!

Julia's experience

    Later through the interpreter Raphael, Julia disclosed to Bishop Danylak that the taste of blood was in her mouth for several minutes after swallowing the Precious Blood. Moreover, she described that she experienced genuine difficulty in consuming the large morsel of the Sacred Flesh lodged in her mouth.

    Sworn testimony has already been given by myself as to the truth of this Eucharistic miracle. Once more I testify that in this foregoing article composed by myself I have truthfully and as accurately as possible set forth the details of this Eucharistic event as perceived by myself, so help me God.

Further reflections

    Before closing, may I assert that an extraordinary phenomenon of this importance merits further reflection.

    For instance, we ask ourselves: How can such a startling event take place? Is it staged through trickery, a sleight-of-hand act, or some theatrical gimmick? Or does it occur through Divine Power? As we examine the former alternative it is clear that Julia Kim is a devout, honest and balanced Catholic mother for whom any deceit in such a sacred matter would be unthinkable; and how could she hold concealed a mouthful of ordinary blood to be released onto her tongue just after receiving Holy communion? Preposterous!

    The Lord Jesus Himself performed this miracle as far as I am concerned.

Three Responses

    Next, what are the possible responses that we humans can make to this Eucharistic event? It seems that there are three possible reactions: firstly, definite and complete denial — that somehow this sudden formation of Blood and Flesh within the mouth of a good and humble woman has some natural cause or explanation; secondly, a mid-position involving neither denial nor acceptance or thirdly, acceptance of this episode as a divine intervention.

    Regarding the first response it seems to me there is no satisfactory natural explanation. Those scribes and Pharisees come to mind who, simply not accepting the divine act by which Jesus raised the decaying corpse of Lazarus, his friend, from the dead, they connive to rid themselves of the evidence by having Lazarus assassinated. To sweep the evidence of this Eucharistic event under our mental carpets can be a reaction similar to that of the Pharisees.

    The second response of neither acceptance nor denial, i.e. just quietly turning one's back and walking away from the evidence is tantamount to denial. In this position there seems to be little in the way of an open, prayerful frame of mind by which moment by moment we continually thank our loving Father and His beloved Son, Jesus, for their overwhelming gifts to each of us, especially the Gift of Eucharistic Jesus.

    The third alternative — deep appreciation, profound thanks and prudent acceptance, consent and faith that Christ Jesus on September 22, 1995 could and did, permit twenty persons participating in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to witness a Eucharistic Miracle at a mountain site highlights the undeniable and indisputable fact of the real, personal, physical PRESENCE of Christ Jesus in the Mystery of the Eucharist.

The Bottom Line - Credible or Not?

    In a matter of this importance we must look closely at the bottom line — the measure or degree of credibility, faith, belief or trust that we place in this Eucharistic event. To avoid confusion of mind let us frame our concern in the form of a question. Is there a genuine difference in the process of evaluating its trust-worthiness as compared to assessing the credibility or trust that may be placed in messages (verbal or visual) claimed to be channelled through a seer (visionary)?

    Let us first examine the latter part of this question: To be carefully checked out are several aspects: a) Is the seer of a balanced personality, i.e. humble, truthful, sincere, always praying against being a victim of delusion or deceit, ever ready to be guided by the judgment of higher Church authority? b) Are the messages in complete agreement with the teachings of Christ and His Church (the Magisterium)? c) Are the messages of genuine supernatural origin in such wise as to inspire and motivate the faithful to a deeper love and practice of our Catholic faith?

    It is obvious that a fair assessment of these vital questions demands usually a prayerful and lengthy process of analysis conducted usually by a group of competent persons chosen by the local Ordinary. In time and in turn they submit their conclusions to the same local bishop. With him rests the weighty responsibility of final appraisal and decision. If the decision is positive, then the faithful may give credence to the private revelation and govern their personal spirituality accordingly.

    In the matter of a Eucharistic event as above described, there is, first of all, no intermediary through whom messages are channelled to us. Suddenly and unexpectedly it happens within the context of the Sacrifice of the Mass celebrated by validly ordained Catholic celebrants-priests or bishop(s).

    By the Act of His Divine Will at the words of consecration pronounced by the celebrant(s) Christ Jesus, Son of the living God, becomes really and truly present under the species (outward appearances) of bread and wine.

    By a further Act of His same Divine Will Jesus can set aside the external species in such a manner that His Sacred Flesh and Blood are readily and directly perceived by our human senses. He can effect this on the table of the altar or on the tongue of one who is a temple of the Holy Spirit. There seems to be no room for deceit or trickery here. And our Adversary, Satan, dare not intrude himself into this sacred scene.

    Prompted by the beautiful gift of our faith infused by our loving Father at baptism, all present are called upon to make a swift judgment. Immediately and intuitively as they gaze upon the Flesh and Blood of the Lord Jesus they cry out in the depth of their hearts like Thomas long ago in the Upper Room: "My Lord and my God." For an awesome moment time stands still!

    Furthermore, the faithful present feel tremendously privileged to share with the celebrants this unique moment. And the celebrants themselves, overcome with awe, humbly realize that their intent and words are the human channel through which this Eucharistic miracle takes place. The emphatic words of Jesus come readily to mind: "For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink" (Jn. 6:55). Our tiny human minds should not trammel the limitless generosity and Divine Power of the Eucharistic God-Man.

    For myself may I add that the Lord Jesus Himself in His divine generosity performed this miracle.

Group photo after Mass. Back row centre — Fr. Finn, Bishop Danylak, Julia Kim, Fr. Chang, Raphael, Andrew. Front row — second from right — Michaela — at Communion instantly healed of painful neck and shoulder disorder.

Why This Miracle Now

    The last question to be raised is: Why should Christ Jesus, the God-Man, perform this type of Eucharistic Miracle at this particular time? Two factors may be suggested. The first indicates that this added emphasis on the Eucharist strengthens the personal faith of our Catholic priests in the Eucharist so that in spite of the onslaughts of Satan against them they steadfastly focus all their priestly prayer and labour for souls, in our Eucharistic Lord and Shepherd.

    A second element relates to the faithful themselves. In this period of blatant denial of the supernatural and of the existence of God and rampant immorality Christ Jesus takes this extraordinary measure to stem the wholesale desertion by countless souls who coldly abandon loving worship of Himself in His Church and in His Eucharist.

    Reliable church authorities openly admit that in all Western Europe the practice of our Catholic faith and consequent love and worship of our Eucharistic Lord is dying out. In our own part of the world Sunday Eucharist is no longer the spiritual highpoint of the week for too many Catholic families. In Ontario, Canada alone it is estimated that at least fifty per cent of baptized Catholic students registered in Catholic high schools scarcely ever attend Sunday Eucharist by themselves or with their parents. Christ Jesus in His Eucharist is not an integral force in their young lives.

    And with a loss of the sense of what is sinful as often lamented by John Paul II himself and the marked fall-off in recourse to the Sacrament of Reconciliation in a worthy confession, how many sacrilegious Communions take place all over the world today?

Conclusion

    To sum up, I have set forth as accurately and as clearly as I am able, my witness and participation in the extraordinary Eucharistic event centred in the REALITY — the GENUINE PRESENCE of the Sacred Body and Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus usually veiled under the outward appearances of bread and wine. This Eucharistic event took place on Friday, September 22, 1995. For my benefit (and I hope the reader's) I reflected briefly on the awesome words and deeds which Christ Jesus employed to leave for us the ineffable GIFT of Himself in the Eucharist.

    In conclusion, we finish with a few lines composed by that renowned poet of the Mystery of the Eucharist — a Dominican friar, faithful priest, eminent philosopher, profound theologian, the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225-1274).

    The few lines quoted are drawn from his Adoro Te Devote.

    His poetic praises of the Mystery of the Eucharist have been sung until recently by millions of worshippers for more than eight centuries. The opening lines of his superb Adoro Te Devote appropriately close the presentation.

    In the ancient Latin tongue — each line is followed by the translation composed by that unique English poet, Father Gerard Manley Hopkins.S.J. (1844-1889).

Adoro Te Devote, Latens Deitas   Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore.
Quae Sub His Figuris Vere Latitas   Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more,
Tibi Se Cor Meum Totum Subjicit   See, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart,
Quia Te Contemplans Totum Deficit   Lost, all lost in wonder at the God Thou art.

Joseph P. Finn
Holy Thursday, April 4,1996