By Lydia O’Kane

At the heart of Pope Francis' message for the IV annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, which the Church now celebrates in union with the Orthodox Church, is the vital resource that is water.

Describing it as a precious element, the Pope underlines that “access to safe drinkable water is a basic and universal human right, since it is essential to human survival and, as such, is a condition for the exercise of other human rights.” He also draws attention to the fact that access for many people is either difficult or impossible.

Noting the fundamental role of water in creation and human development, the Pontiff stresses that it is precisely for this reason that “care for water sources and water basins is an urgent imperative.”

He goes on to say, there is an urgent need for “shared projects and concrete gestures that recognize that every privatization of the natural good of water, at the expense of the human right to have access to this good, is unacceptable.”

Water a Christian perspective

Dwelling on water from a Christian perspective, Pope Francis says this fundamental resource “represents an essential element of purification and of life and comments that “Jesus, in the course of his mission, promised a water capable of quenching human thirst for ever”.

Threats to Seas and Oceans

In his message, the Pope also focuses on seas and oceans saying that “constant care for this inestimable treasure represents today an ineluctable duty and a genuine challenge. He goes on to say that, “we cannot allow our seas and oceans to be littered by endless fields of floating plastic. We need to pray as if everything depended on God’s providence, and work as if everything depended on us.”

Pope Francis then invites those in positions of authority, to look with a farsighted approach at, what he calls “the more sensitive questions of our day, such as those linked to movements of migration, climate change”.

Safeguarding

On the issue of protection and preservation, the Pope prays for all those who are involved in safeguarding the seas and for those “who contribute to the development and application of international regulations on the seas in order to safeguard individuals, countries, goods, natural resources”.

Concluding his message Pope Francis expresses the hope that Christian communities, and young people too, “may contribute more and more concretely helping everyone to enjoy this indispensable resource, in respectful care for the gifts received from the Creator, and in particular rivers, seas and oceans.”

Please find the full message below

Dear brothers and sisters!

            On this Day of Prayer, I wish first to thank the Lord for the gift of our common home and for all those men and women of good will committed to protecting it. I am likewise grateful for the many projects aimed at promoting the study and the safeguarding of ecosystems, for the efforts being made to develop more sustainable agriculture and more responsible nutrition, and for the various educational, spiritual and liturgical initiatives that involve Christians throughout the world in the care of creation.

            It must be acknowledged that we have not succeeded in responsibly protecting creation. The environmental situation, both on the global level and in many specific places, cannot be considered satisfactory. Rightly, there is a growing sense of the need for a renewed and sound relationship between humanity and creation, and the conviction that only an authentic and integral vision of humanity will permit us to take better care of our planet for the benefit of present and future generations. For “there is no ecology without an adequate anthropology” (Laudato Si’, 118).

            On this World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, which the Catholic Church for several years now has celebrated in union with our Orthodox brothers and sisters and with participation of other Churches and Christian communities, I would like to draw attention to the question of water. It is a very simple and precious element, yet access to it is, sadly, for many people difficult if not impossible. Nonetheless, “access to safe drinkable water is a basic and universal human right, since it is essential to human survival and, as such, is a condition for the exercise of other human rights. Our world owes a great social debt towards the poor who lack access to drinking water, because they are denied the right to a life consistent with their inalienable dignity” (ibid., 30).

            Water invites us to reflect on our origins. The human body is mostly composed of water, and many civilizations throughout history arose near great rivers that marked their identity. In an evocative image, the beginning of the book of Genesis states that, in the beginning, the spirit of the Creator “swept over the face of the waters (1:2)”.

            In considering the fundamental role of water in creation and in human development, I feel the need to give thanks to God for “Sister Water”, simple and useful for life like nothing else on our planet.  Precisely for this reason, care for water sources and water basins is an urgent imperative. Today, more than ever, we need to look beyond immediate concerns (cf. Laudato Si’, 36) and beyond a purely utilitarian view of reality, “in which efficiency and productivity are entirely geared to our individual benefit” (ibid., 159). We urgently need shared projects and concrete gestures that recognize that every privatization of the natural good of water, at the expense of the human right to have access to this good, is unacceptable.

            For us Christians, water represents an essential element of purification and of life.  We think immediately of baptism, the sacrament of our rebirth. Water made holy by the Spirit is the matter by which God has given us life and renewed us; it is the blessed source of undying life. For Christians of different confessions, baptism also represents the real and irreplaceable point of departure for experiencing an ever more authentic fraternity on the way to full unity. Jesus, in the course of his mission, promised a water capable of quenching human thirst for ever (cf. Jn 4:14).  He prophesied, “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink (Jn 7:37). To drink from Jesus means to encounter him personally as the Lord, drawing from his words the meaning of life. May the words he spoke from the cross – “I thirst” (Jn 19:28) – echo constantly in our hearts. The Lord continues to ask that his thirst be quenched; he thirsts for love.  He asks us to give him to drink in all those who thirst in our own day, and to say to them, “I was thirsty and you gave me to drink” (Mt 25:35). To give to drink, in the global village, does not only entail personal gestures of charity, but also concrete choices and a constant commitment to ensure to all the primary good of water.

            I would like also to mention the issue of the seas and oceans. It is our duty to thank the Creator for the impressive and marvellous gift of the great waters and all that they contain (cf. Gen 1:20-21; Ps 146:6), and to praise him for covering the earth with the oceans (cf. Ps 104:6). To ponder the immense open seas and their incessant movement can also represent an opportunity to turn our thoughts to God, who constantly accompanies his creation, guiding its course and sustaining its existence (cf. St. John Paul II, Catechesis of 7 May 1986).

            Constant care for this inestimable treasure represents today an ineluctable duty and a genuine challenge. There is need for an effective cooperation between men and women of good will in assisting the ongoing work of the Creator. Sadly, all too many efforts fail due to the lack of effective regulation and means of control, particularly with regard to the protection of marine areas beyond national confines (cf. Laudato Si’, 174). We cannot allow our seas and oceans to be littered by endless fields of floating plastic. Here too, our active commitment is needed to confront this emergency. We need to pray as if everything depended on God’s providence, and work as if everything depended on us.

            Let us pray that waters may not be a sign of separation between peoples, but of encounter for the human community. Let us pray that those who risk their lives at sea in search of a better future may be kept safe. Let us ask the Lord and all those engaged in the noble service of politics that the more sensitive questions of our day, such as those linked to movements of migration, climate change and the right of everyone to enjoy primary goods, may be faced with generous and farsighted responsibility and in a spirit of cooperation, especially among those countries most able to help.

            Let us pray too, for all those who devote themselves to the apostolate of the sea, for those who help reflect on the issues involving maritime ecosystems, for those who contribute to the development and application of international regulations on the seas in order to safeguard individuals, countries, goods, natural resources – I think, for example, of marine fauna and flora, and coral reefs (cf. ibid., 41) or sea beds – and to guarantee an integral development in view of the common good of the entire human family and not particular interests. Let us remember, too, all those who work to protect maritime areas and to safeguard the oceans and their biodiversity, that they may carry out this task with responsibility and integrity.

            Finally, let us be concerned for the younger generation and pray for them, that they may grow in knowledge and respect for our common home and in the desire to care for the essential good of water, for the benefit of all. It is my prayerful hope that Christian communities may contribute more and more concretely helping everyone to enjoy this indispensable resource, in respectful care for the gifts received from the Creator, and in particular rivers, seas and oceans.

From the Vatican, 1 September 2018

FRANCIS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------        

     ***The phtos of Han River water system in Seoul area*** 2018,  29 0f August.

2018.08.29.오후 3시. 여주 이포보, 어제 밤 지평면 곡수성당 지역에 폭우가 많이 쏟아졌는데, 방송에서
경기 동북부 이 지역과 강원 영서지역에 수해가 얼마나 심한지, 직원들과 함께 이포보 물구경을 나와서 보니, 강물은 심한 흙탕물이나 평소 지난 달에 왔을 때처럼 강물의 수위는 평소와 크게 다르지 않아 매우 놀랐다.

********************************

2014/8/20, 

Pilgrimage of Msgr. Byon with his staff members of the Chon Jin Am,to Mount Paektu(白頭山) and Lake Chonji(天池), the most holy place of Koreans for 5 thousends years ! A Pilgrimage of Msgr. Byon with his staff members of the Chon Jin Am to Mount Paektu(白頭山) and Lake Chonji(天池), the most holy sanctuary of all the Koreans for 5 thousends years ! On the mountain, Paektu(白頭山), our Korean people's historical tradition has it that King Tan-gun founded Korea in the year 2333 B.C...He was not only a man of political acumen, but also a religious leader of his people about 5,000 years ago. Thus the mountain and it's lake has been forever held sacred in the eyes of the Korean people. For 5,000 years generations of Koreans have gazed steadily into the heavens to adore the Supreme Being whom they inherently believed in. This Mount was believed to be the holy intermediary place connecting earth with heaven. The name of the mountain means "white head", derived from the ever-present snow Which covers its summit. But, our ancient Koreans were fond of wearing white clothing and called themselves Paedalkyore, that is, 'Sons of Light'. They were peace-loving people and built small villages along the clear streams flowing from the mountain, where they continually worshipped the all-seeing almighty Supreme God.     천진암 성지 직원들, 8월의 白頭山과 天池 순례- 천문봉에서. "올라가는 용기를!, 내려가는 겸손을!, 돌아가는 지혜를!" 되새기며, 헐떡이다가 주저앉아서,,,!-2014/8/20-   무성한 산림은 가물고 비 안오는 시기에 水源이 되며, 장마철의 산사태와 토사유출을 막아준다.  북한과 중국 국경 도문시, 강건너 뒤로 보이는 북한지역 산들 !. 울창한 수목이 보이지 않는 산들이 임진강 건너 북쪽의 산들과 같다. 산에 수목이 빈약하면 장마철 산사태가 불가피하다. 이상복 원장이 북녘 땅에 나무심기 운동을 펴서, 묘목 밭도 개설해 주고 있다는 소리를 들었는데, 남북이 북한의 임야 조성에 정책적 힘을 기울여야!!! 산림이 헐벗고 황폐하면, 백성들이 헐벗고 주리며 남루해진다.    열 그루의 나무를 심는 것도 필요하지만, 심은 나무 한 그루의 묘목을 잘 가꾸는 것은 더 중요하다는 것인데, 열 그루의 나무를 심기도 어려운데다가 백 그루 천 그루의 나무를 베어서 땔감으로 불살라버리면 어떻게 하랴? 그러나, 추운 겨울 배고프고 얼어서 죽지 못해 산에 나무를 베어다가 아궁이에 불을 때야 하는 그 사정은 오죽하랴? 마음이 아프다!   개구리가 올챙이 적 생각을 못한다는 말처럼, 남한 동포들도  지난 1945년 해방 후와 1951년 1.4,후퇴 이후, 지금의 북한보다 훨씬 더 산의 나무를 베어 불을 때며 살았다. 그나마 구멍탄을 생산하며 산의 나무를 키웠다. 이제, 북한의 민둥산들을 울창한 숲으로 덮도록, 북한의 산림녹화에 남한 정부와 남한 국민들은 힘을 보태어, 삼천리 푸른 강산을 만들도록 관심과 성의를 다해야 하겠다. 이것은 정권차원을 넘어서  적어도 향후 반세기 이상 힘써야 할 것이다. 북한의 산림녹화는 북한의 힘만으로는 어렵게 생각된다.삼천리 강산의 애림녹화사업 지원은 무력증강에 남용할 수 없는 성격의 남북 상호 지원이다. -   Msgr. Byon  A Pilgrimage of Msgr. Byon with his staff members of the Chon Jin Am to Mount Paektu(白頭山) and Lake Chonji(天池), the most holy place of Koreans for 5 thousends years ! Now, the half part of the sanctuary is divided in territory by China and North Korea. Sorry about that for our Korean People ! We prayed to Our Lady for peaceful unification of Korea and we will be able to a Holy Statue of SS.Maria, Regina Pacis in Mundo so that any earth quake & vulcane never revive here and a new permanental peace between the China, Japan and Koream through Our Lady !

첨부파일1 : 20151113174675604.hwp

Writer : Msgr. Byon    Date : 2015-11-03 23:38   Hit. 1895 무신론 공산주의 사상과 정신이 한반도에서 사라지지 않는 한, 남북평화통일은 더욱더 어려워지고,세계 평화는 더욱더 불가능해질 것입니다! 세계 모든 인류가 [허위와 불의가 통치하는 시대사회]에서 벗어나,[진실과 정의]가 숨쉬는 [자유로운 사회]를 이룩하도록, 순교 신앙으로 살아갑시다! 자유가 없는 사람들의 말에는 진실보다도 허위가 있기 쉽고, 자유가 없는 사회에는 정의보다 불의가 판을 치게 마련입니다.- Msgr. Byon 팔당댐 건설 기공식(1966년 착공~1973년 완공)-金光彦 촬영, 사진 제공.- 서울의 전력 수급과 우기 서울의 홍수 피해 예방을 주목적으로 건설된 팔당수력발전소 건설 공사는 국가적으로, 특히 수도권의 한강 수계 안전과 발전에 큰 기여를 한 국토건설사업이었으나, 한국천주교회 발상지 천진암 성지의 개척과, 특히, 한민족100년계획 천진암대성당 건립을 위한 기반시설-진출입로 확장 개설, 등에도 미리 초석이 되는 하느님 안배의 손길이었다. 앞으로 설명할, 천진암대성당 건립을 위하여, 하늘이 미리 섭리하신 국토건설사업이었다고 확신한다.-Msgr. Byon 팔당댐 건설 기공식 중 박정희 대통령의 기공식 기념식사 (1966년 착공~1973년 완공)-金光彦 촬영 팔당댐 건설 기공식(1966년 착공~1973년 완공)-金光彦 촬영 팔당댐 건설(1966년 착공~1973년 완공)-金光彦 촬영 팔당댐 건설(1966년 착공~1973년 완공)-金光彦 촬영 팔당댐 건설(1966년 착공~1973년 완공) 위 사진 중, <한국전력주식회사 팔당댐 수력발전소 건설공사> 기공식 중, 박정희 대통령의 기공식 기념식사-물길이 치솟는 지점은 지금의 팔당 댐 남쪽 시작 지점이고, 물길 뒤로 약간 오른 쪽은 아랫 두미 마을이다. 30여 면의 사진들은 자료실에서 추후 볼 수 있음.<한국전력주식회사(한전)의 팔당댐 수력발전소 공사 기공식 당시(1966년 6월)부터, 팔당건설사무소 현장에 근무하던 직원, 젊은 날의 金光彦 촬영 제공> Photos of the water  system engineering work of Korean Goverment in Han River Seoul, Korea,1966년 착공~1973년 완공>