Hyojeong True Love and Family Blessing Festival: Taiwan
The following is a letter from Dr. Young Ho Yun, Secretary-General, Cheon Jeong Gung Headquarters on November 23, 2019 about True Mother’s World Tour and the 40-Day Cosmic Canaan Course for the Firm Establishment of Cheon Il Guk, which began on Monday, November 18, 2019 leading up to the Clergy Rally on December 28 in Newark, New Jersey.
Beloved Cheon Il Guk leaders, blessed families!
May Heavenly Parent’s and True Parents’ blessings and grace be with you.
Today, I would like to begin this letter under the title: “One World through One Family.” If we were to give a name tag to the world rally of the Chinese People’s Federation for World Peace held in Taiwan centering on the Chinese people and the 14,400-person Blessing for Chinese people, it would be “One World through One Family.” It is common knowledge that Greater China is aiming for a single nation right now. However, True Mother said that to achieve this unified nation, a country must first build one family that centers around Heavenly Parent and True Parents. If the 1.7 billion Chinese people realize one family, True Mother said that it would not be for a “unified nation,” but for the sake of a “unified world,” that includes the 7.7 billion people on earth. The historic 14,400-person Blessing for Chinese people that was held today was the amazing launching point for “One World through One Family.”
On this historic day, True Mother woke up earlier than usual and began her day by offering devotions. True Mother invited 12 Taiwan church leaders to breakfast and received reports from Taiwan Special Envoy Sang-Il Bang and Chinese People’s Federation for World Peace Promotion Committee Chairman Yeob-joo (Thomas) Hwang. True Mother smiled at each church leader and accepted their greetings. She especially gave words of blessing to a church leader who was starting a pioneer church; “Go and be victorious!” she told him, and requested that he offer a prayer for the food. The pioneer church leader offered a tearful prayer saying that he would, without fail, create a “Cheon Il Guk Taiwan” in attendance of True Mother with her unique hope for the world and particularly for Greater China.
The breakfast with True Mother was in itself a “heavenly breakfast,” as the church leaders who attended described it in their testimonies. True Mother embraced each and every one of them with her warm eyes and was the embodiment of a mother’s love, wanting to keep giving them more food!
Thereafter, throughout the morning, True Mother examined various items that had been reported, one by one, so that she could bring seeds that had been sown to fruition, and she made many plans for a “Cheon Il Guk Taiwan.” These plans Mother announced at the victory celebration. (The announcements will be made public in official memos by International Headquarters at a later date.)
At 1:30 p.m., True Mother headed to the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center where the Hyojeong True Love and Family Blessing Festival (孝情文化眞愛家庭祝福祝祭) would be held. The pre-event performance began at 12:30 p.m. However, before the performance even began, the venue was bubbling with Chinese couples waiting to receive the Blessing from True Mother. At today’s Blessing Ceremony for Chinese people, 14,400 new members including their spouses, who had already received the pre-Blessing, participated. All the participants wore suits and dresses. It was a beautiful scene.
Arriving at the venue, True Mother entered amidst a roar of cheers and applause from our members and the second and third generation members of Greater China. Before her entrance, True Mother had watched each part of the program from the monitor in the green room, and every so often, she would walk up to it with a bright smile. When an amazing second generation performance ended, she would applaud and compliment them saying, “Well done.”
Master of Ceremonies Tai-hsi Min, Vice President of FFWPU-Taiwan, announced the beginning of today’s Blessing event. Thirteen religious representatives from a broad range of faiths, (Hsüan Yüan Chiao, Hsüan Men Chen Tsung Chiao, Li Chiao, the Presbyterian church, I Kuei Tao, Kuang Siu Monastery, Kuang Yüan Ti Ts’ang Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, The Lord of the Universe Church, Tientao and American Zizhusi), participated in an Interfaith Water Ceremony. Chinese People’s Federation for World Peace Vice-Chairman Ker-shung Lee then offered an interfaith prayer for peace. Next came a video introducing True Mother and her work to bring the Blessing to the world on the religious and national level. Taiwan Special Envoy Sang-Il Bang gave the welcoming remarks.
Next, the most recognized individual in Taiwan, former Vice-President of Taiwan Annette Lu, gave the opening remarks and introduced True Mother. During her audience with True Mother in the green room, she had expressed her genuine respect for Mother, and in her opening remarks, she spoke about True Mother’s life of true love and her achievements for peace. The audience responded with a loud applause. The following are parts of Annette Lu’s opening remarks:
What a beautiful event we are having today. Wearing wedding dresses, you mothers’ deep emotion and sweetness as you reminisce over your joyful past is overflowing. Heaven will bless such grace-filled and sweet couples. Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon in the heavenly realms and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, who will soon enter this auditorium…. Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon is a great woman who has walked the most legendary path on earth, and is, by grace, here with us here today….Each couple here today may have experienced difficulties in the past, yet right now, in this moment, you are the happiest people on earth. Rev. and Dr. Moon’s activities centered on Heaven have made us all one family transcendent of race, nationality and civilization. I believe it is a great honor to participate in such a ceremony. I hope that all the couples here will spend the rest of their lives in happiness.
After the introductory video on True Mother, True Mother herself took the stage. Between the attendants, who were elder Blessed couples, she entered with the brightest expression ever as if she was truly blessing today’s Blessing Ceremony with all her heart, which is the first step toward offering the Blessing to all of Greater China through the Chinese People’s Federation. Next, was a holy water ceremony with 35 representative couples who were government officials and li [urban village] leaders (one li has approximately 5,000‒10,000 citizens in its administrative division). The holy water ceremony consisted of five sets of seven couples each. The ceremony was a sacred new beginning. At this Blessing, 250 current village leaders and 300 former village leaders attended with their spouses. We are currently planning to accelerate our efforts for the providence of building Cheon Il Guk in Taiwan by establishing a Current and Former Village Leaders Blessed Family Council.
Following was the Proclamation of the Blessing and True Mother’s Blessing Prayer. True Mother said that with regard to the completion of the providence of the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan, as the elder-daughter nation, has responsibility toward the settlement of the era of the Pacific civilization. The newly blessed couples have the most important role of bringing the 1.7 billion Chinese people together. She gave her blessing that they would uphold the qualifications of Heaven’s citizens received through the marriage Blessing centering on True Parents, and that Taiwan would become a central nation in bringing all of Asia together. It was an amazing and flawless blessing and declaration.
The following is True Mother’s Blessing Prayer:
Dearest Heavenly Parent, we come to You with gratitude.
Until this day came about, the providence of salvation to find and save humanity took a lengthy period of 6,000 years. How sad were You whenever You saw humanity get lost and wander around!
Now we are facing the completion of providential history. Two-thousand years ago, after Jesus’ crucifixion, the providence spread across the European continent centered on the Italian Peninsula, and headed outward to the world based on the Atlantic Civilization. Unfortunately, this civilization was reduced to one that took from others because its people did not know the essence of Heavenly Parent and of Jesus.
Now, however, through the birth of True Parents on the Korean Peninsula, where the providence will come to completion, we are in an age where human history is heading in a newly hopeful direction. It is at such a time that this ceremony to bless Cheon Il Guk citizens is being hosted in Taiwan. When we consider how history has moved in a circle and is finally heading toward the Korean Peninsula for its conclusion, this is a sacred moment through which Taiwan becomes one with all the Chinese People spread throughout the world, and its people obtain the qualification as heavenly citizens through the Marriage Blessing centered on True Parents.
Please allow Taiwan to know that it is in a central position from where it can bring together all the nations of Asia. Through the Blessing held in Your presence today, enable all newly blessed couples to fulfill their Tribal Messiah responsibilities as Cheon Il Guk citizens, and through which, let Taiwan remember that, as the eldest daughter nation, it can become a proud eldest daughter nation that helps with the completion of Your providence. Please embrace all blessed families here today so that they become families that share Your blessings far and wide, and thereby, become blessed families who set an example in front of the world—families that head toward the eternal world and make You proud through fulfilling their beautiful responsibilities. I sincerely pray and proclaim all these things in True Parents’ names. Aju.
True Mother’s Blessing Prayer was truly remarkable. Centering on today’s Blessing Ceremony, Mother embraced the 1.7 billion people of Greater China. Mother tied together the Asian region centering on Greater China, and she is striving to connect that great foundation to the completion of the providence on the Korean Peninsula. I could not hold back my tears at True Mother’s earnest heart and her vast vision for God’s providence.
After the Blessing Prayer came the Offering of Gifts and the Proclamation of the Blessing. These were truly moments of joyful congratulations. The scene of the 14,400 brides and grooms wearing wedding dresses and suits created a truly festive Blessing Ceremony. It was a marvelous sight that made one wonder where God could possibly be if He were not here!
As an expression of gratitude for the Blessing, village leader couples offered flowers and a gift to True Parents. True Mother sincerely accepted the flowers and gift with a brighter smile than ever. Kuo-Tung Liao, a legislative committee member, then gave a congratulatory message. He said that the Blessing Ceremony was an event encompassing Heaven and earth, and emphasized that through today’s Blessing Ceremony we need to restore the value of the family, which is a traditional culture that is disappearing from Taiwan. He said, “The movement for world peace and unification that True Mother is pursuing is a course of action necessary for our nation and society.” As a representative of his nation, he received much applause for his message.
Next came a congratulatory song from Xiaocheng Kong, one of Taiwan’s top tenors, a Purity Pledge for the future families of the students of Greater China, and a dance performance to the song “Mi-reo bu-cheo (Push On).” The energy of the Greater China students was so strong that I, seated on the stage, feared that the stage might collapse.
True Mother then exited and Part 1 of the Blessing Ceremony was thus concluded. Part 2 commenced right away, the “Peace Starts With My Family” rally.
First was a video introducing the Chinese People’s Federation for World Peace and a special address by King-yuh Chang, International President of CPFWP. President Chang said that Chinese people all over the world need to revere the true family values centering on True Mother’s vision and build “one family.” He received heartfelt applause. Then True Mother re-entered to give her keynote address, and spoke on the theme of “Human Civilization in Heaven’s Providence and Our Responsibility Today.”
The following is True Mother’s message:
Congratulations to all the newly blessed families who have received the Blessing today.
The title of my message today is “Human Civilization in Heaven’s Providence and Our Responsibility Today.” When we look at the world today, we see we are heading in a direction that will not solve our many problems. We are facing the conclusion that we cannot unite with ideologies or ideas that are self-centered. Therefore, we need to understand what kind of being the Creator God, the Owner of the universe, is. We know that the Creator created all things in His image. He lastly created a man and a woman who would become our ancestors. He gave these people a period in which to grow as well as a responsibility to complete. Through this growth period, they should have matured as beautiful people and advanced to the position to receive Heaven’s Blessing. However, these people developed self-centered desire. That is how today’s fallen humankind came to be without any relation to God’s ideal of creation.
Up until now, history has been filled with war and conflict. However, the Creator is all-knowing and almighty. His beginning and end is the same. The purpose of Creation that He envisioned must be achieved. Yet on the basis of giving human beings their own responsibility, Heaven has no choice but to carry out the history of the providence of salvation. In a fallen world, He established a nation of chosen people who would pursue good. He finally sent the Messiah, Jesus Christ, which He promised to the chosen people for the first time in 4,000 years. However, the Israelites did not understand Jesus’ essence. They could not provide the environmental realm necessary for Jesus to work on earth. Jesus had no choice but to go the path of the cross upon which he said he would come again. Christianity began with the revival of the Holy Spirit through Jesus’ disciples that were waiting for his return. Rome officially recognized Christianity and Christianity traveled from the Italian peninsula across the European continent to the island of Great Britain. Several nations centering on Great Britain went out to the world carrying the Bible of Christ. However, they were unaware of Jesus’ essence. Jesus said to love our neighbors as ourselves. Yet, these people put their own countries first and a civilization that stole from others emerged. Therefore, the Atlantic cultural sphere came to an end.
However, Heaven’s providence moved on. Jesus said that he would come again and host the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Hence, in the Last Days, the Only Begotten Daughter of God must be born to become Jesus’ partner. Heaven cannot continue His providence through the people of Israel, who failed in their responsibility, because indemnity remains with them.
In 1943, to begin a new providence, Heaven sent the Only Begotten Daughter to be born on the Korean Peninsula in Asia. In 1945, Korea was liberated [from Japanese occupation], yet it was divided between North and South. Then in 1950, the Korean War broke out. I had mentioned that according to Heaven’s Principle of Creation, human beings were given a growth period. At the time, South Korea was a democratic nation, but did not have the power to resist communism. God finally caused His Only Begotten Daughter to appear for the first time in 6,000 years, for the sake of the completion of the providence. He would therefore not leave her in a situation where her very life was in danger. Back then, Korea was not known to the world. So, how was it that 16 UN nations came to shed the blood of their good men for our sake? In a nutshell, it was a holy war.
I understood Heaven’s providence, and, in 1960, I rose to the position of a True Parent. Fallen human beings cannot directly stand before God. You cannot go before Him without being reborn through the Blessing given by True Parents. However, the Christian foundation failed to create the environment for True Parents’ birth. In such a situation, True Parents began with the Blessing of three families in 1960. Next year will be the 60th anniversary of the Blessing and now we have many blessed families in 190 countries of the world.
Now, centering on True Mother, the Only Begotten Daughter, a Blessing history that transcends religion, ideology and nations, is beginning. People cannot reach perfection if they are ignorant. They must learn how the providence is unfolding. The only people in the world that can tell you about the providence are the True Parents. Now a new age and new history have begun in Heaven’s providence. It is the seventh year of Cheon Il Guk. You who have received the Blessing today have become citizens of Cheon Il Guk as children whom Heavenly Parent can embrace.
The Blessing comes with responsibility. Each of you, as blessed families, should become Tribal Messiahs. Through you, all the citizens of Taiwan should receive Heaven’s Blessing so that you can become a blessed, Heavenly Taiwan. Will you do this?
Looking at you today, through fulfilling your responsibility, the ultimate goal is not only to build a unified Greater China, which is your wish, but also to build a unified family, one family under God, centering on our Heavenly Parent. Under our Heavenly Parent, when all people in the 200-plus countries in the world become His children, war and conflict will cease to exist. We, and our earth that we need to live in forever, are suffering because of our ignorance. Advance to the world by going beyond your tribe, people and nation. You are the island that can act the quickest in response to the need to realize the dream of one human family centered on our one Heavenly Parent.
History has opened the doors to the era of the Pacific civilization. The leading bodies in the Pacific civilization include the Korean peninsula and several nations across the Pacific islands and Asia. That is why I have advocated for and proclaimed the Asia-Pacific Union. The many Asian countries should attend Heaven as one system centering on Heavenly Parent and bring His providence to completion. I bless Taiwan to stand in the position of a nation that fulfills its responsibility.
The history of human civilization was once centered on the Italian Peninsula, from where it traveled around the world to connect to the Korean Peninsula to begin a new era and a new history. In that regard, when Taiwan and Japan stand at the forefront of the Asian continent to fulfill their responsibility in this era of the Pacific civilization through the true love of the Hyojeong Movement centering on Heaven, our second and third generation members will continue to ride the strong waves of Cheon Il Guk.
I have no doubt that our blessed children loved by God will bring the world together into an everlasting harmony that they can be proud of. We have only hope. You who have received the Blessing today, I pray that, through your second and third generations, all citizens will become filial sons and daughters and loyal patriots as blessed families that praise, glorify, appreciate, and sing of Heaven’s love, for the completion of Heaven’s providence.
It was an amazing vision, declaration and message. The dignitaries that came today read and reread True Mother’s message, and praised it highly as a speech worth engraving in their hearts.
Following Mother’s speech was the offering of a Resolution by the Chinese People’s Federation for World Peace, and the holy fire was ignited at the sound of the Gong of Peace. The Peace Starts With My Family rally was concluded with four cheers of Eog Mansei.
True Mother took a simple dinner in the green room and waited for the Victory Celebration. She did not actually need to attend the Victory Celebration as the schedule was stressful for her physically, but she waited and endured her discomfort because she knew about the tremendous devotion that our members, and especially our second generation members, had made to prepare for the event.
The Victory Celebration began at 5:00 p.m., with about 1,000 members from Greater China. When True Mother entered the venue, everyone passionately welcomed her with enthusiastic applause and cheers. Their cheers and applause were so loud that we could not hear the emcee’s voice over the microphone. The entire venue had transformed into a celebration. After a bow of greeting, the presentation of bouquets of flowers, the cutting of the celebratory cake, and the presentation of gifts, True Mother spoke to the members of Greater China.
Later, Special Envoy Sang-il Bang gave a tearful report about the rally, which he had prepared in tears. Special Envoy Bang was appointed as the Cheon Il Guk Special Envoy to Taiwan following the organizational changes in Taiwan during True Parents’ Birthday Celebration in February this year. Exactly 130 days after his appointment, it was confirmed that True Mother would preside over the rally in Taiwan, and 130 days later, still, True Mother arrived in Taiwan.
For Special Envoy Sang-il Bang, the number 13 is essential as it as had been exactly 13 years since True Mother’s last visit to Taiwan. 13 religious leaders participated in the Interfaith Water Ceremony at the Blessing Ceremony. They also prepared to have 13,000 participants for the Blessing Ceremony (but ended up having more participants – a total of 14,400 people). Mr. Bang felt that only True Mother could awaken Taiwan from her sleep, and began to offer conditions to have True Mother visit Taiwan, concluding his devotions with this rally.
When I visited Taiwan to inspect the preparations for this rally, I could see Special Envoy Bang’s devotion to attend and bring True Mother to Taiwan, and that he was fully immersed in even the smallest details of the event. Realizing that Taiwan, or Greater China at large, cannot be awakened without True Mother, Special Envoy Bang’s devotion for True Mother has been like that of a sunflower to the sun, conducted in all sincerity. And his sincerity moved Heaven. Just as Special Envoy Bang desired, through the rally, True Mother’s visit not only laid an amazing foundation to embrace Taiwan, but also the entire Greater China region. The winds of change from God’s Only Begotten Daughter, the substantial Holy Spirit, are now blowing across Taiwan.
Later, Chairman Yeob-joo Hwang and Chairwoman Nai-feng Yu of WFWP-Taiwan gave testimonies. Then, a nine-year-old second generation sister, who is well-known to us worldwide, and her 13-year-old brother, gave testimonies. Our young second generation sister has been witnessing, distributing flyers for 21 minutes every day on the street. Seeing True Mother going around the world for 2020 despite her advancing age, she could not stand still and began passionately witnessing every day. She distributed flyers every day at the same place and time. A 60-year-old restaurant owner, who happened to pass by, was deeply moved by the young girl’s devotion, and she was able to witness to him. Such amazing things are taking place.
This is what I have introduced so far in my lectures on True Mother’s recent providence. Actually, the brother of this nine-year-old girl has been even more active than she has been in witnessing. Even though he has been working so hard doing witnessing activities, it was his sister who became well-known and her story even reached True Mother’s ears through my lectures. This young man felt a little bit envious, but of course that was ‘good envy.’ So this year, this older brother invested even more in witnessing activities, and his efforts paid off: a total of 27 couples, including the current head of his administrative district, received the Blessing. This young man looks for people to witness to every single day, offering devotions and witnessing without rest. He has been so focused on witnessing that he ended up not doing so well in his school examinations. When his parents told him that a student’s responsibility is to study well, he replied, “I will study hard after True Mother comes to Taiwan,” and then witnessed even harder! He was able to offer these amazing results to True Mother through the rally and gave a testimony today. It was beautiful to see such beautiful tradition of filial heart, that brought many people to tears.
I feel the future of Cheon Il Guk is truly a hopeful one. The ‘sun-flower’ love [based on the Korean for sunflower that means “watching the sun”] that our second and third generation members have for True Mother is a joy for True Mother, and hope and life for the world.
The events concluded with a Hyojeong cultural performance that second generation members of Taiwan had prepared over several months. As the head of the Hyojeong Cultural Center, I have planned and seen many performances, and yet, the cultural standard presented by our second generation members of Taiwan was simply amazing. I felt tremendous hope seeing our second generation members shedding tears as they sincerely performed for True Mother.
The entire program came to an end with three cheers of Eog Mansei. Today was indeed a long day. On our way back to the hotel, I took on the role of a journalist and asked True Mother the following question:
“Mother, how do you feel now, with all parts of the Rally of Hope in Taiwan now completed?”
“My heart feels happy. I am truly happy.”
Upon hearing her words, I also felt tremendous joy. Soon after, True Mother gave these words of blessing:
“I was truly grateful for the Hyojeong cultural performance of the second generation members of Taiwan, in particular. Centered on Taiwan, the day will come when Greater China will attend Heavenly Parent and True Parents.”
Beloved leaders and members!
Today was such a meaningful and historic day that I cannot even fully express it in writing. True Mother is seeking to bring the completion of the providence centered on Korea, the homeland of the providence, through the firm establishment of the era of the Pacific Civilization. And particularly through the providence of the Chinese people, True Mother is seeking to bring the entire region of Greater China into one family centered on Heavenly Parent and True Parents, and have that one family become a cornerstone for not only one nation, but also for one world. Today was a day when we could see the amazing vision of True Mother become reality. Today was a day when I offered my most profound gratitude to True Mother so many times in my heart.
Tomorrow, True Mother will be departing from Taiwan to Niger, Africa, where the continental-level summit and Blessing Ceremony will be held (November 27 to 30). Following the São Tomé model of the completion of the providence on a national level, True Mother will begin offering serious devotion from tomorrow to ensure the successful completion of the providence on the continental level. Hence, I sincerely ask everyone to please offer deep devotion for the success of the “40-Day Cosmic Canaan Course for the Firm Establishment of Cheon Il Guk,” as well as True Mother’s long life and good health.
Thank you.