A new translation of "The Seven Victories" (De Septem Victorias) has been published by kimyoungsa as a guide to the seven reflections to control the mind. It was originally written in Chinese in 1614 by Diego de Pantoja (1571-1618), a Spanish Jesuit who went to Beijing with the Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) in 1601.
With the Chinese name Pang Diwo, Pantoja was one of the closest collaborators of Matteo Ricci, but he was expelled from China in 1617 as a result of the increasing tension between the Chinese imperial court and the missionaries. He died in Macao at the age of 47.
Regarding the seven deadly sins and the seven victories (mortifications), this book became one of the first Catholic catechisms in the Joseon Kingdom.
"Seongho" Yi Ik (1681―1763), a Korean Neo-Confucian scholar and Silhak philosopher wrote that "The Seven Victories correspond to the Confucian theory of self-overcoming, which is enormously helpful in overcoming one's desire."
In this way, "The Seven Victories" is still valid for contemporary Christians. Hong Yu-han is the first lay ascetic in Korea who practiced the seven victories.
He was born in 1726, the 2nd year of the reign of King Yeongjo, into the clan of the Pungsan Hong in the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). His official name was Seongmun, but his pseudonym or nickname was Nongun. In 1742 (at age 16), he studied under the guidance of Yi Ik at the recommendation of his father.
From 1757, although he was not baptized, he started a religious life by himself and practiced the seven virtues by overcoming the seven sins. When he was unable to lead such a life due to various circumstances, he moved to the foot of Sobaek Mountain in 1775 to practice the seven victories until his death in 1785 at the age of 60.
At that time, there was no liturgical calendar or prayer book, but he knew that Sunday came every seven days. So he devoted himself to prayer, avoiding all worldly affairs on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th of each month. He also didn't know anything about abstinence, but he restrained his instinctive greed by making it a rule not to eat the best food. When eating food, he always left half of it.
When lowly people bowed to him, he also respected them. Without any private affection, he treated others as one body. When he met an old or sick person on the road, he got off his horse and gave it to him. Without any discrepancy, he didn't change his mind about what he gained or lost. He quietly and joyfully accepted unexpected transgression, and he was ashamed to expose the faults of others. After the age of 30, he completely abstained from a sexual life. And in spite of his chronic illness, he did not recline or lie down early unless it was time to go to bed.
Such a faithful passion became a stepping stone to the founding of the Catholic Church in Korea in 1784. Together with 13 descendants who became martyrs, his holy shrine is located at Ugokri in Andong.
The author is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul (fsp.pauline.or.kr.) living and giving the Good News to the world by means of social communication.