The Catholic Faith and Witness of Thomas More Kim Dae-jung

"[W]ith fear and trembling work out your salvation," instructed the Apostle — Epistle Of Saint Paul To The Philippians. The recently departed Kim Dae-jung appears to have done just that.

"I used to believe until now that I have a certain amount of faith," wrote the Catholic human rights activist (and future president) to his family after having been sentenced to death, continuing, "But now in a situation where I am close to death, I experience everyday how fragile my existence is... I get angry about my lack of faith" — South Korea mourns death of Kim Dae-jung.

One can hear him from his cell, praying, as did the father of the sick child, "I do believe, Lord: help my unbelief" — Gospel According to Saint Mark.

Later in 1993, he would say, "[A]ll my hard trials in the past -- imprisonment, frequent detentions, torture and forced exiles -- happened in the process of God's redemptive work, and in this sense, I have also participated in God's salvation" — First Catholic president, Kim Dae-jung, dies.

He would also say, "With the knowledge that Jesus was crucified for humanity, I could overcome all hardships and trials" — Thomas More Kim Dae-Jung, first Catholic president of South Korea, dies at 85. "I have lived, and continue to live, in the belief that God is always with me," he would say in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in 2000 — Some memorable quotes from Kim Dae-jung. "I know this from experience"