Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Fides Service) - Korea’s martyrs, the founding members of the Catholic Church in that country, are always commemorated with gratitude and joy as a precious heritage by Catholics throughout the peninsula. Recently for the annual feast day 20 September, dioceses all over Korea organised special Masses and initiatives to thank God for the gift of the martyrs.
Wonju diocese organised a Congress of the History of the Martyrs attended by at least 3,000 people who went to pray at the burial place of Father Thomas Choi Yang-eop, the second local man to be ordained a priest whose beatification process will start soon.
In Suwon, a solemn Mass to commemorate the martyrs was celebrated by the Auxiliary Bishop Mgr. Matthias Ri Iong-hun. The cathedral, decorated with a 20 yard long banner bearing the names of the martyrs, was filled to capacity with about 1,000 faithful: “Our forefathers bore witness to Jesus Christ, they responded to God’s love, they died out of love for Him and we too are called to respond to His love” the Bishop said
During a special Mass in honour of St Andrew Kim and companion martyrs in Andong diocese Bishop John Chrysostom Kwon Hyok-ju urged the faithful to “to live as newness of life in Christ, with the same spirit and courage as the martyrs who died believing in God, loving God and with hoping for eternal life”. “The martyrs teach us to have a spirit of sacrifice and to practice charity”, Bishop Xavier Ahn Myong-ok of Masan told his people.
In July the diocesan stage of the cause for beatification of another group of martyrs Paul Yun Ji-chung and 123 companions was opened. Bishop Michael Pak Jeong is in charge of the process and he will be assisted by episcopal delegate Father Joseph Rhee Chan-woo and a couple of priests as notaries. In 2002 the Korean Bishops sent documentation on the martyrs to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome for examination and in December 2003 the Holy See said the process for beatification could start.
In 1791 when Christianity had only just reached Korea, Paul Yun Ji-Chung and 123 companion martyrs refused to give up their faith in Christ and they were tortured and killed.
Korea already has national saints. Saint Andrea Kim and companions were canonised in 1984 by Pope John Paul II in Seoul. This canonisation, the first in a local Church and not in Rome, was a memorable event for the Catholics of Korea.
This local Church may soon have another Saint. In effect the Holy See has said there is sufficient documentation to start the beatification cause for Father Thomas Choe Yang-eop, 19th century, not a martyr but a very holy priest, the second locally born priest after Andrew Kim Tae-gon, patron saint of Korean clergy.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 8/10/2004 lines 33 words 345)
