Andrew Kim Taegon (1821-1846)

Andrew Kim was among the first priests and first martyrs in his native Korea . . .

Andrew Kim Taegon

Feast Day: September 20
Canonized: 1984

In the mid-19th century, the Catholic faith took root in Korea despite vicious persecutions. For example, the Korean government executed several thousand Christians in 1846. Andrew Kim Taegon, the first native-born priest, was among these martyrs.

Andrew Kim was born into a Korean ruling class family. His parents were converts and his father subsequently died as a martyr. Andrew was baptized at 15. Then he entered a seminary in the Portuguese colony of Macao. After nine years in the seminary, Andrew was ordained a priest in 1845 by French bishop Jean Joseph Ferréol in Shanghai. He then returned to Korea to preach and evangelize. But he was arrested after a very short ministry. He encouraged his beleaguered brothers and sisters from prison, writing:

“In this difficult time, to be victorious, we must be steadfast, using all of our strength like brave soldiers fully armed in the battlefield. You must love and help one another, and wait hopefully for the time when our Lord in his mercy will relieve our sufferings. Whatever happens behave in such a way that God will be glorified.”

In 1846, Korean officials brutally tortured and beheaded Andrew Kim near Seoul. His final words were:

“This is my last hour of life; listen to me attentively: If I have held communication with foreigners, it has been for my religion and for my God. It is for Him that I die. My immortal life is on the point of beginning. Become Christians if you wish to be happy after death, because God has eternal chastisements in store for those who have refused to know Him.”

In 1984, Pope John Paul II canonized Andrew Kim and 103 companions. These martyrs did not spill their blood in vain. Today there are 5.1 million Catholics in South Korea.

This column is written for Legatus Magazine by Bert Ghezzi. He writes and speaks frequently about saints. Ghezzi’s books include “Voices of the Saints,” “Mystics and Miracles,” and “Saints at Heart.” Online: bertghezzi.com