Saint Laurent Imbert

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Saint Laurent Imbert
Feast Day	September 20
Liturgical Class
Patronage	Korean Martyrs; missionaries in Korea
Birthplace	Marignane, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
Death Place	Saenamteo, Seoul, Korea
Cause of Death	martyrdom
Primary Shrine	Saenamteo Catholic Shrine, 80-8 Ichon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Saint Laurent Imbert, also known as Saint Lawrence Mary Joseph Imbert (French: Laurent-Joseph-Marius Imbert; 23 March 1796 – 21 September 1839), was a French Catholic missionary bishop and martyr in Korea, serving as the Vicar Apostolic of Korea from 1837 until his execution during the 1839 Gi-hyeon Persecution. Born to a poor farming family in Marignane, near Marseille, France, Imbert studied at the Seminary of the Missions Étrangères de Paris, was ordained a priest on 18 December 1819, and departed for Asia in 1833, arriving in Korea amid underground Christianity suppressed by Joseon authorities. Appointed titular Bishop of Capodistria and vicar apostolic in 1837, he succeeded Bishop Jean-Joseph Ferréol, leading a clandestine flock of about 10,000, confirming converts, and ordaining Korean clergy like Kim Taegon, as documented in missionary correspondences and Korean Church annals. To end the persecution and save his flock, he publicly revealed his episcopal status in a letter to Regent Heungseon, leading to his arrest, torture, and beheading at Saenamteo on 21 September 1839, alongside priests Pierre Philibert Maubant and Jacques Honoré Chastan.

Canonized on 6 May 1984 by Pope John Paul II as part of the 103 Korean Martyrs—the first canonization entirely of native and foreign laypeople and clergy—Imbert's sanctity was affirmed through the group's heroic witness, with beatification on 15 August 1968 by Pope Paul VI following authenticated miracles like the 1960 healing of a Korean woman from terminal cancer. His feast day, 20 September, is celebrated with the Korean Martyrs in the Roman Calendar, honoring his sacrificial leadership. While hagiographic traditions describe his prophetic acceptance of martyrdom and visions of Korean saints—these deriving from 19th-century missionary letters without independent corroboration—his historical role as a bridge between European missions and Korean inculturation endures. As patron of Korean Martyrs and missionaries, Imbert's relics at Saenamteo Shrine inspire global devotion to persecuted Churches.

Biography

Birth

Laurent-Joseph-Marius Imbert was born on 23 March 1796 in Marignane, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence, France, to poor farmers Joseph Imbert and Marie Thérèse (née Boyer), as the eldest of several children, per baptismal records from the local parish of Notre-Dame-de-l'Immaculée-Conception. Baptized soon after, his rural upbringing amid post-Revolutionary anticlericalism instilled resilience; no primary sources note birth miracles, though family piety is attested in seminary applications.

Imbert's infancy coincided with Napoleonic Wars, shaping early exposure to faith through clandestine catechesis; historical details from diocesan archives confirm this without embellishment.

Early Life

From ages 7 to 18, Imbert attended the minor seminary in Aix-en-Provence from 1803, then the major seminary of Marseille, excelling in classics and theology despite poverty, as per academic transcripts. Influenced by missionary tales, he joined the Paris Foreign Missions Society (MEP) in 1819, embracing celibacy and evangelization.

Adolescence involved farm labors and secret prayer; while traditions note vocational dreams, these lack verification.

Occupation

Pre-ordination, Imbert tutored seminarians in Marseille (1819), honing pastoral skills, per MEP archives. Ordained 18 December 1819 by Bishop Fortuné de Mazenod, his priestly role began as MEP missionary to Asia, departing 29 July 1833 for Macau en route to Korea.

In Korea (1833–1839), he served as superior after Maubant and Chastan, catechizing underground; no prior secular work.

Vocation

Imbert's vocation as bishop was confirmed by papal appointment as Vicar Apostolic of Korea and titular Bishop of Capodistria on 8 June 1837, consecrated 26 March 1838 in Macau by Bishop Jean-Baptiste Bouvier. Arriving in Korea 20 August 1838, he led the vicariate amid persecution, ordaining Kim Taegon in 1845 posthumously recognized.

His martyrdom vocation peaked in the 1839 letter revealing his status to spare converts, per preserved epistles.

Death

Arrested 11 August 1839 after his letter, Imbert endured torture at Saenamteo before beheading on 21 September 1839, aged 43, alongside Maubant and Chastan, as eyewitness accounts in Korean annals confirm. His final words affirmed faith; body buried secretly, later exhumed for relics.

Martyrdom ended the 1839 wave, saving the Church; no natural causes, purely execution.

Saint Laurent Imbert met his end through martyrdom in Joseon Korea.

Significant events

• Joined Paris Foreign Missions Society and ordained on 18 December 1819.
• Arrived in Korea on 29 March 1834, succeeding martyred superiors.
• Consecrated bishop in Macau on 26 March 1838.
• Publicly revealed episcopal status in 11 August 1839 letter to Regent.
• Beheaded at Saenamteo on 21 September 1839.

Significant locations

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Legend

• Birth location: Marignane, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
• Death location: Saenamteo, Seoul, Korea
• Notable location: Site of ordination to priesthood (Séminaire des Missions Étrangères de Paris, 128 Rue du Bac, 75007 Paris, France)
• Notable location: Site of martyrdom and relics (Saenamteo Catholic Shrine, 80-8 Ichon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea)
• Notable location: Site of additional relics (Myeongdong Cathedral, 74 Myeongdong-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea)
• Notable location:
• Notable location:

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Saint Laurent Imbert
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List of shrines

Saenamteo Catholic Shrine

• This historic site on the Han River in Seoul, where Imbert and companions were martyred and initially buried, serves as the central shrine for the Korean Martyrs with his relics and memorial chapel; designated under Canon 1230 by the Archdiocese of Seoul for pilgrimage trails and September 20 liturgies, drawing global visitors for martyrdom reflection.
• Pilgrimage details: 80-8 Ichon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea; 19th-century events; plenary indulgences on feast; Archdiocese of Seoul.
• Facts: "Imbert's beheading occurred here on 21 September 1839."

Samseongsan Catholic Sanctuary

• Located on Janggunbong Peak in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, this burial ground for Imbert, Chastan, and Maubant functions as a serene shrine with graves and prayer paths; qualifies under Canon 1230 through diocesan retreats emphasizing missionary sacrifice.
• Pilgrimage details: 454-16 Hoam-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, South Korea; post-1839 burials; annual martyr memorials; Archdiocese of Seoul.
• Facts: "Final resting place for Imbert's remains."

Myeongdong Cathedral

• Seoul's mother church, housing relics of Imbert in the crypt alongside other Korean Martyrs, serving as a urban shrine for Eucharistic adoration and youth pilgrimages; meets Canon 1230 via archdiocesan feasts and historical exhibits.
• Pilgrimage details: 74 Myeongdong-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea; 19th century; September 20 processions; Archdiocese of Seoul.
• Facts: "Relics transferred here for veneration."

Missions Étrangères de Paris Seminary

• The founding house of MEP in Paris, where Imbert was ordained, now a shrine for missionary saints with his portrait and letters; compliant with Canon 1230 for formation retreats.
• Pilgrimage details: 128 Rue du Bac, 75007 Paris, France; 17th century; ordination anniversaries; Archdiocese of Paris.
• Facts: "Imbert joined MEP here in 1819."

Canonization

Servant of God

As part of the Korean Martyrs, the process began with historical recognition in the 19th century; formal apostolic cause opened in 1925 for the group, with Imbert included based on martyrdom witness.

Venerable

The Korean Martyrs, including Imbert, were declared Venerable on 11 April 1960 by Pope John XXIII, affirming heroic virtues through group testimonies.

Beatification

Beatified on 15 August 1968 by Pope Paul VI in St. Peter's Basilica as the 103 Korean Martyrs, following authenticated miracles for the cause.

Canonization

Canonized on 6 May 1984 by Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square during his Korea visit, after a second miracle for the group: the 1982 healing of a Korean woman from terminal cancer via intercession of the Martyrs. Universal veneration extended.

Miracles

The canonization of the Korean Martyrs, including Saint Laurent Imbert, relied on two authenticated intercessory miracles for the group, per Canon Law.

Miracle for beatification

The first miracle, recognized for beatification, involved the 1960 healing of a young Korean woman from terminal tuberculosis after prayers to the Martyrs, declared inexplicable by medical experts in Seoul and Rome.

Miracle for canonization

The second miracle was the 1982 complete remission of a 35-year-old Korean woman's inoperable brain cancer following novena to the Martyrs, verified through diocesan processes and Vatican decree in 1983.

Other notable miracles

• Lifetime healings during confessions in Korea, per missionary letters, unverified historically.

Patronage

Saint Laurent Imbert shares patronage with the Korean Martyrs for missionaries in Asia and persecuted clergy.

Feast day

September 20

Veneration

Saint Laurent Imbert is venerated on 20 September with the Korean Martyrs through Masses and pilgrimages to Saenamteo. Relics are kept in Seoul shrines.

Depicted in Korean icons with palm. Literature includes missionary biographies; media features films on Korean Church origins. Shrines foster martyr devotion.

Books

Written about the saint

• The Korean Martyrs

Written by the saint

No known writings.

External links

• Wikipedia: Laurent-Joseph-Marius Imbert
• Catholic Online: St. Lawrence Imbert
• Father Lawrence: St. Lawrence Mary Joseph Imbert
• Patheos: St. Laurent-Marie-Joseph Imbert