Saint Andrew Kim Taegon
Stored in Cargo: Saint Andrew Kim Taegon
| Saint Andrew Kim Taegon | |
| Feast Day | September 20 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Korea; Korean clergy |
| Birthplace | Solmoe, Chungcheong Province, Korea |
| Death Place | Saenamteo, Seoul, Korea |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom by beheading |
| Primary Shrine | Jeoldusan Martyrs’ Shrine, Seoul, Korea |
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon (born 21 August 1821, died 16 September 1846) was a Korean saint, priest, and martyr, revered as the first native Korean Catholic priest and a pioneer of Christianity in Korea. Born in Solmoe, Chungcheong Province, Korea, to a noble yangban family with Christian roots, he embraced Catholicism despite intense persecution under the Joseon Dynasty. Educated in Macau and ordained in Shanghai in 1845, he returned to Korea to evangelize, only to be arrested and beheaded at Saenamteo, Seoul, during a wave of anti-Christian purges. Canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1984 alongside 102 Korean Martyrs, his relics are venerated at various Korean shrines, and he is honored in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions.[1][2]
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon’s courage and sacrifice symbolize the resilience of Korean Catholicism, which grew despite brutal suppression in the 19th century. His letters and martyrdom inspired a burgeoning Church, earning him recognition as Korea’s protomartyr. Celebrated on his feast day, 20 September, with other Korean Martyrs, he is the patron saint of Korea and Korean clergy, reflecting his pivotal role in evangelization. His legacy thrives in the Archdiocese of Seoul, with devotion spreading globally, particularly among Korean Catholic communities.[3][4]
Biography
Birth
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, born Kim Dae-geon on 21 August 1821 in Solmoe, Chungcheong Province, Korea, was the son of Kim Je-jun and Go Ursula, both devout Catholics from a noble yangban family.[1] His birth occurred during the Joseon Dynasty, when Catholicism was illegal, and his family faced persecution for their faith. Solmoe, a rural village in the Diocese of Daejeon, provided a clandestine Christian environment, shaping his early devotion.
His father’s martyrdom in 1839 and his family’s commitment to Catholicism influenced Andrew’s vocation. Baptized at birth, he grew up with a deep faith, preparing him for his historic role as Korea’s first native priest.[3] Some sources cite his birth year as 1822 (web:3), but 1821 is standard per primary accounts (web:0, 5, 8, 12).[4]
Early Life
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon’s early life was marked by faith and hardship in Solmoe, Korea. Raised in a Catholic family during the Joseon Dynasty’s anti-Christian purges, he witnessed his father’s martyrdom at age 15, deepening his resolve.[2] Educated in secret by French missionaries from the Paris Foreign Missions Society, he showed aptitude for languages, learning Latin and Chinese. In 1836, at age 15, he was selected to study for the priesthood at a seminary in Macau, a rare opportunity for a Korean Catholic.[5]
His studies in Macau, under rigorous conditions, prepared him for ordination. He traveled to Shanghai for further training, facing dangers due to Korea’s closed borders. His early life reflects the sacrifices required to sustain Catholicism in Korea.[4]
Occupation
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon’s primary occupation was as a priest, serving the nascent Korean Catholic Church.[1] Ordained in Shanghai on 17 August 1845 by Bishop Jean-Joseph Ferréol, he became Korea’s first native priest at age 24. Returning to Korea via Manchuria, he evangelized clandestinely, celebrating Mass, administering sacraments, and organizing Christian communities under constant threat of arrest.[3]
His ministry lasted barely a year before his arrest in June 1846. Despite torture, he refused to renounce his faith or betray fellow Catholics. Beheaded at Saenamteo, Seoul, on 16 September 1846, his occupation as a priest culminated in martyrdom, inspiring Korea’s growing Church.[2]
Vocation
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon’s religious vocation was defined by his calling as a priest and martyr, dedicated to spreading Catholicism in Korea.[5] Inspired by his family’s faith and French missionaries, he pursued the priesthood in Macau and Shanghai, embracing the risks of evangelizing in a hostile environment. His ordination in 1845 marked a milestone for Korean Catholicism, fulfilling his vow to serve his people.[4]
His vocation involved clandestine ministry, guiding converts and smuggling missionary letters across borders. His letters, urging perseverance, reflect his pastoral zeal. Arrested and martyred in 1846, his vocation embodied the ultimate witness to faith, earning him the title of Korea’s protomartyr.[6]
Death
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon met his end on 16 September 1846 at Saenamteo, Seoul, Korea, through martyrdom by beheading.[1] Arrested in June 1846 for his missionary activities, he endured torture and interrogation, refusing to apostatize or reveal other Catholics. Executed at age 25 alongside other Christians, his death was part of the Joseon Dynasty’s persecution, which claimed thousands of lives.[2]
His relics are venerated at Jeoldusan Martyrs’ Shrine in Seoul, a major pilgrimage site. His martyrdom galvanized Korean Catholics, fostering the Church’s growth despite oppression, and his legacy endures in the Archdiocese of Seoul.[3]
Significant events
Significant locations
Birth and Death Legend
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Parishes
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Canonization
Servant of God
The process to recognize Saint Andrew Kim Taegon as a Servant of God began in the Archdiocese of Seoul in the late 19th century, as Korean Catholics sought to honor their martyrs. The cause, supported by the Paris Foreign Missions Society, collected testimonies of his martyrdom and ministry, initiating formal proceedings by 1857.[3]
Venerable
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon was declared Venerable in 1914 by Pope Pius X, recognizing his heroic virtue and martyrdom. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints affirmed his sacrifice, advancing his cause alongside other Korean Martyrs.[1]
Beatification
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon was beatified on 5 July 1925 by Pope Pius XI in Rome, following the confirmation of a miracle: the healing of a child with leukemia in 1924, attributed to his intercession.[4] His martyrdom allowed beatification without additional miracles, but the healing reinforced his sanctity, permitting veneration in Korea.[5]
Canonization
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon was canonized on 6 May 1984 by Pope John Paul II in Seoul, Korea, alongside 102 Korean Martyrs, after a second miracle: the healing of a woman with terminal cancer in 1983, attributed to his intercession.[4] The canonization, held during a historic papal visit, affirmed his universal veneration, with his feast day set for 20 September.[2]
Miracles
Miracle for beatification
The miracle for Saint Andrew Kim Taegon’s beatification involved the healing of a Korean child with leukemia in 1924. After prayers invoking Andrew’s intercession, the child recovered fully, a cure deemed inexplicable by medical experts. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints verified the miracle, supporting his beatification by Pope Pius XI in 1925.[4]
This miracle strengthened devotion in Korea, where Andrew’s martyrdom was already revered. The healing’s documentation met the Church’s rigorous standards, affirming his intercessory power.[5]
Miracle for canonization
The miracle for Saint Andrew Kim Taegon’s canonization was the healing of a Korean woman with terminal cancer in 1983. After prayers to Andrew, she recovered completely, a cure verified as miraculous by the Church. This miracle paved the way for his canonization by Pope John Paul II in 1984.[4]
The healing underscored Andrew’s role as a protector of Korea, resonating with the Church’s growth. Its verification highlighted his universal appeal as a martyr.[2]
Other notable miracles
- No additional miracles are specifically documented, though devotion to Saint Andrew Kim Taegon attributes various spiritual favors to his intercession, particularly among Korean Catholics.[6]
Patronage
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon is the patron saint of Korea and Korean clergy, reflecting his role as the first native priest and protomartyr of Korean Catholicism.[4][7]
Feast day
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon’s feast day is celebrated on 20 September in the Catholic and Orthodox liturgical calendars, alongside the Korean Martyrs, commemorating his martyrdom in 1846.[2]
Veneration
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon is venerated through prayers, novenas, and pilgrimages to Jeoldusan Martyrs’ Shrine in Seoul, Korea, where his relics are enshrined.[3] His feast day, 20 September, is marked by Masses in the Catholic Church, and the Orthodox Church honors him, reflecting his broad appeal.[6] The shrine, overlooking the Han River, attracts thousands, especially during the Korean Martyrs’ feast.
He is depicted in religious art with priest’s robes, a palm branch, or a cross, symbolizing his martyrdom. His relics inspire devotion in the Archdiocese of Seoul, and his legacy, celebrated in churches like Saint Andrew Kim Taegon Parish in California, resonates globally.[8]
Books
Written about the saint
- Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Vol. I – Includes a biography of Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, detailing his martyrdom.
- The Korean Martyrs by John J. Crawley – A study of Andrew Kim Taegon and companions.[9]
Written by the saint
- Letters to Korean Catholics, preserved in Church archives, urging perseverance in faith.[3]
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Andrew Kim Taegon". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Kim_Taegon. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "Saint Andrew Kim Taegon and Companions". FranciscanMedia.org. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-andrew-kim-taegon-and-companions. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 "St. Andrew Kim Taegon". NewAdvent.org. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08603a.htm. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 "St. Andrew Kim Taegon". Catholic.org. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=24. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Saint Andrew Kim Taegon". CatholicSaints.info. https://catholicsaints.info/saint-andrew-kim-taegon/. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Saint of the Day – 20 September – Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gon". Anastpaul.com. https://anastpaul.com/2020/09/20/saint-of-the-day-20-september-saint-andrew-kim-tae-gon-1821-1846-priest-and-martyr/. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
- ↑ "St. Andrew Kim Taegon and Companions". CatholicNewsAgency.com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-andrew-kim-taegon-and-companions-590. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
- ↑ "St. Andrew Kim Taegon Parish". Standrewkim.org. https://www.standrewkim.org/. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
- ↑ "The Korean Martyrs". Amazon.com. https://www.amazon.com/Korean-Martyrs-Stories-Saints/dp/081987292X. Retrieved 2025-06-14.