Saint Andrew Kim Taegon
Feast day: September 20
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, the first Korean priest, martyred in 1846 (20/09)
Who is he?
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon was the first Korean priest and one of the 103 Korean Martyrs. He lived at the same time as many of the Vietnamese Martyrs, when Catholics in both countries had to keep their faith in secret.
Life story
Andrew was born on 21 August 1821 in Korea, into a Catholic family. At that time, being a Catholic was forbidden, so the faithful had to pray in secret. His great-grandfather had died for the faith, and his own father, Saint Ignatius Kim, was also martyred in 1839.
At 15, Andrew was chosen by a French missionary priest to study for the priesthood. He and two friends made the long journey to Macau, arriving in 1837, and studied at the seminary, the school that trains priests, of the Paris Foreign Missions Society there. Far from home and from his parents, he still studied Latin, French and theology diligently.
On 17 August 1845, he was ordained a priest in Shanghai, China. He became the first priest of his own people. After that, he boarded a small boat and sailed back to his homeland.
When he arrived, he quietly visited the faithful, celebrated Mass, gave the sacraments and supported those who were living their faith in fear. In 1846, while he was looking for a sea route to bring missionaries into the country, he was arrested. The officials urged him to give up his faith, but he stayed completely faithful to Jesus. On 16 September 1846, he was beheaded on the bank of the Han River, near Seoul, only 25 years old.
On 6 May 1984, Pope John Paul II came to Seoul and canonized him together with 102 other martyrs.
Why is he a saint?
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon gave his whole life to God and to his people. He was ready to give up his life rather than deny Jesus. Jesus said: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). Saint Andrew lived exactly by those words.
A lesson for you
- When friends make fun of you for going to Mass or making the Sign of the Cross, keep your faith bravely and cheerfully.
- Pray for priests, especially the priests of your parish.
Identifying marks
- A cross held close to his chest: he was faithful to Jesus crucified until death.
- A martyr’s palm branch: he died for the faith and shares in the victory with God.
- A white robe and a black Korean gat hat: the clothes of Koreans of his time, showing that he was a priest of his own people.
- A red stole: a sign that he was a priest; red is the color of the martyrs.
- Among the 103 Korean Martyrs (*): he is often painted together with his fellow martyrs, like the Vietnamese Martyrs.
(*) Only in some pictures and statues.
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