Born in 1795 in what was then a united Korea, Paul Chong Hasang was born into nobility. 

His parents were dedicated Catholics and his father, a noted scholar, wrote the first Korean Catechism. 

Because of that work, Paul’s father was arrested and martyred in 1801 and the family was stripped of all of its property. 

As a young man, Paul frequently traveled to China to escort Missionaries to Korea. He was being considered for the priesthood but, before he could enter, he was arrested, and, along with his mother and sister, executed in 1839. 

In 1821, Andrew Kim Taogun was born. His parents were converts and, like Paul Chong Hasang’s father, Andrew Kim’s father was murdered for his conversion. 

Baptized at the age of 15, Andrew became a priest at 23, making him the very first Korean priest. 

Returning to Korea to preach and evangelize, Andrew was arrested and condemned to death but, before he died, he wrote these words:
“This is my last hour, listen to me attentively. If I 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 at the point of beginning. Become Christians if you wish to be happy after death because God has eternal chastisements for those who refuse to know Him.” 

In 1984, along with Andrew and Paul, St. Pope John Paul II Canonized 98 Koreans and three French Missionaries who were martyred between 1839 and 1867. 

Sts. Andrew Kim Taogun and Paul Chong Hasang and Companions, please pray for us.