Saints Andrew and Paul were 2 of 103 clergy members and laypersons that were martyred in Korea for their beliefs in Christ. Andrew Kim Taegon was the first native Korean Catholic priest, and enabled thousands of faithful to receive the sacraments in secret. Paul Chong Hasang was not a priest, but sought to unify scattered disciples of Christ and often traveled to Beijing to plead for missionaries and a formal ecclesiastical structure.
Together, these men and their companions were able to organize the Korean Church and inspire Korean Catholics to live out the virtues we are called to practice. Many of these people were ordinary people who lived an extraordinary life devoted to serving the Lord.
Instead of clinging to survival after being arrested, they clung to Christ, refusing to deny him. This cost them their lives on earth, but they certainly left an impact on their communities and the whole world. Together, they entered eternal paradise with Jesus in Heaven.
Today, we pray for those who live their faith quietly or under pressure. We pray for the ones who gather in secret, who speak truth gently but firmly, who carry Christ into places of fear and silence.
Now we will pray a memorial prayer of the Korean Martyrs.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O God, who have been pleased to increase your adopted children in all the world,
and who made the blood of the Martyrs—Saint Andrew Kim Taegon and his companions—a most fruitful seed of Christians,
grant that we may be defended by their help and profit always from their example.
You created all nations and you are their salvation.
In the land of Korea, your call to Catholic faith formed a people of adoption,
whose growth you nurtured by the blood of Andrew, Paul, and their companions.
Through their martyrdom and their intercession,
grant us strength that we too may remain faithful to your commandments—even until death.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Saints Andrew, Paul, and companions, pray for us.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Tomorrow’s saint of the day is Saint Matthew the Evangelist.
Share this with your family and friends! Keep getting inspired by these awesome saints!
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