Memorial of Saint Andrew Kim Taegon

Memorial of Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, Priest and Martyr, and Saint Paul Chong Hasang, Catechist and Martyr, and their Companions, Martyrs

“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What good is it to gain the whole world yet lose yourself?”

When I was in Korea I’ve had the opportunity to read and hear stories of Korean martyrs who sacrificed their lives to remain faithful to Jesus. When I hear these stories, I often question what motivates these martyrs to give up their lives for their faith. Some even asked their persecutors to arrest them again after being freed, saying, “Please arrest me; I am Catholic too.”

There must be a powerful motivation driving these martyrs. This motivation has to be greater than themselves. TRUE LOVE AND DEEP FAITH CHRIST WERE KEY FACTORS.

LOVE: St. John Paul II: “Martyrdom is not the choice of the one who dies; it is the response of the one who loves.” When you love someone more than yourself, you are willing to sacrifice everything for them. True martyrdom stems from a profound love for God and others.

FAITH: St. Perpetua: “I cannot be called anything but a Christian. I am not afraid of the beast; I am afraid of being separated from Christ.”

Henri de Lubac:“Martyrdom is the supreme testimony of faith.”

One remarkable example is St. Agatha Yi, a courageous 17-year-old martyr. When she and her brother were falsely told that their parents had denied the faith, they endured horrific torture in prison. Agatha responded with remarkable strength, saying, “Whether my parents betrayed or not is their affair. As for us, we cannot betray the Lord of heaven whom we have always served.” Her words reflect her deep commitment to faith and love for Christ. Agatha understood that her faith and love for Him transcended her own life.

As we reflect on this, let us ask ourselves:

Are we ready to offer our lives to Jesus? Are we willing to die for what belongs to the world so that we can live for the life of heaven?