Korea's Saint Paul moves towards beatification after medical committee approves miracle
During Holy Week, Korea’s bishops announced a major step in the cause of Father Thomas Choi Yang-up (1821-1861), a companion in the seminary of the martyred Saint Andrew Kim. For 12 years, he was the first priest to minister in Korea, visiting local Christians during a period of persecution. He died of typhus at the age of 40 after travelling thousands of kilometres and translating the catechism into Korean language. The local Church rejoices as it gets ready to host World Youth Day in 2027.
Milan (AsiaNews) – Holy Thursday, the commemoration of Jesus's Last Supper, centred on the gift of the Eucharist, is also the day when churches around the world traditionally focus on the priestly ministry. In South Korea, Catholics today have an additional reason to rejoice.
At the very start of this Holy Week, the country's bishops sent a message to the faithful announcing an important step forward in the cause of beatification of Father Thomas Choi Yang-up (1821-1861), the second priest in the history of this Church whose life, during the harsh persecution experienced by Korean Christians in the 19th century, intersected with that of the martyr Saint Andrew Kim Taegon.
The Medical Advisory Committee of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints met on 26 March and expressed a favourable opinion on the recognition of a miracle performed through the intercession of Father Choi, who was already declared venerable by Pope Francis in 2016.
This means that, for his beatification to take place, only the ruling on the miracle by the Theological Committee and the pope's authorisation to promulgate the relevant decree are now needed.
It is interesting to note that these final steps will occur with the final phase of preparation for World Youth Day in Seoul, on 3-8 August 2027. It cannot be ruled out, therefore, that the beatification may take place a year from now during the trip Pope Leo XIV will most likely make to South Korea for WYD.
Father Thomas Choi Yang-up was not killed in hatred of the faith during persecution. His was the testimony of a priest who, in that extremely difficult moment, lived his ministry without sparing himself, to the point of dying at just 40 years old from typhus.
He was born on 1 March 1821, in Saeteo, the firstborn of Saint Francis Choe Kyeong Hwan and Blessed Maria Yi Seong-rye, whose names already figure among the martyrs of the Korean Church. Having studied the Gospel through the missionaries of the Paris Foreign Missions Society (MEP), his family, along with other Catholics, started a vibrant Christian community.
When a wave of persecution broke out, with Andrew Kim Taegon, he was one the first Koreans to be ordained deacons in Macau in 1844. And when his friend was killed while attempting to return to Korea, to reach the Christians left without priests during the persecution, Father Choi felt a profound sense of frustration.
"I have failed to follow my parents and brothers, and I am deeply ashamed of this," he wrote in a letter. "I continue to struggle with such weakness and immaturity. When will I be worthy of sharing in the great work of the priests and the sufferings of my brothers? And will I be able to fill what is lacking in Christ's sufferings and complete the work of salvation?”
His time came in 1850, a year after his priestly ordination in Shanghai. Father Thomas Choi spent the first six months in Korea visiting and encouraging Catholics, travelling from village to village, covering approximately two thousand kilometres.
He was then sent to the village of Baithi, where he remained for eleven and a half years. During this time, in addition to his intense pastoral work, he dedicated himself to translating the catechism and prayer book into Korean, assisting missionaries in entering Korea, sending new young men to the seminary in Penang, Malaysia, where the local clergy were trained for the Far East, and carrying out important historical documentation on the Korean martyrs.
To address the lack of catechetical training among village Christians, he composed doctrinal hymns with simple words in the local language and traditional melodies, so as to engage his faithful in learning the faith.
Father Choi faced much intimidation and persecution, which he endured in a spirit of faith and surrender to God. For his laborious apostolate, he is remembered as the "Saint Paul of Korea" and the "martyr of sweat”.
A shining example for the pastoral ministry of the clergy in Asia, he will likely be venerated as a blessed.
"For twelve years," a MEP missionary wrote upon his death, "Father Thomas Choi continued to inspire people and successfully save souls, fulfilling all the duties of a holy priest with the utmost fidelity. His death fills me with shame. The area where he administered the sacraments included many villages that were difficult for Westerners to reach without great risk. But the Lord, who took him from us, will provide what we need.”
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