Preparation for the Mass of Beatification of the 124 Korean Martyrs

According to the Vatican News of Feb. 8. 2014, the decree for the beatification of the servants of God Paul Yun Ji-chung and 123 companions will be promulgated. The beatification Mass will be celebrated with Pope Francis presiding during his apostolic trip to Korea from Aug. 14 to 18, 2014.

At the 1997 Autumn General Assembly bishops decided to jointly promote the Beatification and Canonization of the martyrs together, who were persecuted in 1791, 1801, 1839 and 1866. At the 2001 Autumn General Assembly bishops decided to establish the Episcopal Special Commission with the Most Rev. Michael Pak as the President and Bishops of five dioceses(Seoul, Suwon, Daegu, Cheongju and Jeonju).

After the commission’s investigation of the documents on May 20, 2009, the acts for the cause of the beatification of the servants of God Paul Yun Ji-chung and 123 companions were submitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Most Rev. Francis Xavier Ahn, Bishop of Masan, Chairman of the CBCK Special Episcopal Commission to Promote Beatification and Canonization, heartly welcomed the news, reminding the efforts of the former Chairman of the same Commission, Most Rev. Michael Pak Jeong-il, and of its members. He was “glad to hear, at the same time to feel burdened. The decision of beatification of our predecessors urges us to follow their lives” at the interview on Feb. 23. 2014. with Peace Times.