"It is everyone's duty to serve God." ~ The martyrdom of St. Lucia Park Hui-sun

Gloria Romanorum ^ | January 17, 2026 | Florentius

[Antoninus]

This post is the first in a series drawn from a new book entitled Martyrs of Blood, Martyrs of Sweat: The Letters of Saint Andrew Kim Dae-geon and Venerable Father Thomas Choe Yang-eop, as translated and edited by Brothers Anthony and Han-yol of the Community of Taizé, published by Arx Publishing.

This engrossing work contains all of the extant correspondence of these first two native Korean Catholic priests. Andrew Kim would go on to be martyred and later canonized a saint. Thomas Choe perished of exhaustion and sickness after ministering in his native land for over a decade.

During their ministries, these two priests would encounter hundreds of secret Korean Catholics who strived to maintain their faith through periodic intense persecutions initiated by the neo-Confucian (and therefore very anti-Christian) Joseon court. These persecutions resulted in the imprisonment, impoverishment, torture and death of hundreds if not thousands of Korean Catholics, and impacted all levels of society.

Following is one example. Park Hui-sun (1801-1839) was born into a wealthy family and would be chosen by the Joseon court to serve as a court lady (Gungnyeo) to the royal family of King Sunjo (reign: 1800-1834). Distinguished by her beauty, wit, skill and prudence, she was promoted to the first rank among the Queen's handmaids. The rest of the story, as told by St. Andrew Kim in his Deeds of Several Important Martyrs of the Gihae Persecution of 1839, is as follows:

Lucia was a Gungnyeo, prudent and diligent in her manner, and her nature was always upright, and was outstanding among virgins.

After her mother died, she was chosen by the royal court as a court maid and she entered the palace. She set an outstanding example for people with a noble life. When she was around 30, she heard about the Christian doctrine and she immediately accepted it. Then, knowing that she would be unable to follow a religious life in the court, she used illness as an excuse, and she was given permission to leave the palace, and she went to a acquaintance’s house to live. Because her father was extremely hostile and hated the Christian faith so much, she could not dare move into his house.

She soon turned her family to the True God with her example and persuasion. She thanked God often and cherished Him deep in her heart. She regarded worldly fame and glory as nothing and diligently followed a life of faith. She was often engrossed in prayers and meditations, used crude clothing and poor food, and she struggled to discipline herself. She often recalled her Lord’s Passion and shed tears of gratitude.

Eventually, when the persecution intensified, her entire family fled to a believer’s house. The satellites [servants and informers in the employ of government officers] noticed this and attacked the house. At that time, she acknowledged that this was God’s Providence, and she comforted and encouraged believers on the one hand, and treated the satellites very kindly on the other.

Following the police official, she was taken to the Sagwancheong, the first court to interrogate criminals. There she confessed the Truth and was taken to the police court.

The judge asked. “Why do you believe in Christianity while you are a court lady?”

Lucia answered. “It is everyone’s duty to serve God.”

Again Lucia was commanded to forsake God and betray other believers, but she refused. She was tortured, but in view of her bravery, she was taken to the Hyeongjo court and was subjected to severe torture. Her flesh was torn and her bones were exposed. As Lucia endured with constant perseverance, she rejoiced that she could, to some extent, imitate the suffering of Christ. After a few days, all her wounds healed completely and her health was restored. When this fact was confirmed, the satellites said that it was done by magic.

During her punishment, she confused the enemies by explaining much of the Truth of the religion. The judge who had failed to make her apostatize eventually sentenced her to death.

When Lucia was taken to her execution, she was so happy that she did not stop praying to God. Her head was cut off and she flew to her Lord. Her age was 39. [Martyr of Blood, Martyr of Sweat, pp. 135-6].

A second biography embellishing upon the above is also included in Martyrs of Blood, Martyrs of Sweat, among the writings of Ven. Thomas Choe Yang-eop.

Lucia Park Hui-sun was canonized a saint of the Catholic Church on May 6, 1984, by Pope St. John Paul II, along with her sister, Maria Park Keun-agi.

A biography of St. Lucia from the Vatican website includes an additional anecdote from her life as a court maid, indicating that her youth and beauty caught the eye of the king. Despite the king's attention—a favor that every court maid coveted—Hui-sun rebuffed the king's advances out of respect for her patroness, the Queen.

Upon hearing of this incident later on, Bishop Imbert, a martyr and saint in his own right, would remark: "This is an act of bravery and uprightness, the like of which has never been seen in Korea before."

Other related posts of interest:

"I came out with a joyful heart and gave thanks to God." ~ Thanksgiving in luxury and in persecution Letter of Saint Andrew Kim Taegon (martyr) to Bishop Jean Joseph Ferréol, 1846 Yi San - An enthralling Korean historical drama (with Catholics!) Our TV is Lousy and Now it Must Die! or, What the West Can Learn from South Korean Television

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TOPICS: Catholic; History; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: joseon; korea; martyr; saints

[Antoninus]

The emergence and growth of the Catholic Church in Korea is one of the most amazing stories in the history of Christianity.

[Antoninus]

Catholic ping.

[ebb tide]

Ping

[maddog55]

Guess that’s in contrast to the downfall of the Vatican and recent Pope’s woke DEI BS they seem to I’m embrace.

[Antoninus]

recent Pope’s woke DEI BS they seem to I’m embrace.

I don't get how that comment is related to this post.

[maddog55]

Well in layman’s terms, organized religion is BS. It’s run by pedophiles, fags and idiots and I have no respect for any of it. The Vatican is part of the problem and is listed in the article and the Vatican, the Pope etc have proven how pathetically bad they are...right up there with Mohammed another pedophile. They’ve paid millions to keep it quiet rather than confront it and eliminate it. Prove me wrong...as someone once said. I trust nothing come from any of them.

Ones beliefs are free but if you’re a Catholic it cost you 10% or whatever “stipend” you can give... Total BS yet again. Religion requires nothing else but your beliefs and that’s between you and God.

[Antoninus]

Well in layman’s terms, organized religion is BS.

OK, I'm sorry I asked. I thought you may have actually had something constructive to add.

Prove me wrong...as someone once said.

There's zero chance I can do that. Your mind is clearly set. If you expect any institution entrusted to men to be without sinners -- and sometimes bloody awful ones -- then you don't know men.

Religion requires nothing else but your beliefs and that’s between you and God.

That's not what Jesus said, but whatever.

[married21]

Jesus went to the Temple and prayed, even though he had differences with the religious leaders. If praying in a religious institution is ok with Jesus, it’s ok with me. Jesus also hung out with tax collectors and other sinners. They needed him and he showed up. I keep showing up, even in a flawed church, because Jesus does. Wherever two or more are gathered in his name.

[maddog55]

I never said any institution entrusted by men to be without sinners... That’s something you made up on your own.

What I would like to see is a Pope with a set of balls who comes in and cleans house, admits the failures promises changes and purges the freaks at every level. Then I could find some respect for the institution but I can’t when nothing is done and there continues to be silence at every level and a definite acceptance of these freaks of society.

I was active duty and then worked with DoD for 38 years. I retired 8 years ago because I was fed up with the way things were going. No leadership just useless managers. The social engineering and acceptance was destroying everything. Say anything let alone do anything about it and they want to silence you. I’d had enough so I retired because I wouldn’t put up with the BS. Out of nowhere Pete Hegseth came in and said enough is enough and is cleaning house at every level and turning things around by doing what he said he’d do and I see far more respect now for the services and that institution from all of my veteran friends.

That’s the type of Pope needed.

[maddog55]

Churches nowadays for the most part are social gatherings for like minded individuals who show up on Sunday and go to hell on Monday as the saying goes. They do it because it makes them look good, it’s expected in whatever circle they’re trying to impress or they just like feeling better for a few hours

There’s a few, perhaps like yourself that actually are there to worship. Churches aren’t Temple’s either, big difference and everyone is a sinner at sometime in their life.

As I stated, my beliefs are between me an God and no one else.