00:01Imagine a 19th-century Korea, a land where the Christian faith was a clandestine flame, relentlessly persecuted.
00:08It was there that André Kim Thé Gon was born in 1821, into a family of converts, already marked by the
00:15martyr of his father.
00:17From a very young age, André's faith was forged in discretion and courage.
00:22He left his homeland at 15 to study for the priesthood in Macau, a long and perilous journey, far from
00:30any familiar landmark.
00:31He is an exceptional young man, endowed with a sharp intelligence and unwavering determination.
00:38In 1845, after years of training and trials, he was ordained the very first Korean priest in Shanghai.
00:47What joy, what an honor, but also what an immense responsibility.
00:52He knows he is returning to a country where every mass, every baptism, every word of the gospel can mean the
00:59dead.
01:00André, driven by an ardent love for Christ and his people, secretly slips into Korea.
01:07His ministry is an act of daily bravery.
01:10He celebrates the sacraments in the shadows, comforting the terrified faithful,
01:15organizes the clandestine Christian community
01:17and is even trying to open new routes so that other priests can join the mission.
01:23Its light could not remain hidden for long.
01:26In 1846, at only 25 years old, André Kim Tegon was arrested.
01:33He endured atrocious torture, but he never renounced his faith, he never betrayed his brothers.
01:39His trial is a shining testament to his consistency.
01:44He was finally beheaded on September 16, 1846 in Senam Theo, near Seoul.
01:51But André was not alone in this heroic fight.
01:54His companions, like Paul Chang Asang, a fervent and tireless layman,
02:00They also chose to die rather than renounce their faith.
02:04Hundreds of men, women, and children, from all social backgrounds,
02:09shed their blood for Christ, becoming the seeds of a vibrant church.
02:14Today, André Kim Tegon and his 102 fellow martyrs are the leaders of Korea.
02:21Their extraordinary sacrifice, canonized by John Paul II in 1984,
02:27This reminds us that faith is not just a matter of prayer.
02:30but also of courage, loyalty and unconditional love.
02:35He shows us that we can bear witness to Christ even in the most extreme circumstances.
02:40and that from their blood sprang forth a strong and vibrant church
02:44a source of inspiration for all believers.
02:48Their memory is an invitation to live our faith.
02:51with as much zeal and perseverance.
02:54THANKS.
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