A Korean Church Father

Maryknoller in Korea brings to our attention Father Choe Yang Eop (Thomas), pictured above — First Non-matyred Korean Saint? More:

He worked for 12 years in pastoral work among his Korean Christians. Kim Andrew was the first Korean Priest but died a martyr’s death shortly after ordination. Fr. Choe was actually the one who helped the Church to grow. He can be considered a Korean Church Father. He was born in 1821 and died in 1861 overworked and dying of typhoid fever.

Worthy of pondering also is his mother, Ri Seong Rye, who "temporarily denied her Faith because of her bond with her breast feeding son," unable as she was "to overcome her maternal instincts, separating herself from her son and entering jail on her own to face beheading."