← All saints
Saint Laurent Imbert
Image: Theoliane · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Saint Laurent Imbert

First bishop to enter Korea, he gave himself up in 1839 and was beheaded

Rank
Saint
Kind
Martyr, Bishop, Missionary
Life
1796 – 1839
Era
19th century
Feast
20 September
Countries
France, South Korea
FranceSouth Korea

Life story

Laurent-Joseph-Marius Imbert was born on 23 March 1796 at Marignane in southern France. He entered the Paris Foreign Missions seminary in 1818 and was ordained on 18 December 1819. On 20 March 1820 he sailed for Asia, taught at Penang and stopped at Singapore in December 1821, where he is recorded as the first priest to celebrate Mass. He then worked in Tonkin and reached Sichuan in March 1825, staying about twelve years and serving as the first superior of the Mou-pin seminary.

On 26 April 1836 he was chosen as vicar apostolic of Korea and was consecrated bishop on 14 May 1837. He crossed into Korea on the night of 18 December 1837 and reached Seoul on 30 December.

When the Gihae persecution began in 1839 he went into hiding but a traitor revealed his hiding place. He gave himself up in August 1839 and wrote to the priests Maubant and Chastan urging them to surrender. All three were tortured and beheaded on 21 September 1839 at Saenamteo near Seoul. Pope Pius XI beatified him on 5 July 1925, and Pope John Paul II canonized him in Seoul on 6 May 1984.

Works and witness

  • Ordained in 1819 and sailed for Asia in 1820
  • Worked in Penang, Singapore, Tonkin and Sichuan
  • Named vicar apostolic of Korea in 1836 and consecrated in 1837
  • Entered Korea in late 1837 and ministered from Seoul
  • Surrendered in 1839 and was beheaded on 21 September

Saints from the same country

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Saint Louis IX of France, Saint Joan of Arc, Saint Francis de Sales

References

  • College General (Penang), “Saints and Martyrs” (collegegeneral.org) – sent to Singapore in 1821, taught in Penang, about twelve years in Sichuan, Moupin seminary, vicar apostolic of Korea 1837
  • Catholic Online, “Sts. Chastan & Imbert” (catholic.org, saint_id=606) – surrender, Maubant and Chastan; RVA, 'Penang martyrdom' commentary
  • Wikipedia (English), “Laurent-Joseph-Marius Imbert” – consecration 14 May 1837, beatified 5 July 1925, canonized 6 May 1984

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.