Saint John Yi Yun-il
Farmer and catechist of Korea who died for his faith in 1867
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Martyr, Layperson
- Life
- 1822 – 1867
- Era
- 19th century
- Feast
- 20 September
- Countries
- South Korea
Life story
John Yi Yun-il was born in 1822 according to most sources. He was a married man with children and worked the land to support his family. Catholic sources say the missionaries examined him carefully and then entrusted him with teaching the faith to children and catechumens, which he did with great zeal. He lived in the nineteenth century, when the Church in Korea suffered fierce persecution.
After his arrest his captors tried hard to make him renounce his faith, since if a catechist gave up the faith other believers might follow. He was beaten with clubs and flogged many times, until his bones were dislocated, yet he did not renounce Christ. The sources consulted do not give the date of his arrest.
He was beheaded on 21 January 1867 at Daegu. He was beatified on 6 October 1968 under Pope Paul VI and canonized by Pope John Paul II on 6 May 1984 in Seoul with 102 other Korean martyrs. The Korean martyrs are celebrated together on 20 September.
Works and witness
- Farmed to support his wife and children
- Served as a catechist for children and catechumens
- Endured clubbing and flogging without renouncing the faith
- Beheaded on 21 January 1867 at Daegu
- Canonized on 6 May 1984 with 102 other Korean martyrs
Saints from the same country
References
- U.S. Catholic, 'St. John Yi Yun-il' (uscatholic.org)
- Catholic.net (Spanish), 'Juan Yi Yun-il, Santo' (es.catholic.net/op/articulos/61964)
- Wikipedia, 'John Yi Yun-il' (place of death: cross-check)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.