Catholic saint biography
St. John Baptist Chon Chang-un
- Lived:
- d. 1866 — Korea
A Catholic liturgical calendar date has not yet been verified for this entry. Execution dates are not treated as feast days; a shared celebration requires a scoped calendar citation.
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Biography
John Baptist Chon Chang-un supported his family through farming and making leather bags. During the 1839 persecution he renounced Catholicism under torture, then regretted that decision. When Andrew Kim Tae-gon returned to Korea in 1845, John received the sacrament of reconciliation and renewed his religious life.
Bishop Berneux later entrusted him with publishing Catholic books alongside Peter Choe Hyong. When police approached the printing house in 1866, John remained to protect its wooden printing blocks. Arrested and tortured, he refused to abandon his faith again. He was executed in March. His story joins repentance with the practical work of preserving religious instruction in print.
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What will you carry with you?
After reading about St. John Baptist Chon Chang-un, take a moment to consider:
- Which event or decision in this life stood out to you?
- What virtue would you like to understand or practice more deeply?
- What small action could you take today in response?
These are reflection prompts from Saint Discovery, not quotations from the saint.
Sources and further reading
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