Catholic saint biography
St. Laurent Imbert
- Lived:
- d. 1839 — France
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Biography
Laurent Imbert was a French missionary who joined the Paris Foreign Missions Society and worked in China before becoming vicar apostolic of Korea. He entered Korea in 1837, becoming the first bishop to reach the country. With Pierre Maubant and Jacques Chastan, he ministered to Catholic communities whose religious practice placed them at risk.
During the persecution of 1839, Imbert surrendered after learning that police had discovered his hiding place. The Korean bishops' account explains that he hoped to spare the people sheltering him. He refused demands to abandon his faith and was executed at Saenamteo. His remains were later transferred to Seoul's Myeongdong Cathedral.
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What will you carry with you?
After reading about St. Laurent Imbert, 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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