St. Laurent Marie Joseph Imbert, MEP (21 September): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

On September 21, we honor St. Laurent-Marie-Joseph Imbert and his companions, St. Pierre-Philibert Maubant and St. Jacques-Honoré Chastan—French missionaries who gave their lives for the Catholic faith in Korea in 1839. Christianity reached Korea in a remarkable way: not first through foreign missionaries, but through books brought from China and studied by Korean laymen. When the first priest arrived, he discovered thousands of believers awaiting Baptism and the sacraments. Bishop Imbert entered Korea in disguise and served the hidden Catholic community under constant danger. Rising before dawn, traveling by night, fasting, teaching converts, offering Mass, and hearing confessions, he helped increase the number of Korean Christians from approximately 6,000 to 9,000 in less than two years. When persecution erupted, the bishop and his fellow priests surrendered themselves in an effort to protect the faithful. On September 21, 1839, they were beheaded near Seoul. This account also recalls the heroic witness of Korean martyrs such as St. Agatha Kim, who declared: “Even if I have to die, I will not forget Jesus and Mary.” May the Korean Martyrs obtain for us courage, perseverance, and fidelity to Christ in every trial. 00:00 St. Laurent Imbert and the conversion of Korea 00:18 Christianity enters Korea through Catholic books 00:43 Thousands awaiting Baptism and instruction 01:05 Korean Catholics appeal to Pope Pius VII 01:22 Bishop Imbert enters Korea in disguise 01:47 The missionaries’ hidden apostolate 02:03 Bishop Imbert’s exhausting daily ministry 03:30 Korean Catholicism grows despite persecution 03:39 The decree to exterminate the faithful 03:48 St. Agatha Kim’s fearless profession of faith 04:43 A Korean martyr writes from prison 05:25 Bishop Imbert surrenders to protect his flock 05:42 The three missionaries give themselves up 05:49 Torture and martyrdom near Seoul 06:05 Their feast and the translation of their relics 06:21 St. Andrew Kim, Korea’s first martyr priest #Catholic #CatholicSaints #KoreanMartyrs #SaintLaurentImbert #LivesOfTheSaints #CatholicHistory #Martyrdom #September21 https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/september/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴