Saint Magdalene Hŏ Kye-im

Magdalena Hŏ Kye-im (1773–September 26, 1839) was a Korean martyr and a saint of the Catholic Church. Little is known about her life. She lived in Pongchon with her family. Her children became Catholics, unlike her husband, who was never baptized. Following her arrest during the persecutions, Magdalena Hŏ Kye-im was tortured. She was beheaded on September 26, 1839, in Seoul at the execution site outside the Small West Gate, along with eight other Catholics: Sebastian Nam I-gwan, Julia Kim, Agatha Chŏn Kyŏng-hyŏb, Charles Cho Shin-ch’ŏl, Ignatius Kim Che-jun, Magdalena Pak Pong-son, Perpetua Hong Kŭm-ju, and Columba Kim Hyo-im. Two of her children, Magdalena Yi Yŏng-hŭi (executed July 20, 1839) and Barbara Yi Chŏng-hŭi (executed September 3, 1839), were also put to death for their Catholic faith. Her feast day is September 20, as part of the group of the 103 Korean Martyrs. She was beatified on July 5, 1925, by Pope Pius XI and canonized on May 6, 1984, by Pope John Paul II as one of the 103 Korean Martyrs.