Saint Peter Chŏng Wŏn-ji

Peter Chŏng Wŏn-ji (born 1845 in Jinjam, Korea; died December 13, 1866, in Jeonju) was a Korean saint of the Catholic Church and a martyr. Peter Chŏng Wŏn-ji was born into a very devout Catholic family; he was the son of another martyr. In 1866, persecutions of Catholics began in Korea. When a group of police arrived in his village, he managed to escape into the mountains, but he was captured the following day. He was tortured to force him to renounce his faith, but Peter Chŏng Wŏn-ji remained steadfast. He was beheaded on December 13, 1866, in Supjong-i, along with five other Catholics: Bartholomew Chŏng Mun-ho, Peter Cho Hwa-sŏ, Peter Son Sŏn-ji, Peter Yi Myŏng-sŏ, and Joseph Han Wŏn-sŏ. His memorial day is September 20, as part of the group of 103 Korean Martyrs. He was beatified on October 6, 1968, by Pope Paul VI and canonized on May 6, 1984, by Pope John Paul II as one of the 103 Korean Martyrs.