Saint Peter Cho Hwa-sŏ

Peter Cho Hwa-sŏ (1815–December 13, 1866) was a Korean Catholic saint and martyr. His father was Andrew Cho, a Catholic martyr who died in 1839. Peter Cho Hwa-sŏ moved to Sinchang in Chungcheong Province, where he worked as an assistant to Father Thomas Choe Yang-eop. He married Magdalena Han, and they had a son, Joseph Cho Yun-ho. After his wife's death, he married Susanna Kim. When he was about 40 years old, persecutions of Catholics began again in Korea. He was arrested on December 5, 1866. He confessed to being a Catholic and stated that his father had taught him the catechism, adding that he knew no other Catholics besides his son. At that time, Joseph Cho Yun-ho was away from home. Upon his return, Peter Cho tried to persuade his son to flee, but his son refused and surrendered himself to the persecutors. Father and son were taken to Jeonju and imprisoned with other Christians. Along the way, they strengthened each other in the faith. In prison, Peter Cho Hwa-sŏ encouraged his fellow inmates. He was tortured repeatedly to force him to reveal the names of other Catholics, but he remained steadfast. He was beheaded in Jeonju on December 13, 1866. His son was executed ten days later. His feast day is September 20, as part of the group of 103 Korean Martyrs. He was beatified by Pope Paul VI on October 6, 1968, and canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 6, 1984, as one of the 103 Korean Martyrs.