South Korean Catholics marked Holy Thursday with renewed hope after the Vatican’s medical panel recognized a miracle attributed to Venerable Fr. Thomas Choi Yang-up, advancing his cause for beatification.
The development, reported by Asianews, comes as the Church commemorates the Last Supper and reflects on the gift of the Eucharist and the priesthood.
The Medical Commission of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints met on March 26 and issued a favorable opinion on the alleged miracle through Fr. Choi’s intercession.
The process now moves to the Theological Commission and requires final approval by the pope before a decree of beatification can be issued.
Fr. Choi, declared venerable by Pope Francis in 2016, is regarded as a key figure in the early Korean Church, alongside martyr Andrew Kim Taegon, during a period of intense persecution of Christians in the 19th century.
Ordained in Shanghai in 1849, he returned to Korea the following year and began extensive missionary work, traveling from village to village to support isolated Christian communities. In his first six months, he covered about 2,000 kilometers to administer the sacraments and encourage the faithful.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Fr. Choi was not executed for the faith. He instead became known for a life of sustained pastoral labor under hardship, earning him the titles “Saint Paul of Korea” and the “Martyr of Sweat.”
Reflecting on his struggles, he wrote: “I have not been able to follow my parents and brothers, and I am deeply ashamed of this.”
“I continue to struggle with such weakness and immaturity. When will I be worthy of sharing in the great work of the priests and the sufferings of my brothers? And will I be able to fill what is lacking in Christ’s sufferings and complete the work of salvation?” he added.
He later spent more than a decade in a rural village, where he translated catechetical texts into Korean, composed doctrinal hymns, assisted missionaries entering the country, and helped send seminarians for formation abroad.
Fr. Choi died in 1861 at the age of 40 after years of physically demanding ministry.
A missionary of the Paris Foreign Missions Society wrote after his death: “For twelve years, Fr. Thomas Choi continued to inspire people and successfully save souls, fulfilling all the duties of a holy priest with the utmost fidelity.”
“His death fills me with shame. The area where he administered the sacraments included many villages that were difficult for Westerners to reach without great risk. But the Lord, who took him from us, will provide what we need,” the missionary added.
Church officials noted that the final stages of the process may coincide with preparations for World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, raising the possibility that his beatification could take place during a future papal visit.
