Martyred for the faith at outside Seosomun, Seoul in the Sinyu persecution, May 14, 1801. Beatified by Pope Francis on August 16, 2014.
Life
Charles Jeong Cheol-sang was the eldest son of Augustine Jeong Yak-jong and grew up learning the faith from his father. Helping with Church work at his father's side, he served as a lay leader among the faithful.
When the Sinyu persecution broke out in 1801 and his father was arrested and martyred on April 8, he too was seized and interrogated. Unashamed of his father's faith, he confessed it openly and was martyred outside Seosomun in Seoul on May 14, 1801. His younger siblings Paul Jeong Ha-sang and Elizabeth Jeong Jeong-hye and his stepmother Cecilia Yu So-sa were later martyred in the Gihae persecution and canonized.
Spirituality
Charles Jeong Cheol-sang's spirituality is the courage to confess as his own the faith received from his parents. Even after witnessing his father's martyrdom, he did not draw back in fear. He shows that seeds of faith sown in the family bear fruit in the next generation.
Reflection
Charles Jeong Cheol-sang made the faith he learned from his father his own confession. Are our children and young people embracing the faith as their own? Today, let us pray for the next generation and listen to their stories of faith.