Vatican green light for the cause of beatification of a pioneer priest of monastic life in Korea

Seoul’s archdiocese reported that authorization or “has received from the Vatican or”nothing stands”(Nothing prevents) to initiate the cause of beatification of the pioneer priest of monastic life in Korea.

In this way and according to the Vatican Agency FidesFr. Leo Bang Yu-Ryong (1900-1986), can be recognized as a servant of God. With this permission, the Archdiocese can initiate the diocesan phase of the process.

Mons. Job Koo Yoo-Bi, auxiliary bishop of Seoul and president of the Diocesan Commission for Beatification and Canonization, explained that in this first phase information and testimonies will be met on the heroicity of the virtues and the fame of holiness of Fr. Bang Yu-Ryong.

The life of the pioneer priest of monastic life in Korea

Fr. Leo Bang Yu-Ryong was born on March 6, 1900. He grew up in a context marked by the persecution of Christians. In 1917 he entered the Minor Seminary of Yongsan, where the conviction was aroused that the native or local monastic life was necessary for the Catholic Church in Korea, which had not yet been divided.

He was ordained a priest in 1930. In the province of Hwanghae, where he was pastor since 1933, he renewed the pastoral one eliminating the habit of separating boys from girls in the church, he installed the first organ, created a youth choir, encouraged the activities of the young people and accompanied with affection to the aspiring monks.

On April 21, 1946, the first Easter Sunday after the independence of Korea and in the year of the centenary of the martyrdom of San Andrés Kim, he founded with two religious the first Korean female congregation: the sisters of the Blessed Korean martyrs.

Father Leo wanted to perpetuate the spirit of the martyrs, employers of the new congregation, who called “ancestors in faith”, and gave him as charisma “spread the Gospel in a spirit of fraternal love and martyrdom, for the glory of God and sanctification of its members.”

On December 12, 1951, after a very fruitful work with schools, the official approval of the Congregation received from the Holy See. On October 30, 1953, he also founded the male congregation of the Blessed Korean martyrs, first native male religious order of Korea.

In 1957 he erected the third order, of laity consecrated with the same charisma, and in 1962 he authorized the foundation of the Society of the Sisters of the Palma of the Korean martyrs, for married women and widows.

On May 6, 1957, Fr. Leo Bang Yu-Ryong made his perpetual votes in the congregation that he founded and dedicated his entire life to consolidating his spiritual family. He died on January 24, 1986.

Two causes in process in the Archdiocese of Seoul

In addition to the process of Fr. Leo Bang Yu-Ryong, in the Archdiocese of Seoul, the Beatification process of Bishop Barthelemy Bruguière (1792-1835) is followed) First Apostolic Vicar of Korea and member of the Foreign Missions Society of Paris.

The other cause is that of Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-Hwan (1922-2009), Archbishop of Seoul between 1968 and 1998 and first Korean cardinal.