Introduction
St. Agatha Kim A-gi stands as a radiant, humble beacon among Korea’s revered Catholic martyrs. Her life, marked by simplicity, courage, and a steadfast devotion to Jesus and Mary, was woven into the tumultuous emergence of Christianity in Korea during the 18th and 19th centuries. Against the odds of social prejudice, intellectual limitation, and vicious persecution, Agatha’s “little way” of faith bore heroic fruit, culminating in her martyrdom. Her legacy endures—particularly for the forgotten, the limited, and those who find it hard to articulate vast theologies but can utter, “I don’t know anything but Jesus and Mary.”
Early Life and Conversion
Born in 1787 into a traditional Confucian family in what is now Seoul, Agatha was raised in a culture where Christianity was unknown and, later, unwelcome. She married young, as was custom, but her conversion story began when her older sister embraced the forbidden Catholic faith. Moved by her sister’s witness, Agatha’s heart opened to the Gospel. Drawn to the Church, she longed to become Christian despite formidable obstacles.
Unlike other converts, Agatha found it nearly impossible to memorize prayers or the catechism. This was likely due to an intellectual disability or learning limitation—a fact which could have closed the doors of baptism to her, given the norms of that era. The early Korean Church—still forming, underground, and persecuted—sometimes hesitated to baptize those who could not recite formulaic prayers or doctrine. Still, Agatha’s persistence, sincerity, and joyful simplicity were unmistakable. Her constant whispered prayer, “Jesus, Mary,” was her lifeline.
The Church Under Persecution
Catholicism, which had arrived in Korea only decades prior, soon became the target of severe crackdowns. Beginning in the late 18th century, the government viewed this “Western religion” with suspicion, fearing subversion of Confucian social order and ancestral rites. Christians refused to participate in certain cultural ceremonies, prompting social hostility and legal repression.
By the late 1830s, waves of fierce persecution swept across Korea. Hundreds of believers were imprisoned, tortured, and killed, simply for professing their faith or helping missionaries. Agatha was swept up in one such persecution, imprisoned for her aspirations and associations with the outlawed Christian faith.
Testing in Prison: Baptism Amid Suffering
When she was arrested, Agatha had still not been baptized—her inability to recite the required prayers meant Church authorities had delayed her entry into the fold. Yet in the darkness of a prison cell, facing death for her beliefs, Agatha received what she had longed for: baptism. This moment marked the true flowering of her faith. The sacrament gave her unprecedented grace and strength.
One day, she was called for interrogation before the authorities:
“Is it true you believe in the Catholic Church?”
“I don’t know anything but Jesus and Mary.”
“If you could save your life by rejecting Jesus and Mary, wouldn’t you reject them?”
“I would rather die than reject them.”
The officials, frustrated by her steadfastness, subjected her to torture. But Agatha’s answer never changed. Her very simplicity, which society saw as a weakness, was her great strength; her resolute clinging to Jesus and Mary spoke more profoundly than any apologetic treatise. Other Catholic prisoners greeted her in prison, exclaiming with warmth, “Here comes Agatha who doesn’t know anything but Jesus and Mary,” celebrating her “little way” of faith.
Courage, Martyrdom, and Legacy
Agatha’s baptism in prison was soon followed by the ultimate test. After withstanding brutal interrogations and beatings, refusing to betray friends or recant her beliefs, Agatha received the sentence of death. She was executed by beheading on May 24, 1839, at Seoul’s Small West Gate alongside several companions—part of a great wave of martyrs whose sacrifice became the seed of the Korean Church’s growth.
Agatha’s quiet heroism is precious today for various reasons:
- Her faith was accessible: Her witness affirms that holiness is not limited to the learned or eloquent. With intellectual limitations, she became a saint—reminding the Church that God’s mercy and grace reach every soul.
- She was baptized by desire and love: Even without reciting formal prayers, her entire life became an unceasing prayer, culminating in the waters of baptism received in a prison cell.
- Her simplicity became her sanctity: Through “not knowing much but Jesus and Mary,” Agatha lived a profound, Christ-centered life—her testimony echoes St. Thérèse’s “little way” decades before Thérèse’s birth.
Pope John Paul II canonized Agatha Kim A-gi together with 102 other Korean martyrs on May 6, 1984, recognizing her profound devotion and the unique role she plays as a patron for converts, those with learning differences, and all who seek God without pretense.
St. Agatha Kim A-gi’s Message for Us Today
St. Agatha Kim A-gi’s story is medicine for a complex, achievement-driven world. Many believers struggle with prayers, doctrines, distractions, and doubts. Agatha is proof that salvation is not just for the scholars and orators—it is especially close for those who trust, endure, and persevere in the small prayers and daily fidelity. Disabilities, obstacles, or lack of education need never be a barrier to sanctity.
Her witness is also a challenge. When threatened with the loss of everything—family, freedom, and life—she clung simply and fiercely to the two names, “Jesus” and “Mary.” Can we do the same amid the lesser trials and confusions of our own time? St. Agatha stands before us as a reminder that the heart’s fidelity is what the Lord values most.
A Prayer to St. Agatha Kim A-gi
O God of the humble and pure of heart,
We thank you for the radiant example of St. Agatha Kim A-gi,
Who, though poor in learning, was rich in faith,
Who, though weak in worldly wisdom, was strong in love for Jesus and Mary,
Who, though unlettered in doctrine, became your courageous witness and martyr.
Through the intercession of your holy martyr Agatha,
Grant us the grace to love you with simplicity and fidelity.
Help us, in our times of darkness and confusion,
To repeat with her simple and sincere heart:
“I don’t know anything but Jesus and Mary.”
Lord, strengthen all who are excluded, forgotten, or rejected by society.
May the faith of St. Agatha inspire those who struggle with disabilities,
Who feel unworthy or unable to pray as others do.
Let her be a beacon for all—young and old alike—who wish to approach your altars with confidence.
By her prayers, keep us steadfast through all trials,
And may we, like this humble martyr, prefer death to denying You.
Walk with the Church in Korea and throughout the world,
That the memory of your martyrs may bring unity, forgiveness, and peace.
St. Agatha Kim A-gi, little one of Christ, faithful to the end,
Pray for us, and teach us the power of faith,
Simple, honest, and strong—
Until we meet you among the saints in heaven,
With Jesus and Mary, forever. Amen.
Conclusion
St. Agatha Kim A-gi’s story, clothed in humility and crowned with martyrdom, remains a powerful invitation to rediscover the beauty of simple, unwavering faith. Her little prayer has become her greatest sermon: “I don’t know anything but Jesus and Mary.” In repeating this—even in our weakest moments—we, too, share in her greatest glory.
Nelson MCBS 
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