Biography
Cecilia Yu So-sa
About Cecilia Yu So-sa
Cecilia Yu So-sa was the second wife of Augustine Chong Yak-jong and the mother of Paul Chong Ha-sang and Elisabeth Chong Chong-hye. She learned about Catholicism from her husband and received baptism from James Zhou Mun-mo.
During the persecution of 1801, the family was arrested. Her husband and his son Charles Chong Chol-sang died, while Cecilia and the surviving children were eventually released. Their property had been confiscated, and they lived with her husband’s relatives at Majae. Despite poverty and opposition, Cecilia continued teaching Paul and Elisabeth about their religion.
She later lived with Paul while he helped priests and the bishop. As she became older, she devoted time to prayer and helped others, sometimes foregoing food to feed them.
Cecilia was arrested in July 1839. She refused demands to abandon her faith or disclose other Catholics’ whereabouts and died in prison on November 23, 1839.
Wondering how to weigh the stories and sources? Learn how to read a saint biography.