Berneux, Siméon-François

BERNEUX, SIMÉON-FRANÇOIS. - Born on 14 May 1814 at Château-du-Loir (France), a priest in 1837, he entered the Paris Foreign Missions in 1839 and set out (1840) for western Tonkin. Captured almost immediately, taken to the capital, imprisoned, tortured and condemned to death, he was freed in 1843 together with his four companions through the intervention of commander Favin-Lévêque, who wished to bring them back to France. From Bourbon Island he obtained permission to go to Macao, whence he set out for Manchuria (1844): there he became pro-vicar of the mission, which he then governed during the journey to France of its bishop, Msgr. Verrolles (v.). Elected coadjutor of Msgr. Ferréol, apostolic vicar of Korea, and consecrated bishop (1854), he reached the capital, Seoul, secretly because of the persecution, in '56, devoting himself to the study of the language and then at once to the apostolate. In '66, while circumstances seemed favourable, the persecution was instead decided upon. The Blessed was arrested in February, imprisoned and tortured several times; then, with three of his missionaries, he was beheaded on 8 March of that same year. His cause of beatification was introduced on 13 Nov. 1918.