BRETENIÈRES, SIMON-MARIE-ANTOINE-JUST-RANFER de. — One of the last martyrs of Korea. Born in
Chalons-sur-Saône on 28 February 1838, he entered the Paris Foreign Missions in 1861 and, having been ordained a priest in ’64, was assigned to Korea, for which he departed that same year. He remained in Manchuria until April 1865, and on 27 May was able to reach Korean territory. His apostolate, however, was brief. Imprisoned as early as February 1866, together with his bishop, he was beheaded with him on 8 March at Sai-uam-hte, near Seoul. The process of beatification is under way. His body was brought to France.
BIBL.: M. d'Hulst, Vie de J. de B., missionnaire apostolique, martyrisé en Corée en 1866, Paris 1888; C. Appert, Pour la Foi... J. de B., martyrisé en Corée le 8 mars 1866, there 1910; A. Launay, Mémorial de la Société des Missions Étrangères, there 1916, pp. 90–91; L. Collin, J. de B., Ouges 1935.
Giovanni B. Tragella