BRETENIÈRES, SIMON-MARIE-ANTOINE-JUST-RANFER de. - One of the last martyrs of Korea. Born in Chalon-sur-Saône on 28 Feb. 1838, he entered the Paris Foreign Missions in 1861, and after being ordained priest in 1864, he was sent to Korea, departing there the same year. Until April 1865 he remained in Manchuria, and on 27 May he was able to reach Korean territory. However, his apostolate was brief. Already imprisoned in 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 underway. His body was brought to France.
BIBL.: M. d'Hulst, Vie de J. de B., missionnaire apostolique, martyrisé en 1866, Paris 1888; C. Appert, Pour la Foi... J. de B., martyrisé en Corée le 8 mars 1866, ibid. 1910; A. Launay, Mémorial de la Société des Missions Etrangères, 1916, pp. 90-91; L. Collin, J. de B., Ouges 1935.
Giovanni B. Tragella