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About

1. What is a Shrine and International Sanctuary?

By the term Sanctuary is understood a church or other sacred place to which numerous members of the faithful make pilgrimage for a special reason of piety, with the approval of the local ordinary (Can. 1230).

According to Can 1231 and 1232,
there are three types of Sanctuary.
First, a diocesan shrine which is approved by the local ordinary.
Second, a national shrine which is approved by the conference of bishops.
Third, a International Sanctuary which is approved by the Holy See.

In November 29th, 2020 – First Sunday of Advent – the Holy See approved the statues of 'Haemi International Sanctuary'

2. Are there any International Sanctuarys in the world?


On September 14, 2018, the pilgrimage route of the Seoul Archdiocese was declared an international pilgrimage site approved by the Holy See.

3. About the Haemi International Sanctuary

Compared to other famous shrines and pilgrimage sites, such as Marian apparitions sites, it is true that Haemi International Sanctuary seems to be insufficient to name itself as an International Sanctuary. You cannot find famous saints, special miracles. There are only 132 believers who were martyred with names or baptismal names remain on record. There are more than a thousand anonymous martyrs buried in Haemi International Sanctuary. Even though they could not leave their names and records because they were lower-class people, they were brave and faithful enough to face glorious deaths to see God face to face.
The glorious event that the Catholic Church recognized as an example of faith and proudly announced to the world the anonymous martyrs who would have received more brilliant names than anyone else in God's country is the declaration of the Haemi International Sanctuary.

Let us ask for grace to live as believers who leave a name that will never be erased in God, like anonymous martyrs who can be seen as our ordinary neighbors. In addition, let us pray through anonymous martyrs whom God will remember the most. Let us live a beautiful life by pilgrimage to Haemi International Sanctuary!

Sincerely,
Fr. Mary Joseph HAN