← All saints

Saint Agnes Tsao Kou Ying

Guizhou widow who taught girls the faith in Guangxi and died in prison in 1856

Rank
Saint
Kind
Martyr, Layperson, Virgin
Life
1821 – 1856
Era
19th century
Feast
1 March
Countries
China
China

Life story

Agnes Tsao Kou Ying was born in 1821 in the village of Wujiazhai in Guizhou province, in a Catholic family originally from Sichuan. Her parents died when she was young. She married a farmer at eighteen; he died after two years, and her in-laws treated her coldly because she was a Christian. The Vatican's summary describes her as a widow from an old Christian family.

Father Auguste Chapdelaine asked her to teach the faith to women and girls who had recently converted in the Guangxi region. From 1852 she settled at Baijiazhai in Xilin County and used it as a base for teaching, which included cooking and household management as well as religious instruction.

In 1856 the local authorities moved against the Catholics of Guangxi. Many believers were released, but she and Father Chapdelaine stayed in custody. The county magistrate offered to free her if she denied her faith, and she refused. Chapdelaine died from torture. She was condemned to death and died in prison on 1 March 1856. Pope Leo XIII beatified her in 1900, and Pope John Paul II canonized her on 1 October 2000.

Works and witness

  • Widowed young and lived as a devout member of an old Catholic family
  • Taught the faith and household skills to new converts in Guangxi from 1852
  • Arrested in 1856 with Father Chapdelaine and refused to deny her faith
  • Died in prison on 1 March 1856
  • Canonized on 1 October 2000

Saints from the same country

The 120 Martyrs of China, Saint Anna Wang, Saint Mark Ji Tianxiang, Saint Agatha Lin

References

  • Holy See, list of the Martyrs of China canonized 1 October 2000 (vatican.va, ns_lit_doc_20001001_zhao-rong-compagni_en), entry 'Agnes Cao Guiying' – widow of an old Christian family, taught girls converted by Chapdelaine, condemned in prison, 1 March 1856
  • Episcopal lesser feast page (kccathedral.org) – born 1821 at Wujiazhai, Guizhou; its date of death 22 January 1856 differs from the Holy See and is not used
  • Asia Harvest, “1856 – Agnes Cao Guiying” – orphaned, married at 18, widowed two years later, Baijiazhai from the winter of 1852 (seen via search excerpt)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.