Saint Anna Wang

Life story

Anna Wang was born in 1886 in the village of Majiazhuang in Wei county, Hebei, into a poor Catholic family. Her mother died when she was five, and a nun named Lucy Wang taught her the faith. At eleven she refused a marriage arranged by her family.

In July 1900 Boxer fighters came to the village to kill Christians and burn the church. They offered the Christians a choice between renouncing the faith and death. Anna refused and was beheaded on 22 July 1900 with several others; some sources give 21 July, so the exact day varies slightly.

Her body was thrown into a mass grave and later exhumed and given a proper burial on 6 November 1901. She was one of very many Chinese Christians killed in the uprising.

Pope Pius XII beatified her on 17 April 1955. Pope John Paul II canonised her on 1 October 2000 with the other martyrs of China. She is often presented as a symbol of young Chinese Catholics.

Works and witness

• Kept the faith after her mother's early death, taught by a nun
• Refused an arranged marriage at eleven
• Refused to renounce her faith before the Boxers
• Beheaded on 22 July 1900
• Canonised on 1 October 2000

Patron of

Young people

Saints from the same country

The 120 Martyrs of China, Saint Mark Ji Tianxiang, Saint Agatha Lin, Saint Agnes Tsao Kou Ying

References

• Decree of beatification, Pius XII, 1955
• Holy See, homily for the canonisation of the Martyrs of China, 1 October 2000
• Martyrologium Romanum

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