Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and the Chinese Martyrs

Life story

The group of 120 Martyrs of China comprises 87 Chinese and 33 foreign missionaries, who died for the faith between 1648 and 1930. They came from many walks of life: bishops, priests, religious, lay people, adults and even children, living in various regions of the Chinese empire.

Augustine Zhao Rong, born in 1746 according to the usual record, was a Chinese diocesan priest. According to tradition he had been a soldier who escorted a captured missionary bishop, was struck by the man's character and asked for baptism. He later trained for the priesthood, was ordained and served Christian communities in south-western China. He was arrested during a persecution under the Jiaqing emperor and died in prison in 1815.

The persecutions had several causes: suspicion of a foreign religion, imperial prohibitions, and the Boxer uprising of 1900, in which many believers and missionaries were killed. Many in the group were ordinary lay people who refused to abandon the faith despite threats and torture.

John Paul II canonised the whole group on 1 October 2000 in Rome. The choice of that date drew a reaction from the Chinese authorities, since it coincides with the national day. Their common memorial is on 9 July. Many of the names are known from local records kept by mission societies, such as the Paris Foreign Missions Society, and from the testimonies gathered for their causes over the centuries.

Works and witness

• Native priest who, according to tradition, had been a soldier
• Died in prison in 1815 during a ban on Christianity
• The group counts 87 Chinese and 33 foreign missionaries
• Canonised on 1 October 2000

Saints from the same country

Saint Francis Xavier, Saint Joseph Freinademetz, Saint John Gabriel Perboyre

References

• Martyrologium Romanum
• Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile
• Acta Apostolicae Sedis, canonisation of the Martyrs of China, 2000

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