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It has always been difficult being Catholic in China and the persecution of Christians has led to numerous Catholics being killed for their faith throughout the centuries.
One particularly bleak period was during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900. It is generally estimated that 33,000 Chinese Christians were killed, with Catholics estimated to be around 30,000 of those deaths.
St. John Paul II decided to canonize 120 Chinese Catholics on October 1, 2000, all of whom were martyred, though most were killed on different dates.
He provided a small glimpse into their heroic lives during his homily on the day of their canonization:
Young Ann Wang, a 14-year-old, withstood the threats of the torturers who invited her to apostatize. Ready for her beheading, she declared with a radiant face: "The door of heaven is open to all", three times murmuring: "Jesus." And 18-year-old Chi Zhuzi, cried out fearlessly to those who had just cut off his right arm and were preparing to flay him alive: "Every piece of my flesh, every drop of my blood will tell you that I am Christian."
July 9 is designated as the official feast of St. Augustine Zhao Rong and his 119 companions, but some of these saints are also commemorated in the Roman Martyrology on the date of their death, spreading them out over multiple days in July.
Below is the listing for many of these saints as they are listed in the Roman Martyrology, the official collection of saints and feasts days of the Catholic Church. They include small biographies that are inspiring to read.
Chinese Martyrs
July 1 - At the village of Zhuhedian near Jeshui in the province of Hunan in China, St. Zhang Huailu, martyr, who, during the persecution unleashed by the followers of the Boxer sect, while still a catechumen, spontaneously professed himself a Christian and, strengthened by the sign of the cross, merited to be baptized into Christ with one’s own blood.
July 6 - At Shuangzhong near Jixian in the province of Hebei in China, Sy. Petrus Wang Zuolung, martyr, who was hanged during the persecution of the Boxers for having refused to renounce the faith of Christ in front of pagan idols.
July 7 - Near the city of Jixian in the province of Hebei also in China, St. Marcus Ji Tianxiang, martyr, who, excluded from the Eucharistic banquet for thirty years because he did not want to abstain from the use of opium, nevertheless did not cease to pray to be able to conclude piously his own life and, summoned to judgement, after having professed faith in Christ with a firm heart, reached the eternal banquet.
At the village of Hujiacun near Shenxian also in Hebei, St. Maria Guo Lishi, martyr, who in the same persecution, like a second mother of the Maccabees, exhorted to firmness of mind seven of her relatives whom she accompanied to the place of execution and, asking to be herself slain, followed those whom she had sent forth to heaven.
July 11 - At the village of Liugongyin near Anping in Hebei province in China, Saints Anna An Xingshi, Maria An Guoshi, Anna An Jiaoshi and Maria An Linghua, virgins and martyrs, who, during the persecution of the Boxers, failing in any way to their deny the faith, were beheaded.
July 14 - At the city of Nangong in the province of Hebei in China, St. Ioannes Wang Kuixin, martyr, who during the persecution of the Boxers preferred to die for Christ rather than commit even a slight lie.
July 16 - At Lüjiapo near Qinghe in the province of Hebei in China, Saints Lang Yangshi, catechumen, and Paulus Lang Fu, her son, martyrs, who, during the persecution of the Boxers, the mother being a professed Christian, died as martyrs for Christ in their house given to flames.
This is just a small selection of a remarkable group of Chinese Catholics who were martyred for their faith.
