July 9 2019 - St. Augustine Zhao Rong and Martyrs of China - The harvest is abundant

Today we celebrate the heroic St. Augustine Zhao Rong and companions, you may not be that familiar with them, as they were only canonized in the year 2000.  They are 120 Catholics who were martyred between the years 1648 and 1930.  They were lay people, and clergy, and religious ranging in age from 9 to 72.  87 of them were native born chinese, and the rest were foreign born missionaries.

The story of the Church in china is a long and often troubled one.  Christianity arrived in the 600s. Depending on China's political situation over the centuries, Christianity was free to grow or was forced to operate secretly. The 19th century was particularly brutal.

It was then that St. Augustine Zhao Rong, a Chinese soldier became familiar with the Catholic when, when he was ordered to escort a bishop to be martyred in Beijing. Augustine was so impressed and moved by the bishop’s faith, Augustine was asked to be baptized.  He entered the seminary and was ordained a diocesan priest.  In 1815, he was arrested, tortured, and martyred.

The other martyrs we remember today include parents, catechists, laborers, and priests.  33 of the martyrs were missionaries from foreign lands who had traveled to the far-east to help plant the Christian faith in China: among them were Franciscans and Dominicans and Jesuits—men and women who heard the Master’s call, like that in the Gospel today: The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few. They gave their life to bring in the master’s harvest.

Nearly every martyr in China could have escaped martyrdom by renouncing the faith. Those missionaries knew they were going to one of the most dangerous lands for Christians in history. But they went because they believed the work of spreading the Gospel was more important than anything. They certainly lend us courage in spreading the Gospel in our own neighborhood.

At the canonization of St. Augustine Zhao and his companions in October 2000, Pope John Paul II praised them for showing “unfailing fidelity to Christ and the Church” with the gift of their lives.  Among their number was an eighteen year old boy, Chi Zhuzi, who cried out 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."

The Church in China continues to be persecuted by the Chinese government. Perhaps God allows this suffering to continue, in order to bring about more conversions, like that of St. Augustine Zhao.
In our own sufferings and prayers may we remain in solidarity with those who suffer for the faith, that we may witness to the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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Our Savior’s faithfulness is mirrored in the fidelity of his witnesses who shed their blood for the Word of God. Let us praise him in remembrance of them:

The martyrs professed their faith by shedding their blood, may we have a faith that is constant and pure.

The martyrs followed in Christ’s footsteps by carrying the cross, may we endure courageously our earthly trials and all the misfortunes of life.

The martyrs washed their garments in the blood of the Lamb, may we be helped by their prayers to avoid the weaknesses of the flesh and worldly allurements.

That all missionaries may have courage and strength in their witness to the Gospel, for an increase in priestly and religious vocations, and for increased willingness among Christians to answer the missionary call.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord