Augustine Zhao Rong

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Saint

Augustine Zhao Rong
Saint Augustine Zhao, Santo Cristo and Saint Andrew Kim Taegon Parish Church, Bocaue, Bulacan, Philippines.
Born1746
Wuchuan, Guizhou, Qing China
Died1815(1815-00-00) (aged 68–69)
Chengdu, Sichuan, Qing China
Cause of deathMartyrdom
Beatified1893 by Pope Leo XIII
Canonized2000 by Pope John Paul II
Feast9 July

Augustine Zhao Rong (Chinese name: 趙榮; 赵荣; Zhào Róng; 1746–1815) was a Chinese Catholic priest who was martyred in 1815. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 1, 2000, as one of the 120 Martyrs of China.[1]

Life

He was born in 1746 in Wuchuan county of Guizhou.[2] He joined the imperial army of the Qing dynasty when he was 20.

During the anti-Christian persecutions in the 18th century, he was at one point put in charge of guarding Christian prisoners. In particular, in 1785, he guarded Father (later bishop) Gabriel-Taurin Dufresse when the latter was under arrest and being taken to Beijing. Zhao Rong was converted through his contact with Father Gabriel.[3] When Father Gabriel was later released from prison, he baptized Zhao Rong, who received the name 'Augustine'.

Augustine wanted to become a priest himself and received training to become a priest. He was ordained only five years after his baptism by François Pottier, Apostolic Vicar of Szechwan. He was the first Chinese-born diocesan priest.[3] Augustine worked as a priest and was known for bringing many people to convert. He was sent to work in Yunnan. In the last year of his life, he was in charge of all Catholics in the counties of Guan Xian, Jin Tang, and Wen Jiang in western Sichuan Province.[1]

During the reign of the Jiaqing Emperor a new wave of persecution occurred against Christians in China. Augustine was arrested, tortured and ordered to renounce his faith.[4] Augustine refused and he died in prison from beatings in the winter of 1815.[5][6]

Canonization

He was beatified on May 27, 1893, by Pope Leo XIII and canonized along with other martyrs of China on October 1, 2000, by Pope John Paul II.[7] He was the first Chinese priest in history to be martyred and the group of martyrs canonized in 2000 were also named 'Augustine Zhao Rong and companions'.

See also

References

  1. "Sts. Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions". EWTN. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  2. "Sts. Augustine Zhao Rong". Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  3. "Sts. Augustine Zhao Rong, priest and Companions, Chinese Martyrs". Vatican News. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
  4. "Jul 9 - St Augustine Zhao Rong (d. 1815) & many other Chinese martyrs". Catholic Ireland. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  5. Famille Chretienne: Saint Augustin Zhao Rong et ses compagnons, premiers d’une multitude de témoins archived through Wikiwix, retrieved May 23, 2024
  6. John Paul II: "Świadkowie wiary" in L'Osservatore Romano. 1 (229)/2001, pp. 30–32. M. Agnes, C. Drążek SJ. ISSN 1122-7249
  7. Cappella papale for the canonization of 123 new saints: homily of John Paul II, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1 October 2000, retrieved May 23, 2024