Augustine Zhao Rong
Saint Augustine Zhao Rong | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1746 |
| Died | 1815 (aged 68–69) |
| Cause of death | Martyrdom |
| Beatified | 1893 by Pope Leo XIII |
| Canonized | 2000 by Pope John Paul II |
Augustine Zhao Rong (Chinese name: 赵荣; 1746 – 1815) was a Chinese priest and martyr of the 19th century. Zhao Rong was a soldier of the Qing empire who was assigned to guard missionary priest (later bishop) Louis Gabriel Taurin Dufresse, when the latter was in custody in 1785.
Life[edit]
He was born in 1746 in Wuchuan county of Guizhou. 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. When Father Gabriel was later released from prison, he baptized Zhao Rong and 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, bishop of Sichuan. Augustine worked as a priest and was known for bringing many people to convert. He was sent to work in Yunnan.
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. Augustine refused and he died in prison from beatings in the winter of 1815. [1] [2]
Canonization[edit]
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[3]. 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'.
References[edit]
- ^ famille Chretienne, Saint Augustin Zhao Rong et ses compagnons, premiers d’une multitude de témoins, archived through https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.famillechretienne.fr%2Ffoi-chretienne%2Fsaints-et-temoins-de-la-foi%2Fsaint-augustin-zhao-rong-et-ses-compagnons-premiers-d-une-multitude-de-temoins-43480#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url, retrieved May 23rd 2024
- ^ Jan Paweł II. Świadkowie wiary. „L' OSSERVATORE ROMANO”. 1 (229)/2001. s. 30-32. M. Agnes, C. Drążek SJ. ISSN 1122-7249.
- ^ https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/homilies/2000/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_20001001_canonization.html, CAPPELLA PAPALE FOR THE CANONIZATION OF 123 NEW SAINTS HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, retrieved May 23rd 2024