Christianity has had a speckled history in China. It was first introduced in the seventh century and then reintroduced in the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries. The Church has not expanded into China very well for a number of reasons, including being associated with Western colonial powers in the last centuries. There have been times of growth and acceptance as well as setbacks and times of persecution. Over 120 Chinese Catholic martyrs died between 1648 and 1930. Most of them were born in China and were children, parents, catechists, or laborer ranging in age from nine to 72. They were beatified at different times, but St. John Paul the Great canonized them together in 2000.
St. Augustine Zhao Rong was originally a soldier who escorted a bishop to his martyrdom. St. Augustine was moved by his patience and eventually was baptized and ordained a priest. He was then arrested, tortured, and also martyred within months of his conversion.
"The blood of the martyrs is the seed of Christianity." This saying from Tertullilan, an early Christian apologist, is true for the Church today and in China. The Catholic Church in China has about 12 million members. However, it is still in a state of flux. There are two Catholic Churches, one the official Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association sponsored by the Chinese government, and the other, an "underground" Catholic Church. There have been some efforts to work together and try to regularize the situation but they are not complete. We pray for the intercesssion of St. Augustine Zhao Rong and the Chinese martyrs to help Catholicism to grow in China.
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