Witnesses of Holiness

Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Augustine Zhao Rong and his companions. A brief history tells us that from the 17th Century to the present day, Catholics of China have been subjected to several episodes of violent persecution. Some of these witnesses of faith and holiness, as one commentator described it, were raised to the altars of sainthood in the year 2000, when they were canonized by the Venerable Pope John Paul II. Those who were canonized numbered 120 and they were Chinese Catholics and foreign missionaries who were martyred from 1648 to 1930. Saint Augustine Zhao Rong was one of 29 priests (including six bishops) in this group of martyrs (Magnificat, 125). As the first part of the opening prayer says, "Father, we celebrate the memory of St. Augustine and his companions who died for their faithful witnessing to Christ. Give us the strength to follow their example" (125). We look to the holy men and women to be an example of how to live our lives and our faith. As they were witnesses of holiness for us, may we have the courage to go forth and do the same.