Gospel Jn 12:24-26
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me."
REFLECTION
"Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me."
St. Augustine Zhau-Rong was the first Chinese priest ordained in China and the first Chinese priest to be martyred in 1815
Christianity came into China around the 600's by two monks during the silk trade. They were tolerated to preach and spread Christianity until a change in the regime and Christianity was not allowed to be practiced until 1300' s. The Dominican and Franciscan friars were allowed to preach and spread the faith. But when the regime changed again, they too were asked to leave.
In the 1500's missionaries came back. This time the Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci and his missionaries used a different approach to evangelize the Chinese people. He and his
missionaries first learned the language and culture and then taught science, math, astronomy, and map making. This approach helped to pave the way to preach the Gospel. They were successful until the Church leaders in Rome criticized that they mixed Confucian religious beliefs with Catholicism. The Pope decreed that the practice of mingling Chinese beliefs with Catholicism must stop. Because of the Pope's message the ruling Chinese dynasty began to suppress the Catholic churches and missions.
In the mid-1700's five Spanish Dominicans were martyred. During this time St. Agustine Zhao-Rong became a convert to Catholicism. After he was baptized, he went into a seminary to become a priest. He was the first Chinese-born priest. The Chinese government began to persecute Chinese priests. Fr. Agustine was arrested and asked to renounce Christianity but he refused. He was tortured and died in prison of his wounds in 1815.
St Agustine Zhao-Rong was a true servant of the Father. He followed in Jesus' footsteps.
Today there are 365 million Christians who suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith. There were 4,498 Christians killed for their faith last year. These countries suffer extreme levels of persecution: Nigeria, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and North Korea.
Let us pray for our persecuted priests, brothers, and sisters in Christ. Pray for their perseverance and courage. Pray the Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
References
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