Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and companions

<p>The 19th century was a time of Christian persecution in China. Imperial edicts imposed the death penalty for evangelization, as well as for the education and ordination of priests. Father Augustine Zhao Rong was a Chinese diocesan priest who had been a soldier. It was while he was escorting a missionary priest from France that he was converted and baptized. He then studied at a seminary and was ordained. In 1815, he and 119 companions were tortured and martyred, having refused the offer of clemency if they abandoned their faith. They were canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000.©2011 <em>Living with Christ, </em>Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., <strong>http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/</strong&gt;. Reprinted with permission.</p>