Chinese Saints And Martyrs

The Jesuits, as astronomers or interpreters, were in high favor at court and the question of rites which was disadvantageous to other missionaries, did not impair their credit during the reign of K'ang-hi. Matters were different under Yung Cheng, son and successor of K'ang-hi, who in 1724 issued an edict exiling to Canton all missionaries except those occupying various offices at Court; in 1736, an edict of K'ien Lung, son and successor of Yung Cheng, prohibited the teaching of Christian doctrine under penalty of death. On 25 June, 1746, a cruel persecution broke out in Fu-kien, during which the vicar Apostolic, Bishop Sanz, and four other Spanish Dominicans, Serrano, Alcobar, Royo, and Diaz were martyred. The Jesuits Attimis and Henriquez were put to death at Su-chou on 12 Sept., 1748. A great change was made in the Christian Church at Peking, the Jesuits being replaced by the Lazarists

St. Francis Gil de Frederich Feastday: January 22 1745 Dominican martyr of Tonkin, China, and Vietnam. Born in Tortossa, Spain in 1702, Francis entered the Dominicans in Barcelona and was assigned to the Philippine missions. In 1732, he went to Tonkin and labored there. Arrested, he was a prisoner for several years and was beheaded. Francis was canonized in 1988. Bl. Lawrence Wang Feastday: January 28 1858 Chinese martyr. Born in Yuyang, Lawrence was beheaded by anti-Christian forces and received beatification in 1909.

Bl. John Gaspard Cratz Feastday: January 12 1737 Jesuit martyr in China. He was born at Duren, near Cologne, Germany, and entered the Jesuits in Macao in 1730. He went to China and was arrested in Tonkin in 1736. The next year, with Blessed Bartholomew Alvarez and others, he was put to death after horrible abuses and tortures. Bl. Bartholomew Alvarez Feastday: January 12 1737 A Jesuit martyr of Portuguese descent. He was born near Braganza, in Portugal, and joined the Jesuits at Coimbra. Sent to Tonking, Bartholomew was arrested in 1736 and beheaded the following year. Bl. Frances de Capillas Feastday: January 15 1648 The Proto martyr of China, a Dominican missionary. He was born in Old Castile, Spain, in 1608 and entered the Domini cans at Valladolid. Sent to China, Francis was successful in Fukien, China, until he was arrested as a spy by the local authorities. He was martyred as a result. Francis was beatified in 1909.