Homily: Feast of Augustine Zhao Rong
Feast of Augustine Zhao Rong
China has over a billion people and has been one of the places that Christian missionaries have gone to for hundreds of years. Missionaries from throughout the world have had limited success. Many have paid for their ministry with their lives.
There are twelve million Chinese Catholics in China today. Perhaps the numbers of converts are not the measure of the vibrancy of the Chinese church. The tenacity of Chinese Catholics is what should impress us. The persecution of the church has been almost continuous.
Today, we remember Augustine Zhao Rong who lived in the early 19th century. As a young man Rong was a soldier. One of his assignments was to guard a missionary Bishop named John Dufreese as he was taken to Beijing to be executed. Dufreese impressed Rong with his serenity in the face of certain torture and death. He decided that he would become Christian.
Augustine Rong had to know that becoming a native-born Chinese Christian would make him a target for anti-Christian persecution, but he not only converted to Catholicism, he became a priest. In the end, he himself was martyred.
It is often said that from the blood of martyrs, springs the life of the church. When non-Christians see believers, who are willing to die for what they believe, that leaves an indelible mark on their consciousness.
China is the home of great religions and a rich culture. There has always been a tension as Western powers came to China to colonize the country. Their ministry caused a violent reaction from the Chinese. When missionaries have shown respect for the Chinese, the missionary efforts have had more success, and Christianity has found a place in the society. And when the Chinese people have seen the conviction of faithful Christians in the face of persecution, it cemented Christianity’s place in China.
Reflection Questions:
- Do I resent religions other than Christianity gaining influence in my community? How should I feel towards people of other faiths?
- If a person really lives their Christianity out in their everyday life, can that lead others to the faith? How can I apply my Christian beliefs to my life right now?
Dear Parishioners,
The collection of items for the Second Hand Sale has started. Culemans Hall is filling up. I was over at the hall today and there are some nice items. If you have merchandise to drop off, please bring it by.
The monies will go toward paying for the restoration of one of the windows in the church. The committee generously pledged to donate the proceeds to this cause. Unfortunately, the pandemic put a crimp in their plans. Please be generous and help them pay off the pledge they made. Please click here for more details.
Remember that we are now having Mass 6:30 a.m. Tuesday-Fridays. So far, we have been having about 20 congregants. Word of mouth is the best advertisement. Tell your friends about this early morning worship opportunity.
May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you today.
Fr. Mark