Augustine Zhao Rong

Augustine Zhao Rong was born in 1746 in Wuchuan County, Guizhou, China. At twenty he entered the Qing imperial army, and in the course of the anti-Christian persecutions he was assigned to guard imprisoned Christians. In 1785 he escorted Father Gabriel-Taurin Dufresse, a missionary under arrest, on the long journey to Beijing. Moved by the priest’s faith and charity, Zhao Rong began to seek the truth of the Gospel. After Father Gabriel was released, he baptized Zhao Rong, who received the name Augustine. Newly aflame with love for Christ, Augustine discerned a call to the priesthood. After formation, he was ordained only five years after his baptism by François Pottier, Apostolic Vicar of Szechwan. Serving faithfully, he was known for bringing many to the faith and was sent to minister in Yunnan. Under renewed persecution during the reign of the Jiaqing Emperor, Augustine was arrested, tortured, and commanded to renounce Christ. He refused, and in the winter of 1815 he died in prison from beatings, honored as the first martyred Chinese priest. His feast day is July 9.