Celebrating St. Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions on July 9.
St. Augustine Zhao Rong and his companions are honored as part of the 120 Martyrs of China, canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000. These martyrs—clergy and laypeople, men and women, old and young—died for their faith between the 17th and 20th centuries under waves of persecution by imperial and revolutionary authorities.
St. Augustine Zhao Rong himself was a soldier tasked with escorting a Catholic priest to execution. Moved by the priest’s serenity and courage, he converted, was baptized, and later ordained a diocesan priest. He too was eventually arrested and martyred.
The group includes Chinese lay catechists, seminarians, women, children, and foreign missionaries, all united by one thing: they bore witness to Christ in a culture where doing so brought real and often fatal danger. They persevered through torture, imprisonment, and execution, often forgiving their persecutors and praising God with their last breath.
For Catholic professionals today, this diverse band of martyrs is a stirring reminder of the cost and joy of fidelity. In our workplaces, we may not face death, but we are often tempted to silence our faith, bend ethical lines, or blend in for the sake of advancement. Augustine Zhao Rong and his companions call us to authenticity, courage, and integrity—to proclaim Christ not always with words, but with lives that bear His mark.
May these Chinese martyrs remind us that sainthood is possible for every person, in every role, in every nation.