Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions

Biography

Augustine Zhao Rong and 119 Companions were Chinese and foreign missionaries and lay Catholics martyred during the Boxer Rebellion and subsequent persecutions (1900-1930). Augustine Zhao Rong was a Chinese priest and former soldier who exemplified the local leadership of the Chinese Church. The group included both Chinese converts and foreign missionaries from various orders, representing the Catholic faith's deep roots in China despite centuries of persecution. They were executed through various means—beheading, crucifixion, and burning—for refusing to renounce their faith or abandon their missionary work. Their martyrdoms demonstrated extraordinary courage and unwavering commitment to Christ despite torture and death. These 120 martyrs were canonized together in 2000 as a unified witness to faith transcending cultural and national boundaries. They represent the price paid for the Gospel in China and exemplify the universal Church's willingness to suffer persecution rather than compromise truth.