July 9 | The 120 Martyrs of China

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Today, we aren't just talking about one saint. We're talking about an entire army of absolute heroes who stood their ground when the world turned against them.

Sit back and imagine this scenario for a second. You are just 14 or 18 years old and are caught right in the middle of a massive, violent, and terrifying uprising. The world around you is in total chaos, and you are suddenly dragged out and given a horrifying choice. Abandon everything you believe in and worship a false idol, or lose your life right on the spot. What would you do? Would you cave to the pressure, or would you stand tall?

Today, we are traveling back in time to witness the jaw-dropping courage of the 120 martyrs of China. This isn't just an ancient story from thousands of years ago. On October 1, 2000, Pope St. John Paul II officially canonized this incredible group of 120 Chinese saints who all died as martyrs for the Christian faith. This massive group consisted of 120 Chinese saints who all died as martyrs for the Christian faith. men, women, and even children who were mercilessly killed for their faith over a span of several centuries, between the years of 1648 and 1930.

Out of these 120 incredibly brave souls, 87 of the martyrs were indigenous to China, meaning this was their home, their deeply rooted culture, and their native land. The other 33 martyrs were foreign missionaries, mostly consisting of Priests and religious brothers and sisters who had boldly traveled across the globe to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Let's focus on two specific teenagers who proved that you do not need to be an adult to possess superhero-level courage. Let's talk about an incredible girl named Anne Wang. Anne Wang was only 14 years old. She lived through something called the Boxer Rebellion, which was a massive and bloody uprising against foreign invaders in China.

The pressure and violence aimed at Christians during this time was The Boxer Rebellion. Terrifying. When she was captured and sentenced to be beheaded for refusing to abandon her beliefs, she didn't crack, she didn't beg, and she didn't run away. Instead, right before she was beheaded, she bravely called out to the crowd, the door of heaven is open to all. Then, with her final breaths on earth, she confidently repeated the name of Jesus three times.

If Anne's courage doesn't give you full-body chills, let me tell you about another young martyr from the same group named Chi Juzi. Chi was only 18 years old and was actually still preparing to be baptized and fully enter the church. When he was captured by his enemies, he was directly told to worship false idols. He firmly refused.

His captors were furious. They resorted to unspeakable horrors, and literally cut off his right arm as they continued to violently torture him, hoping to break his spirit. But Chizuzi remained totally steadfast in his faith. Even as he faced the absolute worst pain imaginable, eventually dying after being literally skinned alive by his captors, he delivered one of the most hardcore... Unforgettable quotes in history. He famously declared to his tormentors, every piece of my flesh, every drop of my blood will tell you that I am Christian.

During their canonization, Pope John Paul II said that the stories of Anne, Chi, and the many other men, women, and children in this group are remembered for their profound conviction and joy, and that they sealed their unfailing fidelity to Christ and the Church with the gift of their lives.

So, what does this mean for you, today, in your own life? You are probably not facing a violent rebellion, and nobody is threatening your life for your beliefs. But you definitely face your own pressures. Maybe it's the intense pressure to fit in at school, the temptation to hide your faith so you don't get judged, or the urge to just stay quiet when your friends are doing something you know is wrong.

Your challenge is to practice that same unfailing fidelity as the 120 martyrs of China in the small, everyday moments of your life. This week, when you hear someone mocking your beliefs, or when you feel embarrassed to make the sign of the cross and pray before eating your lunch in the crowded cafeteria, I want you to think of 14-year-old Anne Wang. Think of 18-year-old Chi Juzi. If they could stare down an executioner and feel conviction and joy in their faith, you can absolutely stand strong in your school hallway.

Choose one specific moment today to proudly show you are a Christian. Don't hide it. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.