Our Saint of the Day was martyred during the short but bloody Boxer Uprising of 1900. 🙏
July 8, 2024
Hello John,
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In today's Saint of the Day, the story of the martyrdom of Bishop Gregory Grassi and his companions during the Boxer Uprising of 1900 is a profound and tragic part of history. These individuals, alongside many others, made the ultimate sacrifice for their beliefs and their mission. Their bravery and dedication serve as a testament to the enduring values of compassion, faith, and selflessness.
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Christian missionaries have often gotten caught in the crossfire of wars against their own countries. When the governments of Britain, Germany, Russia, and France forced substantial territorial concessions from the Chinese in 1898, anti-foreign sentiment grew very strong among many Chinese people.
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Gregory Grassi was born in Italy in 1823, ordained in 1856, and sent to China five years later. Gregory was later ordained bishop of North Shanxi. With 14 other European missionaries and 14 Chinese religious, he was martyred during the short but bloody Boxer Uprising of 1900.
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Twenty-six of these martyrs were arrested on the orders of Yu Hsien, the governor of Shanxi province. They were hacked to death on July 9, 1900. Five of them were Friars Minor; seven were Franciscan Missionaries of Mary—the first martyrs of their congregation. Seven were Chinese seminarians and Secular Franciscans; four martyrs were Chinese laymen and Secular Franciscans. The other three Chinese laymen killed in Shanxi simply worked for the Franciscans and were rounded up with all the others. Three Italian Franciscans were martyred that same week in the province of Hunan. All these martyrs were beatified in 1946,and were among the 120 martyrs canonized in 2000.
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Reflection
Martyrdom is the occupational hazard of missionaries. Throughout China during the Boxer Uprising, five bishops, 50 priests, two brothers, 15 sisters and 40,000 Chinese Christians were killed. The 146,575 Catholics served by the Franciscans in China in 1906 had grown to 303,760 by 1924, and were served by 282 Franciscans and 174 local priests. Great sacrifices often bring great results.
Francis did not see himself far removed from God’s love. Rather, he saw that the movement of the Father’s love for the Son, the reaching out of the Father for the Son, is the same movement of love that reached out to Francis and continues to reach out and embrace us humans and creation. The love of the Father for the Son is the same divine love for all creation. In his “Earlier Rule” he prayed:
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All-powerful, most holy, Almighty and supreme God, Holy and just Father, Lord King of heaven and earth we thank You for Yourself for through Your holy will and through Your only Son with the Holy Spirit You have created everything spiritual and corporal … We thank You for as through Your Son You created us, so through Your holy love with which You loved us You brought about His birth as true God and true man.
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This is quite an incredible insight—to realize that we are embraced by the Father through the Son. Our lives, according to Francis, are enveloped in the mystery of the Son for it is the Son who pleases the Father in everything. God is a God of prodigal love who longs for our return and reaches out with open arms, but the only way we can enter this embrace is through the Spirit who joins us to the Son who then leads us to the Father.
Ilia Delio, OSF, shows how the Franciscan way can offer all Christians an intimate and wholehearted approach to prayer. Franciscan Prayer: Awakening to Oneness with God
Sometimes it is difficult to see the value in our labor. We take much for granted–including our work. Caught up in routine we forget to take satisfaction in what we do, while others struggle to find gainful employment. Let us pray to cherish our hard work.
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Pray
Jesus, you came to us as a carpenter’s son. You called fisherman to be your closest disciples. Your Church was built with the hands of laborers. You know the value of labor. Give me today a spirit of gratitude for the fruits of my work. Amen.
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Act
Whether you are employed, own a business, or are seeking employment, all of us have work to do. Take a moment to reflect on something you do that you may take pride in, and thank God for it.
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Today's Pause+Pray was written by Clifford Hennings, OFM. Learn more here!
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