Augustine Zhao Rong

Life events

1. Born — 1746

   Zhao Rong was born in 1746 in Wuchuan county, Guizhou, in the southwest of the Qing empire.

2. Other — 1766

   At around age 20, Zhao Rong enlisted in the imperial army of the Qing dynasty.

3. Other — 1785

   As a Qing soldier during the 18th-century anti-Christian persecutions, Zhao Rong was assigned to guard Father Gabriel-Taurin Dufresse, a French missionary under arrest being transported to Beijing. Sustained contact with Dufresse led to his conversion.

4. Baptized — 1786

   After Dufresse was released from prison, he baptized Zhao Rong, who received the Christian name Augustine.

5. Ordained — 1791

   Only five years after his baptism, Augustine Zhao Rong was ordained a priest by Francois Pottier, Apostolic Vicar of Szechwan, becoming one of the earliest native Chinese Catholic priests.

6. Other — 1791

   After ordination, Augustine was sent to work in Yunnan province, where he was noted for bringing many people to convert.

7. Imprisoned — 1815

   During a renewed wave of anti-Christian persecution under the Jiaqing Emperor, Augustine was arrested, tortured, and ordered to renounce his faith; he refused.

8. Martyred — 1815

   Augustine Zhao Rong died in prison from beatings in the winter of 1815, refusing to the end to renounce his faith under the Jiaqing persecutions.

Relationships

Documented claims

• Augustine Zhao Rong was the first Chinese priest in history to be martyred for the faith, according to the Vatican canonization record. (likely)
• Zhao Rong converted to Christianity while serving as the soldier charged with guarding Father Gabriel-Taurin Dufresse, the same man who subsequently baptized him. (likely)
• Pope Leo XIII beatified Augustine Zhao Rong on May 27, 1893, 107 years before his canonization in 2000, an unusually long interval between the two stages. (certain)
• The 120 Martyrs of China canonized October 1, 2000, bear the collective name 'Augustine Zhao Rong and companions,' making him the titular figure of the entire group. (certain)
• Zhao Rong was ordained a priest just five years after baptism by Francois Pottier, Apostolic Vicar of Szechwan, reflecting the urgent need for native Chinese clergy during a period of foreign-missionary suppression. (likely)