Saint of the day · July 9
St Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions
Thursday, week 14 in Ordinary Time
Liturgical colour : Green
Today, the Church remembers St Augustine Zhao Rong and his companions, a group of 120 Chinese martyrs canonized in 2000. Spanning from the 17th to the 20th centuries, these martyrs—both Chinese and foreign missionaries—suffered for their faith during times of great hostility to Christianity in China under various dynasties and governments. St Augustine Zhao Rong himself was a Chinese diocesan priest and former soldier who, after witnessing the steadfastness of a martyr, converted to Christianity and ultimately embraced the priesthood, giving his own life for the faith during persecutions in the early 19th century. The group includes lay men and women, catechists, seminarians, priests, and bishops, demonstrating the breadth of Christian witness in China.
Their lives reflect courage, fidelity, and a deep love for Christ, often amid brutal conditions and the requirement to renounce their faith or face torture and death. The Church commemorates them not only for their martyrdom but also as an encouragement to the faithful, emphasizing the universal call to holiness and missionary witness, even in the face of suffering. Their feast reminds us of the global nature of the Catholic Church and the many sacrifices made in different cultures throughout history. By honoring these martyrs, the Church prays for the growing seed of faith in China and for those who encounter persecution for their beliefs around the world.
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Mass readings
“My heart is overwhelmed within me” — Os 11, 1-4.8c-9
Thus says the Lord:
Yes, I loved Israel from childhood,
and to bring him out of Egypt, I called my son.
When I called him,
he turned away to sacrifice to the Baals
and burn offerings to idols.
It was I who taught him to walk,
supporting him with my arms,
and he did not understand that I was coming to his aid.
I guided him with kindness,
with bonds of love;
I treated him like an infant
lifted against my cheek;
I bent down to feed him.
But they refused to return to me:
shall I hand them over to punishment?
No! My heart is overwhelmed within me;
at the same time, my compassion stirs within me.
I will not act according to the fierceness of my anger,
I will not destroy Israel again,
because I am God and not man:
in your midst, I am the Holy One,
and I do not come to destroy.
– The word of the Lord.
Ps 79 (80), 2ac.3bc, 15bc-16
Shepherd of Israel, listen,
shine forth above the cherubim,
Awaken your might,
and come to save us.
From heaven above, look down and see:
visit this vine, protect it,
that which your mighty hand has planted,
the shoot that owes its strength to you.
“You received without charge: give without charge” — Mt 10, 7-15
At that time,
Jesus said to his Apostles:
“On your way, proclaim
that the kingdom of Heaven is near.
Heal the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse lepers, cast out demons.
You received without charge:
give without charge.
Do not acquire gold or silver, or copper coins
to put in your belts,
nor a bag for the journey,
nor a spare tunic,
nor sandals, nor staff.
The laborer, in fact, deserves his food.
In every town or village you enter,
find out who is worthy to welcome you,
and stay there until you leave.
On entering the house,
greet those who live there.
If the house is worthy,
let your peace come upon it.
If it is not worthy,
let your peace return to you.
If anyone does not welcome you
and does not listen to your words,
leave that house or that town,
and shake the dust from your feet.
Truly, I say to you:
on the day of Judgment,
the land of Sodom and Gomorrah
will be treated less harshly than that town.”
– Let us acclaim the Word of God.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org