Agnes Tsao Kou Ying

Saint Agnes Tsao Kou Ying (Chinese Name: 曹桂英)
Born 1821
Wujiazhai, Guizhou, China
Died March 1, 1856[1]
Yaoshan, Guangxi, China
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Beatified May 27, 1900 by Pope Leo XIII
Canonized October 1, 2000 by Pope John Paul II
Major shrine St. Agnes Kouying Tsao Catholic Church (in Markham, Ontario)
Feast March 1
Saint Agnes Tsao Kou Ying
Traditional Chinese 聖曹桂英
Simplified Chinese 圣曹桂英

Saint Agnes Tsao Kou Ying (also Saint Agnes Tsao Kouying or Saint Agnes Kouying Tsao) was a Chinese martyr saint who was martyred for preaching the Gospel to the Chinese in Guangxi. Like most other Chinese Martyrs, she was a layperson, not a member of the clergy.

Early life

Agnes Tsao Kou Ying was born in the small village of Wujiazhai in Guizhou Province in 1821. Her family was a traditional Catholic family originally from Sichuan Province. Agnes later left her hometown to work in the city of Xingyi after her parents died. There, she met a Catholic woman who let her live with her. Soon, Bishop Bai came to visit Xingyi, and found out that she was without family so he took her to the local parish to learn more about Christianity. Being clever and quick, Agnes learned very quickly from the Bishop.

When Agnes became eighteen, she married a local farmer, but her brother and sister-in-law treated her as an outsider (for she was Christian), and did not consider her a part of the family. Therefore, Agnes was left with nothing to eat. Things became worse for Agnes when her husband died two years later and she was driven out of the house. In order to support herself, she took odd jobs as a helper. Then a pious Catholic widow invited Agnes to stay with her. Being a kind and generous woman, she loved to help others. She also had a good understanding of the Scriptures and the teachings of the Church. Whenever a priest visited them this widow received the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. With such an example before her, Agnes was able to cultivate her own spirituality.

Missionary work

One day, when Fr. Ma (Auguste Chapdelaine) was in town, he discovered how well Agnes knew the faith and asked her to move to Guangxi Province for some missionary work, especially for teaching the Catholic faith to some 30-40 Catholic families living there (Catholics were very few in those days). In 1852, she went out to the town of Baijiazhai in Xilan County and made it her preaching headquarters, teaching the Catholic faith to places all over Guangxi. She also taught the native Chinese how to cook and manage a household. During her spare time, Agnes even helped people babysit.

Arrest and execution

One day, however, when she was helping out in Yaoshan, Guangxi (near present-day Guilin, Guizhou) in 1856, the local government decided to take some measures against the Christians living in that area. Agnes was taken into custody along with many other Catholics, but they were soon released; only Agnes and Father Ma had to stay in prison. Father Ma later died in prison. The county magistrate tried to persuade Agnes to deny her faith under the promise that if she did, she would be released. However, Agnes was unmoved. Then the magistrate threatened torture, but she showed no fear. Finally, on January 22, the magistrate decided on her punishment. He had her locked in a cage so small that she could only stand up, but her spirit never failed. She prayed repeatedly, "God, have mercy on me; Jesus save me!" Then, on January 25, she cried in a loud voice: "God, help me!" and died.

Beatification and canonization

Pope Leo XIII proclaimed her "Blessed" on May 27, 1900, and Pope John Paul II canonized her as a Martyr-Saint on October 1, 2000.

Notes

There is a Chinese Catholic church in Markham, Ontario named after her. Today, she is one of the few canonized Chinese Catholic martyrs.

References

  1. ↑ "Agostino Zhao Rong (+ 1815) and 119 Companions, Martyrs in China (+ 1648 – 1930)". Holy See. 1 October 2000.
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