Agnes Tsao Kou Ying
Roman Catholic Church, Episcopal Church (United States) | |
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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 February 19 Episcopal Church (United States) |
Agnes Tsao Kou Ying | |
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Hanyu Pinyin | Cáo Guìyīng |
Wade–Giles | Ts'ao2 Kuei4-ying1 |
Yue: Cantonese | |
Jyutping | cou4 gwai3 jing1 |
Agnes Tsao Kou Ying (28 April 1821 – 1 March 1856; also Agnes Kouying Tsao), or Cao Guiying (
Early life
Tsao was born in the small village of Wujiazhai in
When Tsao 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, Tsao was left with little to eat. Things became worse for Tsao when her husband died after two years 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 Tsao to stay with her. She also had a good understanding of the
Missionary work
One day, when the priest
Arrest and death
In 1856, when she was helping out in Yaoshan, Guangxi (near present-day Guilin), the local government decided to take some measures against the Christians living in that area. Tsao was taken into custody along with many other Catholics who were soon released; only Tsao and Chapdelaine had to stay in prison. Chapdelaine later died in prison. The county magistrate tried to persuade Tsao to deny her faith under the promise that if she did, she would be released. However, Tsao was unmoved. Then the magistrate threatened torture, but she showed no fear. Finally, on the 22nd day of the first month (Chinese calendar date), the magistrate decided on her punishment. He had her locked in a cage so small that she could only stand up. She prayed repeatedly, "God, have mercy on me; Jesus save me!" She died three days later on March 1, 1856 (Gregorian calendar date).
Beatification and canonization
Pope Leo XIII proclaimed her "
on 1 October 2000.Agnes Tsao Kou Ying is
Notes
There is a Chinese Catholic church in Markham, Ontario, named after her. As of 2015, she was one of the few canonized Chinese Catholic martyrs.[5]
See also
References
- ^ "Agostino Zhao Rong (+ 1815) and 119 Companions, Martyrs in China (+ 1648 – 1930)". Holy See. 1 October 2000.
- ^ "聖節婦曹桂英(雅妮)殉道" [Martyrdom of Saint Agnes Tsao Kou Ying]. theology.catholic.org.tw (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ "Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2018". Archived from the original on 2019-02-14.
- ^ "Chinese Martyrs". satucket.com. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
- ^ Boudreau, Evan. "Family of Faith is bringing pastor closer to his flock", The Catholic Register, January 31, 2015