Saints celebrated on the 30th of July
SAINT JOSEPH YUAN GENGYIN, MARTYR
Joseph Yuan Gengyin, born in 1853 in Hui, China (Hebei Province), was a devout and fervent Catholic husband and father.
A DEVOUT AND FERVENT CATHOLIC HUSBAND AND FATHER
In July 1900, he was compelled to bury a deceased fellow Catholic quickly without the customary prayers. At the time, a Chinese quasi-religious faction known as the “Boxers” had been carrying out a bloody persecution of Christians in China.
Joseph subsequently returned to the grave with his son that he might sprinkle it with holy water and recite the prayers for a Catholic burial.
HE REFUSED TO PROSTRATE HIMSELF BEFORE THE PAGAN IDOL
A few days later, on July 30, 1900, Joseph was in the market place when the Boxers came and demanded that he prostrate himself before the idols of a pagan pagoda. He stalwartly refused.
Several pagan friends sought to save Joseph’s life, telling the Boxers that they knew him to be an honest man and claiming that they had persuaded him to abandon the Catholic religion.
JOSEPH POLITELY THANKED HIS FRIENDS
Joseph politely thanked his friends for their solicitude, but insisted that he most certainly continued to profess the Catholic faith.
The Boxers thereupon led Joseph out to be executed. Before dying, he exclaimed, “I see the heavens opened. My God, into your hands I entrust my spirit.”
PRAYER:
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