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From Bishop Mengeling

Our sister in Christ: St. Anna Wang

What would you do if your own mother told you to give up your faith?

Such was the case for 14-year-old Anna Wang of China. At the turn of the last century, a band of Boxer Rebellions captured a group of Christians and gave them an ultimatum: "The government has banned the practice of Western religions. If you renounce your religion, you will be set free; if you refuse, we will kill you." Anna's stepmother (her mother died when she was five) renounced the faith. With remarkable courage, Anna refused to do the same. After her arrest, she spent the night in prayer together with a group of friends. The following morning Anna first had to witness the execution of a 9-year-old boy along with his mother. She even had to watch the killing of a 10-month-old baby. One of the executioners grabbed the baby by the leg, cut him in half, and threw him to his dead mother. That day five women and their children were killed.

When Anna's time came, she was kneeling in prayer.

One of the soldiers gave her a second chance to deny her faith: "Give up your faith and you will live." At first Anna was silent, but she then cried out, "I am a Christian. I prefer to die rather than give up my faith." The soldier cut off her right arm and asked her a third time to deny her faith in Jesus. Anna was silent. The soldier struck her again. Anna whispered the name of Jesus three times and lowered her head. The executioner then beheaded her.

Pope John Paul II canonized Anna and 119 other Chinese martyrs on Oct. 1, 2000 in Rome.

By Fr. Jerry Vincke,
Director of Bethany House