Do names like John Ma Taishun and Mary Du Zhao ring a bell? Probably not. Right here before the \u6cb3\u5317\u9547\u70c8\u58eb\u7891 Stele we remember them. This stele stands as a solemn reminder of sacrifice. It commemorates heroes from \u6cb3\u5317\u9547. Their stories echo through time.
The \u6cb3\u5317\u9547\u70c8\u58eb\u7891 Stele honors those who perished during times of upheaval. Many died during the Boxer Rebellion. This was a period of intense anti-foreign sentiment. It swept across China around 1900.
Hebei Province suffered greatly. Both Catholic and Protestant Christians faced persecution. They refused to renounce their faith. They chose death over betrayal. The \u6cb3\u5317\u9547\u70c8\u58eb\u7891 Stele reminds us of their courage.
Consider the story of the young preacher from Cangzhou. Captured and accused, he bravely declared his faith. His ear was cut off. Mockingly, they asked if he was still a preacher. He affirmed his belief. He even offered to preach to his captors. They killed him instantly.
Think about the pretty schoolgirl and her mother. They tried to escape the Boxers. The mother was killed. The girl faced her pursuers. She asked to sing and pray before her death. Then she was hacked to death.
Remember Dong. He was a teacher in Beijing. Friends urged him to stay there. It was safer than his hometown. Dong insisted on returning home. He wasn’t afraid to die for his Lord. The Boxers seized him. They cut his body into pieces. They sent a piece to each Boxer altar.
Reflect on Pastor Hong. He led the church at Nanmeng. He was in Beijing when the Boxers attacked his congregation. Wild with grief, he wandered. Years later, someone met him in Central Asia. Hong explained he could not return. His friends were dead. Christians and missionaries were exterminated.
Consider the 31 members of the Congregational Church slain near Kalgan. Six women were thrown into a well. They were buried under stones and earth. Wan Xin was among them. He witnessed a good confession.
These are only a few stories from Hebei. Young Zhang learned of her family’s fate months later. Her parents and brother were killed at home. The \u6cb3\u5317\u9547\u70c8\u58eb\u7891 Stele stands for all these martyrs.
The Catholic community also suffered. The Vicariate Apostolic of Southeastern Hebei counted over 5,000 martyrs. Pope Pius XII examined over 2,000 cases. He beatified 56.
The Boxers massacred entire Catholic villages. One account tells of Dingxing. Boxers surrounded Catholic homes. They robbed and burned them. Those who fled were killed. They were thrown back into the flames.
Deacon Heng witnessed a Catholic family’s death. A mother and child were bound. A neighbor saved the younger child. The mother and older child were killed. The mother cried out to the Lord.
A dispute over a theatrical performance led to violence. Catholics overturned idols. The magistrate ruled in their favor. Humiliated temple officials invited Boxers. They attacked Catholic families.
The \u6cb3\u5317\u9547\u70c8\u58eb\u7891 Stele also remembers Theresa Chen Jinjie. She tried to flee with friends. She was wounded and died. Maria Wang Li refused to deny her faith. She was beheaded. Joseph Yuan Gengyin refused to worship idols. He was cut to pieces.
John Ma Taishun was a doctor and catechist. He refused to denounce his faith. He recited the Lord’s Prayer. The Boxers beheaded and burned him. Mary Du Zhao declared her faith. She and her relatives were beheaded.
Paul Wu Anjiu and his grandsons boldly proclaimed their faith. All nine family members were killed. John Zhu Wurui warned other Catholics. The Boxers beheaded him. Mary Guo Li encouraged her family to stand firm. She and her family were beheaded.
The An family attempted to flee. Four women refused to renounce their faith. They were put to death. Paul Liu Jinde waited calmly for the Boxers. He and his son were hacked to pieces. John and Joseph Wang Guixin were cousins. They were executed for their faith.
Barbara Cui Lian and her family were executed. Theresa Zhang He prayed for martyrdom. Her prayer was answered. Lang Yang and her son were killed together. Peter Zhu Rixin refused to renounce his God. He died a martyr.
The \u6cb3\u5317\u9547\u70c8\u58eb\u7891 Stele stands as a testament. It remembers these individuals. Their sacrifices remind us of faith and resilience. It is estimated that 15,000 to 20,000 Catholics died for their faith in Hebei Province. Today Hebei has a strong Catholic presence. The blood of martyrs became the seed of the Church.