Zhao, John Baptist and Peter, Ss.

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ZHAO, JOHN BAPTIST AND PETER, SS.

Lay martyrs, b. Beiwangtou, Shen County, Hebei (Hopeh) Province, China; d. there, July 3, 1900. Peter Zhao Mingzhen (Tchao-Ming, Chao Ming-hsi, Chao Mingxi, Zhao Mingxi, b. 1839) and his brother John Baptist (b. 1844) led a group of 18 family and friends in prayer in preparation for death following their capture by the Boxers. They intoned, "God, please help us; give us constancy so that we may sincerely offer our humble lives on to you. Please open the gates of Heaven to us and receive our souls, so that we may enjoy eternal life with you." The brothers were among the 56 martyrs beatified by Pope Pius XII (April 17, 1955) and canonized (Oct. 1, 2000) by Pope John Paul II with Augustine Zhao Rong and companions.

Feast: July 20.

Bibliography: l. miner, China's Book of Martyrs: A Record of Heroic Martyrdoms and Marvelous Deliverances of Chinese Christians during the Summer of 1900 (Ann Arbor 1994). j. simon, Sous le sabre des Boxers (Lille 1955). c. testore, Sangue e palme sul fiume giallo. I beati martiri cinesi nella persecuzione della Boxe Celi Sud-Est, 1900 (Rome 1955). L'Osservatore Romano, English Edition 40 (2000): 12, 10.

[k. i. rabenstein]