St. Martha Wang (1812-1861)

FEAST DAY: July 29
CANONIZED: October 1, 2000

Saint Martha Wang was a 19th-century Chinese laywoman and martyr. Born in Zunji, China, she married and moved to Qingyian, where she and her husband grew vegetables. The couple, unable to conceive children, adopted two nephews. After her husband died, the nephews left home, and Martha operated a small inn.

A catechist’s preaching led to her conversion to Catholicism in 1852. She gave herself entirely to the service of God and moved to Guiyang, where she could attend Mass daily. There she served as a cook in a Catholic hostel for young women. Later, she worked as a cook and cleaning lady for a newly established seminary in Yaojiaguan.

In 1861, local political authorities hostile to Christianity ordered the arrest and execution of three seminarians. On July 29, Martha chose to walk with the seminarians to their place of execution despite the soldiers’ threats that she would be executed for doing so. Unafraid, she continued to accompany the condemned men. She too was arrested and beheaded.

“All four showed on their faces the peace and joy that rose from courage to die for their Catholic faith,” said a report of the executions, “as they prayed up to the last minute before entering the glory of martyrdom.”