Agatha Lin Zhao
The Mother Who Chose Faith Over Family (and Faced the Ultimate Test)
Get ready for a story of fierce maternal love and even fiercer faith, folks!
Our first contender today is Agatha Lin Zhao, a 19th-century Chinese mother who faced a heart-wrenching choice: renounce her faith or lose her children. And she chose God.
Agatha was a devoted Catholic, raising her children in the faith despite facing persecution. When officials demanded she renounce her beliefs, she refused, even when threatened with the loss of her children. She understood that her faith was the inheritance she could give her children that had true and lasting value.
Her strength and conviction were extraordinary. She faced torture and imprisonment, but she never wavered. Her example inspired other Christians to remain steadfast in their faith, even in the face of immense pressure.
Agatha’s story is a testament to the power of a mother’s love and the unwavering strength that faith can provide. She was a mother, a martyr, and a reminder that true love sometimes requires the ultimate sacrifice.
She was a champion of faith, and a reminder that even in the darkest of times, the light of conviction can shine brightly.
Collect for Agatha Lin Zhao
Almighty God, who strengthened your servant Agatha Lin Zhao to choose faith above all earthly ties, and to endure suffering for the sake of your name, grant that we, inspired by her example, may remain steadfast in our devotion and courageous in our witness. Give us the grace to love you above all things, to find strength in your presence, and to trust in your promises, even in the face of adversity.
May we, like Agatha, be faithful in our love, courageous in our witness, and steadfast in our hope, that we may reflect your glory to the world.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Lucy Yi Zhenmei
The Teacher Who Taught Faith to the Bitter End
Now, let’s turn our attention to a woman who dedicated her life to teaching, even when it meant facing death. Our second contender is Lucy Yi Zhenmei, a 19th-century Chinese teacher who refused to abandon her students or her faith.
Lucy was a devout Catholic who dedicated her life to educating children in the faith. She was a dedicated teacher, a compassionate mentor, and a powerful witness to the Gospel.
When persecution broke out, Lucy refused to abandon her students. She continued to teach them, even when it meant putting herself in grave danger. She knew that her students needed her, and she was determined to provide them with both knowledge and faith.
Like Agatha, Lucy faced torture and martyrdom. She remained steadfast until the very end. Her dedication to her students and her unwavering faith made her a powerful example of courage and devotion.
Lucy reminds us that teaching isn’t just a profession; it’s a calling. She was a teacher, a martyr, and a reminder that even in the face of persecution, the light of knowledge and faith can shine brightly.
She was a champion of education and a reminder that true dedication can leave a lasting legacy.
Collect for Lucy Yi Zhenmei
Almighty God, who called your servant Lucy Yi Zhenmei to be a teacher of faith and a witness to your love, and who strengthened her to endure persecution for the sake of your name, grant that we, inspired by her example, may be faithful in our calling and dedicated in our service.
Give us the grace to impart knowledge and faith to those we teach, to remain steadfast in our devotion, and to find strength in your presence.
May we, like Lucy, be diligent in our service, faithful in our teaching, and fervent in our love, that we may reflect your light to the world.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
