How we Catholics fail each other- A look at China

There is quite a charming little blog out of Eunice I like to visit called From The Recamier. Yesterday she reminded us of a memorial that I am sure 99.9 percent of Catholics did not even notice . That is the the memorial of Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions, Martyrs. From her post yesterday she writes in part:
Today’s saints whom we honor are a collective; Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions, Martyrs. His Companions are the 120 Chinese martyrs, all of whom died between 1648 and 1930. They were singled out because the Chinese government thought they might be loyal to China’s enemy Catholic countries. However, about ¾ of these saints were born in China. Augustine Zhao Rong himself was a soldier who converted to being a Christian; he became a priest, was arrested, and died in prison due to poor conditions in 1815.
Link

John Paul the II canonized these people in 2000. Here is is excellent homily where he explores just a few incredible stories of faith.

I am sure that if not for diplomatic reasons, he could have added countless thousands that died under the communinst regime.

This ,as I point out, could not be more timely. The Holy Father issued just two weeks ago his letter to Chinese Catholics. People ask often why do we not have more Saint?. Saints my friends are being made each day. Whether in Iraq or in the persecuted Church of China. They need our prayers. Benedict recognizes that. We see that some people did respond to the prayer campaign that the Church requested as to this letter. How did we respond? Did our Priests at our Churches ask us to offer prayers for this persecuted Church? What did we as individuals do as part of the Church Universal?

The above article brings up a great point:
Citing Tertullian, one of the early Fathers of the Church who said that the “blood of martyrs is the seed of the church,” the prefect of Propaganda Fide noted that “it is comforting to realise that the Church in China, despite the harsh persecution that has lasted five decades, is undergoing a strong numerical growth.

How true. We Catholics even here in the United States and the West benefit by the merits obtained by the blood of the martyrs.

One final note before I end this post. Catholics need to start paying attention to a heroic man. That man is Cardinal Zen of Hong Kong. President Bush angered many people both here and in China by meeting with him about a month ago. Cardinal Zen is the voice of Catholic Christians in China that cannot speak for themselves. Militant Islam is indeed a threat to the World. However I do believe Americans can walk and chew gum at the same time. Just because we have a WOT does not mean we can't pay attention to events in this ancient land. They need our prayers.

To end this post let be post the gospel that was said as to this memorial.

Gospel Reading: John 12:24-26
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.

Let us not fail our Catholic brothers and sisters in China. Remember them when you pray and encourage your Congressman to be their advocate.