Mark Ji Tianxiang was a Chinese lay Catholic and doctor. He was martyred during the Boxer Rebellion and had been an opium addict.[1][2] He was canonized in 2000 by Pope John Paul II.[3][4][5][6][7][8]
Mark Ji Tianxiang 馬克冀天祥 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Martyr | |
| Born | 1834 Jizhou District, Hengshui, Hebei, China |
| Died | 7 July 1900 (aged 65–66) Jizhou District, Hengshui, Hebei, China |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 24 November 1946, Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope Pius XII |
| Canonized | 1 October 2000, Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II |
| Feast | 7 July |
| Patronage | Drug Addicts |
Early life and career
editJi was born in Jizhou District, Hengshui, Zhili (now Hebei), China in 1834. He was a doctor and contracted a disease himself for the treatment of which he used opium, but instead of opium being a cure for him, he became heavily addicted to it. He was a pious Christian, always going to confession and mostly spending time in prayer, attending Mass, and providing free treatment to his patients. He made frequent confessions, but he was denied absolution and holy communion because the parish priest thought he lacked sorrow for his addiction since he could not overcome it. He did not receive the sacrament for 30 years, but finally after 30 years of being a faithful and regular church-goer, he was able to receive the sacraments.[5][1][2][7][8]
Martyrdom
editOn 7 July 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion, Ji and 119 other Christians were rounded up and asked to renounce Christianity, but they refused. Ji begged the rebels to kill him last so that he could encourage his family to die as martyrs, and so they would not have to die alone. He did not renounce his Catholic faith and hence was beheaded.[1][8][2][7][5]
Canonization
editMark Ji Tianxiang was beatified on 24 November 1946 by Pope Pius XII along with 120 other Chinese martyrs, including Augustine Zhao Rong, and canonized by Pope John Paul II on 1 October 2000.[7][5][9]
References
edit- ^ a b c "St. Mark Ji Tianxiang". Life Site Ministries LLC. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- ^ a b c gonzagagirl (2018-09-10). "Saint of the Month: St. Mark Ji Tianxiang". Catholic & Chronically Awesome. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- ^ Blanchard, Gabriel (2016-09-17). "Mudblood Catholic: A Reflection on St Mark Ji Tianxiang". Mudblood Catholic. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- ^ "Addict, Martyr, and Saint". Catholic Answers. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- ^ a b c d "About Us > Our Patron Saint". Intercessory Counseling and Wellness. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- ^ Manney, Jim (2011-09-22). "This Addict Is a Saint". Ignatian Spirituality. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- ^ a b c d Dee, Cathy (2019-10-24). "The life of St. Mark Ji Tianxiang: Persevering in faith despite addiction". Our Sunday Visitor. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- ^ a b c "Jul 9 – St Mark Ji Tianxiang (1834-1900), Husband, Father, Grandfather, Doctor, Martyr, Opium addict, Intercessor for addicts, patron against despair, patron of the opiate crisis | ADULT CATECHESIS & CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS LITERACY IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC TRADITION: Contemplata aliis tradere, Caritas suprema lex, or "How to think Catholic!!"". 8 July 2020. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- ^ "He was an opium addict who couldn't receive the sacraments. But he's a martyr and a saint". Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture. 2017-07-06. Retrieved 2021-07-02.