Anna was born into a Catholic family in 1886 in Majiazhuang, located in the Hebei province of China. When she was 5, her mother died and her father married another Catholic woman. She was promised in marriage at the age of 11, but made it clear that she did not wish to marry, going against custom to the consternation of all around her.
In the 19th century, aggressive commercial activities by European trading powers, especially Great Britian, forced China into the 1842 Treaty which continued the import of the highly addictive drug, opium. As economic exploitation and crisis occurred in the country, both the European missionaries and their Chinese Christian converts became targets of major persecution.
One such crisis in 1900 became known as the Boxer Rebellion, named for a secret society called Yi Ho Chuan, “Righteous Harmony Boxers”. Their goal was to drive all Europeans out and destroy Christianity.
During this time, Anna’s village was attacked by a group of Boxers. She was among a group captured, and held prisoner within the village. They were given a night to decide whether or not to renounce their faith. Anna’s step-mother decided to renounce, and tried to persuade her to do as well, but Anna refused. She said, “I believe in God. I am a Christian. I do not renounce God. Jesus save me!” The rest of the captives spent the night in prayer, and in the morning, the Boxers brought them forward to be executed in public.
Anna remained kneeling in prayer, facing the local church as a Boxer approached her. He offered freedom if she renounced, but lost in prayer, she did not hear him. He poked her forehead and she said she’d prefer to die than give up her faith. The Boxer promised her marriage to a wealthy man and comfortable life but she still refused saying she was already promised in marriage to Jesus. The soldier chopped off one of her arms and demanded she renounce but she did not respond. He cut off her other arm and she proclaimed, “The door of Heaven is open” and said Jesus’ name 3 times and exposed her neck. She was beheaded.
She was 14 years old. Anna’s faith and strength in the face of persecution, have made her an inspiration to Catholics around the world.
She was canonized in 2000 by Saint John Paul II, along with 119 other Chinese martyrs. They are collectively known as the Martyrs of China. The canonization was a significant event in the history of the Catholic Church, as it recognized the sacrifice and faith of those who suffered persecution for centuries.
She is the patron saint of youth, the innocent, and China.
Her feast day is July 9.
For God’s Glory.
