Lucy Yi Zhenmei
Encyclopedia
A native of Mianyang
in Sichuan
, China
, St. Lucy Yi Zhenmei was born on December 9, 1815, and was the youngest member in her family.
Lucy was a very pious child, to the extent that she made a commitment to chastity
at 12 years of age.
As she matured she developed a love for reading and study. At 20 years of age, in the midst of her higher education she grew very ill. After her recovery Lucy took her spiritual life still more seriously. She devoted herself to the discipline of prayer
with great devotion, assuming a way of life much like that of a religious while continuing to assist in the support her family. Her mother taught her how to spin, which also became part of her daily life. http://www.chinesemartyrs.org/chinese_saints/19-e.htm
After her father died, she lived with her brother and mother, using part of her leisure time to teach the faith to children nearby. The parish
priest
, who asked her to teach at the school in Mianyang, noticed her devotion and reliable knowledge of her faith
. After four years, her brother went to Chongqing to practice medicine, and Lucy and her mother moved with him. In Chongquing, the priest also asked her to help teach the women in the parish. When she was offered money for her work, she refused to take it and offered her work to God.http://www.chinesemartyrs.org/chinese_saints/19-e.htm
A few years later, her brother moved back to Guiyang, during which time her mother died. Full of enthusiasm for spreading the Gospel
, she went on doing missionary work. However, for her own safety she decided to stay at the convent
of lay
virgins
. Shortly after, her failing health forced her to move back home again. In 1861, Bishop
Hu asked her to teach once more at the convent. In spite of opposition from relatives, she returned to work there.http://www.chinesemartyrs.org/chinese_saints/19-e.htm
In 1862, she went with Fr. Wen Nair to open a mission in Jiashanlong, but just then the administrator of Guizhou Province, Tian Xingshu, began to stir up hatred against Christian
s, which the local magistrate supported. As a result, Zhang TienShen, Wu ShueSheng, Chen XianHeng and Father Wen were all imprisoned and sentenced to death without a formal trial
. On February 18, the day of their execution, they met Yi ZhenMei on the road. She was also jailed and put on trial that very day and sentenced to death, because she refused to renounce her faith. The following day at noon, February 19, 1862, she was beheaded. Brave believers took the bodies of all five martyrs to the Liuchonnguan seminary grounds for burial.http://www.chinesemartyrs.org/chinese_saints/19-e.htm
Pope John Paul II
canonized St. ZhenMei Lucy Yi and her companions, the Martyr Saints of China
on October 1, 2000. Her feast day is celebrated on 19 February in the Roman Catholic Church
.
Mianyang
Mianyang is the second largest prefecture-level city of Sichuan province in Southwest China. Its administrative area includes the city proper of Mianyang, with 985,586 inhabitants in the built up area , the county-level city of Jiangyou, and six counties, covering an area of over and a population...
in Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, St. Lucy Yi Zhenmei was born on December 9, 1815, and was the youngest member in her family.
Lucy was a very pious child, to the extent that she made a commitment to chastity
Chastity
Chastity refers to the sexual behavior of a man or woman acceptable to the moral standards and guidelines of a culture, civilization, or religion....
at 12 years of age.
As she matured she developed a love for reading and study. At 20 years of age, in the midst of her higher education she grew very ill. After her recovery Lucy took her spiritual life still more seriously. She devoted herself to the discipline of prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
with great devotion, assuming a way of life much like that of a religious while continuing to assist in the support her family. Her mother taught her how to spin, which also became part of her daily life. http://www.chinesemartyrs.org/chinese_saints/19-e.htm
After her father died, she lived with her brother and mother, using part of her leisure time to teach the faith to children nearby. The parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, who asked her to teach at the school in Mianyang, noticed her devotion and reliable knowledge of her faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
. After four years, her brother went to Chongqing to practice medicine, and Lucy and her mother moved with him. In Chongquing, the priest also asked her to help teach the women in the parish. When she was offered money for her work, she refused to take it and offered her work to God.http://www.chinesemartyrs.org/chinese_saints/19-e.htm
A few years later, her brother moved back to Guiyang, during which time her mother died. Full of enthusiasm for spreading the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
, she went on doing missionary work. However, for her own safety she decided to stay at the convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
of lay
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
virgins
Consecrated virgin
In the Catholic Church a consecrated virgin is a woman who has been conscrated by the church to a life of perpetual virginity in the service of God. Consecrated virgins are to spend their time in works of penance and mercy, in apostolic activity and in prayer, according to their state of life and...
. Shortly after, her failing health forced her to move back home again. In 1861, Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Hu asked her to teach once more at the convent. In spite of opposition from relatives, she returned to work there.http://www.chinesemartyrs.org/chinese_saints/19-e.htm
In 1862, she went with Fr. Wen Nair to open a mission in Jiashanlong, but just then the administrator of Guizhou Province, Tian Xingshu, began to stir up hatred against Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
s, which the local magistrate supported. As a result, Zhang TienShen, Wu ShueSheng, Chen XianHeng and Father Wen were all imprisoned and sentenced to death without a formal trial
Trial
A trial is, in the most general sense, a test, usually a test to see whether something does or does not meet a given standard.It may refer to:*Trial , the presentation of information in a formal setting, usually a court...
. On February 18, the day of their execution, they met Yi ZhenMei on the road. She was also jailed and put on trial that very day and sentenced to death, because she refused to renounce her faith. The following day at noon, February 19, 1862, she was beheaded. Brave believers took the bodies of all five martyrs to the Liuchonnguan seminary grounds for burial.http://www.chinesemartyrs.org/chinese_saints/19-e.htm
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
canonized St. ZhenMei Lucy Yi and her companions, the Martyr Saints of China
Martyr Saints of China
The Martyr Saints of China, or Augustine Zhao Rong and his 119 companions, are saints of the Roman Catholic Church. The 87 Chinese Catholics and 33 Western missionaries, from the mid-17th century to 1930, were martyred because of their ministry and, in some cases, for their refusal to apostatize...
on October 1, 2000. Her feast day is celebrated on 19 February in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
See also
- Consecrated lifeConsecrated lifeThe consecrated life in the Christian tradition, especially the Roman Catholic Church, but also the Anglican Church and to some extent other Christian denominations, is, as the Roman Catholic Code of Canon Law states: "a stable form of living by which faithful, following Christ more closely under...
- Martyr Saints of ChinaMartyr Saints of ChinaThe Martyr Saints of China, or Augustine Zhao Rong and his 119 companions, are saints of the Roman Catholic Church. The 87 Chinese Catholics and 33 Western missionaries, from the mid-17th century to 1930, were martyred because of their ministry and, in some cases, for their refusal to apostatize...
- Chinese MartyrsChinese MartyrsChinese Martyrs is the name given to a number of members of the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church who were killed in China during the 19th and early 20th centuries. They are celebrated as martyrs by their respective churches...