1900 - Anna Wang

July 22, 1900

Wei Xian, Hebei

Anna Wang. [CRBC]

One of the Wang family members martyred at Wei Xian on July 22, 1900, was little 14-year-old Anna Wang. Anna was one of the Christians locked up in the East Room by the Boxers. After a while her step mother decided to deny Christ and she stood up to go to the West Room. Suddenly, “she turned back and grabbed Anna Wang’s arm in an attempt to pull her out of the East Room. Anna cried out, ‘I want to believe in God. I want to be a Catholic. I do not want to leave the Church! Jesus, help me!’”[1] Anna Wang remained in the East Room.

When darkness fell the Boxers lit some candles that they had stolen from the church. Anna told her companions, “‘These candles are from the church. Look how beautiful the flames are! However, the glory of heaven is a billion, billion times more glorious than these beautiful flames!’ She led everyone in the evening prayers, which turned out to be their last ones.”[2] Finally only Anna Wang was left alive. An eyewitness provided the following stirring account:

“Kneeling straightly, she folded her hands and prayed loudly with her eyes looking up at the sky. She was radiant and dignified. Suddenly, she appeared to have been transcended to heaven, as if she were no longer in this world. Instead of acting as someone about to be executed, she appeared as if she were in the middle of a celebration. The head of the bandits was so surprised when he looked at her. He raised his axe, yet stopped in the middle, hesitating and murmuring to himself unintelligently. Finally, he went in front of her and appealed to her: ‘Leave your church now!’

Deep in her prayers, Anna Wang did not hear him. The bandit touched her forehead and asked her again whether she wished to deny her faith. Anna Wang woke up, took a step backward and screamed: ‘Do not touch me.’ After that, she calmed down and said: ‘I am a Catholic. I will never deny God. It is better for me to die.’”[3]

The executioner continued to have a deeply troubled conscience, and tried to tempt Anna by offering her the chance to marry into a rich family and so save her life. She calmly replied, “I will never leave my religion. Besides, I am already betrothed.” She was part of the Bride of Christ, and nothing could sway her from her dedication to the Bridegroom.

Anna’s refusal to compromise greatly incensed the executioner, who cruelly cut a piece of flesh from her shoulder and asked again, “Are you going to deny your church?”

The young girl replied, “No!”

The Boxer then cut off her left arm. Anna Wang continued to kneel, smiled calmly, and said, “The door of heaven is open.” She then whispered, “‘Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.’ Then, she extended her neck. In a flash, her head rolled down to the ground. Like a pure white pigeon, her soul zapped to the kingdom of heaven.”[4]

Two eyewitnesses later testified to strange occurrences after the death of Anna Wang. One said, “After Anna Wang was beheaded, she was still kneeling very straightly and did not fall down until a bandit kicked her body. Even after her holy body fell, she still lay on the ground very straightly.”[5] An elderly Catholic woman Wang Lau said, “When Anna Wang was martyred, I saw her ascending to heaven, wearing a blue and green silk dress with a flower crown on her head. She looked very, very beautiful.”[6]

Generations of believers in China have since gained boldness and strength from the testimony of the 14-year-old Anna Wang, who refused to compromise her faith under the most dire of circumstances.

1. www.cardinalkungfoundation.org, Christmas 2000 newsletter.
2. www.cardinalkungfoundation.org, Christmas 2000 newsletter.
3. www.cardinalkungfoundation.org, Christmas 2000 newsletter.
4. www.cardinalkungfoundation.org, Christmas 2000 newsletter.
5. www.cardinalkungfoundation.org, Christmas 2000 newsletter.
6. www.cardinalkungfoundation.org, Christmas 2000 newsletter.