1900 - Modeste Andlauer

June 19, 1900

Wuyi, Hebei

Modeste Andlauer.

Modeste Andlauer was born in Rosheim, eastern France, on May 22, 1847. As a young man he was known for his kindness and respect for others. Andlauer entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) at the age of 25. After theological studies he was ordained a priest in 1877, and four years later was assigned to the blossoming Jesuit work in Changjiazhuang, Hebei Province. For the first few years he did little else except study Chinese and learn how to blend in with the culture. His classmates at the language school included Leon Mangin and Remigio Isore, both of whom were later martyred for Christ.

Known as a bold and gifted evangelist, over the years Andlauer forged a good reputation with locals and his fellow missionaries. They later said,

“In his work he was always faithful, doing his best, be it great or small, and he never let people know what good he had done. This was his simple, humble character. He was kind and respectful to his neighbours, and in turn was highly esteemed and loved by both believers and non-believers.”[1]

Modeste Andlauer had laboured in Hebei for 18 years when the Boxer persecution commenced. In the morning of June 18, 1900, the rebels took over the city of Wuyi where Andlauer was stationed and posted guards at all four city gates to ensure no one escaped. The Catholic believers were meeting for devotions when the Boxers captured the city. Hearing the commotion outside, many tried to escape by climbing over the walls, but Andlauer and his fellow missionary Remigio Isore came inside the church,

“shut the doors and began to pray before the altar, earnestly preparing themselves for martyrdom. At 6:00 p.m. the Boxers broke into the courtyard, smashed the church doors and killed the two priests with blows of swords and spears. This martyrdom crowned 18 years of work in China for each of them.”[2]

1. Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference, Four Jesuits Martyred in China in the 20th Century (Taiwan: Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference, September 8th Editorial Board, 2000), 8.
2. CRBC, Four Jesuits Martyred in China, 9.