1900 - Peter Wang Zuolung

June 7, 1900

Jizhou, Hebei

Peter Wang Zuolung. [CRBC]

Peter Wang Zuolung was born in Shuangzhong village in Jizhou, Hebei Province. As a boy he attended the Catholic seminary and established a solid foundation in the faith. This foundation helped Peter throughout his life, and his death. He was one of numerous Catholic martyrs who refused to save his life by renouncing Christ. When he was asked to deny the Lord, Wang responded, “Absolutely not! We are a Christian family and have been so for generations. I cannot deny my faith. I want to go to heaven right now.”[1] The Boxers decided to spend some time torturing Wang before granting his desire. They

“took him outside the temple and hung him up on a flag pole by his queue (pigtail), so that his feet were two or three feet above the ground. They then used incense sticks to burn his skin. Under that torture he still offered himself wholeheartedly to God and devoutly recited his prayers. Soon he became unconscious.”[2]

When he came to, a group of bystanders who were moved by his suffering urged Wang to save his life by giving up his faith. He refused, and was led to the outskirts of the village and hacked to death. The corpse was left exposed to the elements and was eaten by dogs. Peter Wang Zuolung’s life ended horrifically, but his spirit lives on in heaven, secure in a place with no more pain or suffering.