Page:Catholic Magazine And Review, Volume 3 and Volume 4, 1833.djvu/204



Of the Asiatic missions connected with the Parisian establishment of Foreign Missions, the first named is Su-chuen in the empire of China. The apostolic zeal and charity displayed by the missionaries, whom if has of late pleased the Almighty to raise up for the manifestation of his mercy to that race of pagans, and the wonderful fervour and constancy of the Christian converts during a long course of persecution, combine to render that portion of the church an object of peculiar interest. Its history presents little else than a renewal of those scenes of earlier days, when the seeds of religion were nourished into growth and maturity by the blood of martyrs. Although somewhat beyond the writer's design, he feels it requisite, for a proper view of more recent events, to open the history of this mission at a date prior to the year 1822. For the facts, however, which this a narrative will unfold, we are chiefly indebted to the periodical publications of the Association for the Propagation of the Faith.

In the annals of China, the year 1814 is remarkable for the most cruel and bloody persecution, which has ever been raised against the missionaries and the Christian faithful of that empire. Among the many glorious martyrs, who have borne testimony to the faith, the venerable Dr. Dufresse, Bishop of Tabraca and V. A. of Su-chen, stands pre-eminent. He had succeeded Dr. Saint-Martin in the apostolic vicariate in the year 1801, and had gone on in the peaceable exercise of his functions until 1814, when he was denounced to the civil authorities, and in May of the succeeding year was placed under arrest and conducted to Tchin-tou, the capital of the province of Su-chuen. He was kindly treated by the Mandarins until the 14th of September, (the festival of the exaltation of the cross) when he was summoned before the trib of the Viceroy, and sentenced to death. Contrary to the laws of China, which forbid the execution of any criminal until the condemnation has been ratified by the Emperor, the sentence was instantly carried into effect. The holy prelate present-