Saint Who?
Saints Who Had Family Challenges
Saint Lawrence Wang Bing
Martyr († 1858)Feast: January 28
Christian missionaries have bravely evangelized China for many centuries despite periodic persecution. When Wang Bing was born in Giuyang, China, in 1802, he was the only boy in a large family, and his Catholic parents gave him the Christian name Lawrence. But he was still a child when his parents were arrested for being Christians and were sent into exile, where they later died. Lawrence went to live with an older sister. When she was arrested for her faith, he lived with an aunt. Lawrence didn’t abandon his faith despite this persecution of his family.
When he was twenty years old, Lawrence married, and he and his wife had five children. They were poor, but they were happy. Neighbors respected Lawrence for his generosity and his faith, and he became a leader in his Christian community.
Later in life, he was invited to a nearby city to share the Gospel. So many people embraced the faith that he began to preach in other cities as well. But his success provoked jealous complaints from unbelievers. When he learned that the authorities were looking for him, Lawrence escaped to another city and joined a fellow lay catechist, Saint Jerome Lu Tingmei. They were praying together when they were arrested, and the two men were executed the next day.
Jesus our Savior, show us how to encourage
one another in sharing the Gospel with
those who do not believe.
