Feast day: July 8
In the late 1800s, Russia, France, Britain, and Germany forced China to relinquish large portions of its territory. This heightened already powerful xenophobic elements in Chinese culture and resulted in an intense hatred of foreigners. Among others, missionaries became targets of Chinese frustration.
Saint Gregory of Grassi, born in 1833 in Italy and ordained in 1856, was the Bishop of Shanxi. Along with 14 European missionaries and 14 Chinese religious, Saint Gregory Grassi was put to death during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. He and his companions are part of this group of 120 martyrs who were canonized in 2000.
(Image in public domain-70)