An Asian Saint a Day

Do you know when the Gospel first got to Asia?

When I ask this of fairly educated people, they often guess the 16th century, with St. Francis Xavier.

“Earlier.”

“Maybe something to do with Marco Polo in the 13th century?”

“Earlier.”

“Ummm…maybe during the Patristic period?”

“Let me help. Where was Jesus born?”1

“…Bethlehem.”

“Which is in Israel. And what continent is Israel on?”

“Oh, shoot. Asia.”

Yup. The Gospel was first preached in Asia. The angels sang Gloria in Asia, to an Asian couple with an Asian baby. The Apostles were all Asian.

But people don’t usually mean the Middle East when they say Asia. So, okay. When did the Gospel first get further east? Into, say, India?

52.

That’s a year.

52 AD.

That’s when St. Thomas took the Good News to India.

China was first evangelized in the 7th century.

Much of Asia didn’t have any missionaries sent to them until much later, but they’ve certainly made up for it in the meantime. Korea alone has 103 Saints, 124 Blesseds, and 133 Servants of God. Japan has 26 Saints and 188 Blesseds. Not to mention the many, many Middle Eastern Saints. Or the 120 Chinese. Or the thousands of Vietnamese martyrs.

Let’s just say, if all the statues in your Church are of white people, it’s because y’all aren’t looking very far from home. (Also, my celestial bestie is Japanese, so you should really get to know him.)

The Catholic Church is not a white Church. It wasn’t when it started and it sure as heck isn’t now, when it’s most alive in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

May is Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month. To celebrate, I’ll be sharing a different Asian Saint on Instagram and Facebook every day. I’d love it if you’d join me and get to know our beautiful and incredibly diverse family in heaven.

  1. You would be amazed at how often youth answer “Jerusalem” to this question. I know they know better, they’re just not thinking. []

Author: Meg

I'm a Catholic, madly in love with the Lord, His Word, His Bride the Church, and especially His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist. I'm committed to the Church not because I was raised this way but because the Lord has drawn my heart and convicted my reason. After 2 degrees in theology and 5 years in the classroom, I quit my 9-5 to follow Christ more literally. Since May of 2012, I've been a hobo for Christ; I live out of my car and travel the country speaking to youth and adults, giving retreats, blogging, and trying to rock the world for Jesus.

4 thoughts on “An Asian Saint a Day”

  1. I ❤ This so much! Thank you and God bless you for remembering our Asian saints and martyrs. Deo Gratias!

  2. Hi Meg,

    I am a catechist at a Montessori and I want to create a hands-on work about saints connected to Asia. I see you did an Instagram series in 2018 on this topic. Is there anyway I can access your daily saint photo and info to make an activity for my students?
    Thank you!
    Cathy J.

  3. This blog beautifully highlights the inspiring stories of Asian saints, offering a profound glimpse into their faith and resilience. A wonderful read that celebrates diverse spiritual journeys and cultural heritage!

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