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Franciscan Martyrs in South Hunan
 Antonius Fantosati - Bishop
In 1842, Antonius Fantosati was born to Domenico and
Maria Bompardre in Santa Maria in Valle. His Franciscan vocation was
fostered in the novitiate at the Friary of Spineta. After studies in
Cerreto, he made his solemn profession on July 28, 1862. Ordained in
Carpineto Romano, he celebrated his first Mass there on June 13,
1865. Two years later he accepted the invitation from Minister
General, Fr. Bernardinus of Portogruaro, to become a missionary in
China, with a group of 9 others led by Msgr. Zanoli, OFM, Vicar
Apostolic of Hubei. He left Trevi on October 10th, 1867,
visited Hong Kong on Nov. 30, and arrived at Wuchang, Hubei, on
December 15th. By January 6th, 1868, he reached
Shiyan, 400 km from the capitol, Laohekou, extremly north of the
country. In 1870 he was appointed Vicar of Shiyan and five years
later transferred to Lauhekou. Respected by both Christians and
non-Christians, he became a friend to all classes of people. After
serving the Christian communities for eighteen years, after the death
of Msgr. Billi, he was made the Apostolic Administrator of Upper
Hubei on June 22, 1878. In 1880, after attending the regional Synod
of Hankou, he was chosen Vicar General by Msgr. Banci, the Vicar
Apostolic. On July 11, 1892, he was appointed Vicar Apostolic of South Hunan
and found that it was a land of struggle and sorrow. In his work of
reconstruction and preaching of the faith, he encountered systematic
opposition from the authorities and indifference from the people.
During the widespread persecutions at the end of the century, Bishop
Fantosati met martyrdom. On July 6, 1900, returning by boat to
Hengyang with Fr. Gambaro, he heard the bad news of what awaited
them, but he did not hesitate, saying, "If we have to die, we will die together." Nearing the city, he was told of the death of Fr.
Cesidio by fire and the destruction of the church and orphanage. As
they arrived, several fishing boats attacked. They knocked down the
Bishop with a rudder, stoned him and beat him with sticks. He could
still bless Fr. Gambaro who died after 20 minutes, but he suffered
two hours of agony after he was stabbed in the back by a bamboo stick
spiked with steel. He died on July 7, 1900 at the age of 58.
 Joseph M. Gambaro - Priest
Joseph Gambaro was born on August 7,
1869, in Galliate, Novarar Province, to Pacifico and Francesca
Bozzolo. From early infancy, they gave him a strong moral
upbringing. His early education was in the Franciscan School
of Monte Mesma in Turin, Province of San Diego. He entered the
novitiate and completed his high school studies at the Friary of
S.Maria delle Grazie, Voghera. Arriving in China in March of 1896, he took over
the responsibility of the religious formation and program of studies
for the candidates in the local seminary. After that, he was assigned
to supervise the Christian community of Yongzhou, where he was
welcomed with enthusiasm. His martyrdom was identical with that of his
Bishop, Antonius Fantosati. However, it lasted only twenty minutes
and when he regained consciousness for a while, as he made the sign
of the cross and the Bishop gave him a blessing. Both died the same
day, July 7th, 1900.
 Cesidio Giacomantonio - Priest
Cesidio was born on August 30, 1873 in Fossa Aqulina, Italy. His
parents were Giovanni Giacomantonio and Maria Antonucci and his
baptismal name was Angelo. As a boy, he made frequent visits to the
nearby Franciscan monastery of S. Angelo in Ocre, and felt
God¡|s call for him to join the monastery. In 1891, his
postulancy was done at St. Giuliano in Aquilina and he also made his
motivate there, changing his name to Cesidio. On December 8, 1892, he
made his first profession and three years later his solemn
profession. In 1897, after studies in S. Guiliano, he was ordained a
priest. The very next year, after a period of manasteries of Capertrano
and Magliano dei Marsi, he was called to Rome by Fr. Luigi Lauer, who
had promoted the Franciscan missionary outreach. There he entered the
International College of St. Anthony as a candidate for the foreign
missions. During the 1899 vacation, he met Fr. Luigi Sonsini in
Abruzzi. This veteran apostle of China and Vicar General of Eastern
Hebei Province encouraged his desire for the missions in China. In
October of that year he left for the Far East with the blessing of Pope Leo XII and of
Fr. Lauer, who meantime had become Minister General of the
Franciscans. He arrived in Hengyang on Christmas Day. After a short rest from his journey to Haungshuawan, he was sent
to a small community in the eastern part of the province. Over there,
his activity and prayers prepared him for martyrdom. Less than a
month later, rumors of persecutions began to circulate and the Boxer
Rebels made a surprise attack on the main residence in Hengyang on
July 4, 1900. Fearful that the Blessed Sacrament would be profaned,
Cesidio rushed to the chapel without considering his own life in
danger. The fanatic crowd wounded him with lances and sticks and
wrapped him, half dead, in a blanket soaked in petrol. Thus, they set
it on fire and he completed his martyrdom before he reached the age
of twenty-seven.
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