BISHOP FERDINAND HAMER is probably the most outstanding CICM martyr. Dutch-born Father Hamer began his journey to China with the first group of four CICM priests, including the founder, Father Verbist, and one lay helper. Soon after arriving in China he was alone among the Chinese in East Mongolia hardly able to stammer a few words of the language.

In 1875 Ferdinand Hamer (pictured right with his companions) became the first bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Kansu and in 1889 he was transferred to the Apostolic Vicariate of Southwest Mongolia, a territory as large as the state of Virginia. Bishop Hamer, although still not very fluent in Chinese, was loved by the Chinese Christians for his extraordinary goodness, his compassion for all the suffering and his great spirit of prayer.

In 1899 a sinister sect was spreading in North China. Its members called themselves "the United Fists for Peace and Justice" which Europeans incorrectly shortened to "Boxers". These Boxers hated all foreigners and their followers. They also wanted to uproot Christianity and wipe out every trace of it. In the months of July and August 1900, they inflicted an extremely painful trial on our missions. Bishop Hamer ordered his missionaries to care for their own security, but he himself wanted to stay with the Christians. With genuine magnanimity he was ready to give his life for them.

Shortly, the Boxers took him prisoner. For four days he underwent interrogation after interrogation, derision, humiliation and all kinds of refined tortures. On July 24 the heroic leader was atrociously put to death. Three poles were tied together to form a tripod furnished with an iron hook at the top. Bishop Hamer was stripped of his clothes and covered with cotton cloth which was then soaked with oil. Then the victim was tied and hooked at the top of the poles with his feet up and head down. The cotton was set afire. There was a dreadful scream, and then the martyr became silent forever.