Last Chinese Trappist monk to survive Maoist persecution dies at 108

Father Benedict Chao, the worldʼs oldest Trappist monk and the last survivor of the community that suffered communist persecution in China, died at the age of 108 on July 31 in Lantau, Hong Kong.

The Order of Cistercians of Strict Observance reported that Chao was born in 1918 in Chengting, Hebei Province, China. He entered the monastery in Hebei in 1941, made his solemn profession in 1947, and was ordained a priest in 1949.

He lived as a monk for 79 years and as a priest for 77. His funeral is scheduled for Aug. 14.

According to AsiaNews , Chao also served for more than 20 years as superior of the Trappist community on Lantau.

Tweet Persecuted by communists In 1941, at the age of 23, Chau entered the Abbey of Our Lady of Joy, also known by its French name, “Liesse,” meaning “jubilation.”

According to AsiaNews, the monastery was occupied by Japanese troops in 1937 and several monks were imprisoned and killed.

However, the worst was yet to come when the Chinese dictator Mao Zedong took control of the region.

In 1947, the same year Chao made his solemn vows, the Abbey of Our Lady of Consolation in Yangjiaping was attacked. The monks were tortured and forced to leave…