This translation and annotation of Sister Ying Mulan’s autobiography offers a moving reflection on the sufferings and faithfulness of a devout Catholic serving in a difficult century. Her life testifies to the important roles that women play in church and society, and it also documents the challenges of Chinese Catholicism, revealing how believers must navigate the competing demands of patriotic nationalism and membership in the ‘official’ and universal church.

Tobias Bradner, associate professor, Divinity School of Chung Chi College, Chinese University of Hong Kong

This autobiography of the Catholic sister Ying Mulan offers rare glimpses into Christian life in China from the 1950s to the present – an account of a moving spiritual journey and an important testimony of turbulent times. Francis Morgan’s English translation provides helpful annotations on the historical context and on the Chinese Catholic Church.

Barbara Hoster, PhD, Monumenta Serica Institute, Sankt Augustin, Germany