ASIA/CHINA - The Catholic community prepares to commemorate the deceased, a recurrence to which the Chinese give great importance, and which promotes unity and consolidation of the faith

Wednesday, 31 October 2007

Rome (Agenzia Fides) -All Saints and All Souls days, 1 and 2 November, are recurrences to which Chinese Catholics give great importance. In view of the crowds of faithful expected to come to attend the liturgical celebrations, the archdiocese of Beijing has organised two special Masses on 2 November at the city's cemetery. In the information note the diocese encourages intense spiritual preparation and prayers for the repose of the souls of the deceased. The first mass, at 10 am, presided the new Archbishop of Beijing Archbishop Giuseppe Li Shan, will be attended by various parishes: Immaculate Conception, St Michel, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, as well as the students of Beijing Seminary and communities of women religious. Other parishes will take part in the afternoon Mass at 2pm presided by Rev Li Bao Wei.
Every year the priests encourage the faithful to pray and make little sacrifices and acts of charity for the repose of the souls who have no one to pray for them. “Praying together for their dead loved ones, deepens unity among the faithful and strengthens the faith - says a priest in Beijing Pechino -. Chinese Catholics live this day in intense prayer and reflection on life and death in the light of the faith. Respect and commemoration of the dead is part of Chinese culture and tradition. In fact in China there are two days for remembering forefathers, the Catholic All Souls Day on 2 November and the national Qing Ming festival on 5 April. Christians celebrate both days with authentic, purified and faith ”. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 31/10/2007 - righe 28, parole 382)


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