Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - Chinese Catholics are making intense preparations, although with discretion, for the first Day of Prayer for the Church in China declared by the Holy Father Benedict XVI in the Letter to Chinese Cathoolics published June 30, 2007. The Novena and Rosary are the favored prayers of Chinese Catholics, because “they are the best means for venerating the Blessed Mother who sustains us, who has given us the strength to persevere in the faith in the midst of difficult circumstances,” one elderly member of the faithful on the continent told Agenzia Fides.
A priest from Beijing told Fides: “the parishes have begun the novena, in accord with the intentions of the Holy Father, but also for the earthquake victims. The recitation of the Rosary is constant. We have, therefore, discrete modes of preparing, i.e. incarnating the faith in our everyday lives, without too much advertising and slogans. We pray and give testimony to our faith in Charity, in Love, especially in this moment of national tragedy. In the churches, we are praying the prayer personally written by the Pope and raising funds for the earthquake victims.”
According to information sent to Fides, one year after the publication of the Pope’s Letter the Catholic community in Beijing sees itself as more united; faithful from both the community that is recognized by the Government and that which is not are often seen at daily Mass. “Not to mention the presence in liturgical celebrations,” one pastor said, “the Pope’s appeal for unity has already yielded abundant fruits. And now, with the raising of funds for the earthquake victims, we have seen the unity of the Catholics - without distinguishing those of the community recognized by the Government and those form the one not recognized. We are one, thanks to the Pope’s recommendations. The day after the publication of the Pope’s prayer, all of us had a copy of the prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan with the text of the Holy Father in our hands.” The faithful of Beijing have made a great effort in distributing the Pope’s prayer, delivering it personally to other members of the faithful and reciting it every day.
In He Bei, a stronghold for Chinese Catholicism, the community recognized by the Government and that not recognized, have begun collaborating one year ago, in spite of difficulties. “We have a solid reference. Whenever differences arise, we take out the Pope’s Letter and we resolve everything, whether it be problems in the life of the Church or problems with authorities.” A local priests says, “We resolved the problem with the ecclesiastical territories in Jul Lu, Diocese of Xing Tai. The community has never been so united as it is today. We form missionary groups together, we pray together, and participate in the social activities.” Now they are all praying for the first Day of Prayer for the Church in China with the prayer written by the Pope.
In the province of Shan Dong, where the Shrine to Our Lady and Saint Joseph is located, the faithful of the Diocese of Ji Nan and the Diocese of Yan Zhou are living the preparations with intense spiritual meaning. There is a constant flow of pilgrims who arrive to the Shrine. Many of the parishes pray the Rosary together every morning, and now they are also praying the prayer written by the Pope. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 23/5/2008; righe 42, parole 561)
