Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Hang Zhou (Agenzia Fides) – The great contribution of Jesuit missionary Fr. Martino Martini to support Chinese rites, to follow the missionary line marked out by Fr. Matteo Ricci, for spreading knowledge of the Chinese world in the West and the Western World in China, have been commemorated in an academic conference recalling the 350th anniversary of the building the Cathedral of Hang Zhou, which was also fruit of his work. According to information received by Fides, there was also an examination of the current relevance of a figure like Fr. Martini, as confirmed by the Catholics present: his legacy is "a strong impulse to the mission of today, as he walked on his path journey with a sense of missionary responsibility, courage, and dedication." Thus, the Catholic community of Hang Zhou, in the Province of Zhe Jiang where Fr. Martini spent most of his missionary life, wanted to pay him homage. Six major academic figures from Chinese universities and institutions such as Catholic Faith Institute for Cultural Studies (FICS) and the Guang Qi Press of the Diocese of Shang Hai gave their contribution by presenting their studies on the life and mission of the Jesuit, in the presence of the Italian Consul in Shanghai.
Fr. Martino Martini (name in Chinese: Wei Kuang-guo, Jitai), a great Jesuit missionary, was born in Trento, Italy, September 20, 1613, and died in Hang Zhou, China on June 6, 1661. Ordained priest at Lisbon in 1639, he left for the East along with 21 fellow Jesuits in 1640. After 8 years, he made his way to China via India. He mainly worked in Hang Zhou, Lan Xi, Fen Shui in the Province of Zhe Jiang, traveling through a large portion of the empire. He made an invaluable contribution to resolving the issue of the Chinese rites, going in person to Rome to defend them. In addition to being a great missionary, he was also trained historian, cartographer, geographer, astrologer, and mathematician. He adopted the method of his missionary brother Fr. Matteo Ricci, studying the local language and working for the inculturation of faith. His most famous work is the Atlas Sinensis (1655). He became Delegate of the Major Chinese Missions of the Jesuits. Upon returning to China in 1658, he built a church with three naves in Hang Zhou (1659-61), which just now celebrated its 350th anniversary. He died shortly after the church had been finished. He also wrote several works on China, including a grammar book. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 22/01/2010)
