ASIA/CHINA - On the national day for commemorating the dead, 5 April, Catholics pray for their loved ones in a Christian spirit

Thursday, 6 April 2006

Beijing (Fides Service) - Chinese Catholics live Qing Ming the national Day for the Commemoration of the Dead in April 5 in the spirit of the Christian faith. According to a local church source in Beijing Qing Ming is an opportunity to help Catholics live an authentic faith, inculturated but purified. The priest explained, “the tradition of commemorating the dead is over 2,000 years old and with the passing of time superstitions and materialistic aspects have crept in. For example for many people the custom of putting flowers and incense on the graves of the dead has degenerated and today, in this time of consumerism and bad taste, people tend to put paper models of houses, cars, other luxury objects and even money on the graves of their loved ones. We strive to purify these secular aspects. As Christians we recall our loved ones with Mass, with profound reflection. During Lent this is the best form of inculturation. We also have another reason, to recall our beloved Pope John Paul II”.
Qing Ming falls usually in Lent or the Easter Season and for Chinese Catholics it is lived in the Christian spirit. Besides commemorating the dead with the universal Church on November 2, around 5 April every year Chinese Catholics have masses said for the departed loved ones and visit the graves and the Catholic cemetery is crowded like it is on November 2. (Agenzia Fides 06/04/2006 Righe: 23 Parole: 262)


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