ASIA/CHINA - Devotion and gratitude of Chinese Catholics on the feast of the Assumption

Wednesday, 17 August 2022 pastoral   local churches   marian devotion  

Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - From Beijing to the vast landscapes of Inner Mongolia, from the majestic Cathedral of the Redeemer in the capital to remote suburban communities, the Catholic communities of mainland China celebrated the Solemnity of the Assumption with great devotion to the Mother of God. The prayer and the flower arrangement were a sign of filial love and special gratitude for supporting Our Lady in the life of faith of Christians and in the mission of evangelization, especially in these difficult times of pandemics, war, hunger and poverty.
On the day of the Assumption, no fewer than five Holy Masses were celebrated in the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Beijing. "Let us work together in God's plan and grace, inspired by the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary," Archbishop Joseph Li Shan of Beijing urged in his homily at the 9 a.m. Mass. The archbishop said in this context: "We must imitate the fidelity and humility of Our Lady in our daily life and always pray according to her example".
In Jiangxi province, the persistent heat did not deter believers, who went to church to celebrate their heavenly Mother with great joy and devotion. Many priests went to the local parishes to administer the sacraments to the faithful. After the solemn Eucharistic celebration led by the parish priest, the parishioners of Fuzhou laid flowers in front of the statue of Our Lady to pray for a prosperous development and a rich life of the Church in Jiangxi. The faithful also reaffirmed their desire to follow in the footsteps of Our Lady and to live the Christian life to the full.
Due to the pandemic, churches in Inner Mongolia only reopened on the eve of the Solemnity of the Assumption. In the Dong Tang church, the parish priest, who is of Mongolian origin, urged everyone to "always trust in the intercession of the Blessed Mother with a humble heart and to follow the Lord". Finally, all believers prayed for world peace, an end to the pandemic and the well-being of the people. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides, 17/8/2022)


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