ASIA/CHINA - At the beginning of the month dedicated to Mary, Chinese Catholics pray for the late Pope Francis and the conclave

Beijing (Fides Agency) - A day of community and gratitude for the gifts of grace. This is how many Chinese Catholics celebrated the feast of St. Joseph, patron saint of workers, on May 1, the beginning of the month of Mary. As always, the month of May is celebrated by the Chinese Catholic community in the spirit of widespread Marian devotion.

This year, the prayers and liturgical celebrations at the beginning of May were also marked by a special reference to communion with the universal Church. In communal prayers in churches or during processions and pilgrimages, Chinese Catholic communities referred to the Holy Year of Hope, prayed for the soul of beloved Pope Francis, and for the conclave next week, during which the cardinals will elect a new successor to Peter.

Bishops and priests invite Catholics throughout the country to live their devotion to Mary in the same way that the Virgin Mary herself did with her “fiat” spoken before the Annunciation and her closeness to her cousin Elizabeth, as recounted in the Gospel of the Visitation.

In the Diocese of Wenzhou, parishioners filled the square in front of the cathedral on Wednesday evening, April 30, for the annual opening of the Month of Mary. Members of the Rosary Society decorated the statue of the Blessed Mother with flowers and candles and prayed the Rosary together for the soul of Pope Francis, for the conclave, for world peace, and for other intentions. Traditional Marian hymns accompanied the Marian procession. The priest's homily focused on the life of Mary: “Her life was uprooted by Herod's persecution when she was young; she was widowed in her youth; she witnessed the crucifixion of her beloved son Jesus in his middle age. Nevertheless, she always kept her faith and obedience, overcoming suffering. Finally, she shared with Christ the glory of the Resurrection.” With God's grace, she “carried the burden of life.” The priest urged everyone to “renew their spiritual life.” The veneration of Mary and faith in the Resurrection, the priest concluded, “help us to walk in faith amid the trials of the world.”

In the parish of St. Joseph the Worker in Baziqiao, in the city of Shaoxing, the month of Mary began with a Mass concelebrated by 13 priests and attended by a large number of faithful.
An evening procession with the recitation of the Rosary and a liturgical celebration also took place in the parish of Ouhai, in the district of Quxi, in the diocese of Wenzhou.
In the Diocese of Shanghai, too, the processions and liturgies for the month of Mary are being carefully prepared. The diocese has published a detailed program for the organization of pilgrimages (Mass times, reservations, accommodations), especially to the Shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan. (Fides Agency 2/5/2025)

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