China Remembers Matteo Ricci

China together with the Catholic Church has rightly acknowledged the contributions of the great Pioneering Italian Jesuit Missionary to China, Matteo Ricci, whose 400th death anniversary was commemorated on 11 May 2010. Macau Bulletin attempts to look into some of the events of the past months to mark the 400th anniversary:
A Documentary Film on " A Jesuit in the Kingdom of Dragon"

On May 11 2010, the Church commemorated the four hundred years since the death of Matteo Ricci, Jesuit missionary in China, and one of the greatest evangelists of this country, who opened the way for the inculturation of the Christian message and gave impetus to the dialogue between East and West. In the context of these celebrations was made a documentary titled "Matteo Ricci, a Jesuit in the Kingdom of the Dragon" which tells the life of this missionary in the land of the Rising Sun. The 60-minute film was shot in Italy and China and enjoys the patronage of the General Curia of the Jesuits and the Diocese of Macerata, where Matteo Ricci was born.

Gjon Kolndrekaj, as the documentary filmmaker, was the first ever to be allowed free entrance by the Chinese government to film in places like the Forbidden City. Kolndrejak shared what struck him about the figure of Matteo Ricci: "Because he fascinated me as a figure….. First as a man, and then as a man of faith. This awareness and knowledge that he wanted to convey of the greatness that all us people of goodwill can reach."

To commemorate the anniversary of the missionary, Benedict XVI sent a message praising the Jesuit, saying that "his example remains as a model for today of fruitful meeting between the European culture and the Chinese."

Kolndrekaj: "He brought our faith as a witness to a people who knew nothing of this faith, but he also made that race known to Europe. This is an extraordinary thing because it means that he went on to create an intercommunication through to their logical capacities. Therefore I believe that such a character will be remembered in future generations."
Shanghai diocese puts Ricci in focus for year
Shanghai diocese launched its “Year of Matteo Ricci” on May 11, the 400th death anniversary of the pioneering Italian Jesuit missioner to China. The special “year,” which ends on Dec. 11, aims to boost evangelization work among priests, nuns and laypeople, said Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian of Shanghai at the ceremony.
The event was held in Sheshan Seminary on the outskirts of the city. The Matteo Ricci year is “not only a commemoration, but also has practical significance” for Catholics on how they can continue the priest’s work of adapting the faith to Chinese culture, said the prelate. Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Xing Wenzhi of Shanghai said Father Ricci followed Chinese customs, understood Chinese culture well and treasured his friendship with Chinese intellectuals. He “deserves to be the model for our diocese in spreading the Gospel in these fast-changing times,” he said.

Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian (center) greeting Massimo Roscigno

Massimo Roscigno, the Italian consul general in Shanghai who attended the event, said people should follow Father Ricci’s example of forging “friendship between China and Italy.” He pointed out that if the priest had not had help from his best Chinese friend Paul Xu Guangqi, he could not have completed his writings in Chinese or translated Chinese classics into Latin. Bishop Xing told UCA News that the diocese would ask all priests to promote Father Ricci’s spiritual values.

Activities during the seven-month program include a seminar, a hymn and prayer gathering, and a priestly ordination to close the special “year.” The May 11 ceremony was held after the conclusion of the diocesan pilgrimage held at Shanghai’s Sheshan Marian Shrine the same day. About 1,000 Catholics gathered at the hilltop Minor Basilica of St. Mary to pray for strength to follow in the footsteps of Father Ricci.After the Mass, they were given leaflets promoting the sainthood causes of Father Ricci and Xu.
Xu-Ricci institute launched in Shanghai
The Fudan University in Shanghai launched its Xu-Ricci Dialogue Institute on May 11, the 400th death anniversary of the pioneering Italian Jesuit missioner to China, Father Matteo Ricci.The institute, which comes under the university’s School of Philosophy, hosted a colloquium that day to commemorate the priest’s contribution to East-West dialogue.

Participants at the Fudan University forum in Shanghai

The new center is named after Father Ricci and his closest Chinese friend, Paul Xu Guangqi, the first Catholic in Shanghai. According to French Jesuit Father Benoit Vermander, co-director of the institute, it is the first Chinese academic center to bear these two names. The institute aims to promote academic research, the teaching of religious studies, and comparisons between Chinese and Western cultures and philosophies. About 70 Chinese and foreign scholars in the fields of economics, philosophy and religious studies attended the May 11 colloquium, which saw participants discussing religious dialogue and the challenges faced by the Chinese and global communities.
Ricci digital dictionary launched
Many of them also attended the launch of the digital edition of the Grand Ricci, a Chinese-French dictionary, at the Shanghai Museum later in the evening. The dictionary, billed as the largest Chinese-foreign language dictionary in the world, is published by the Taipei Ricci Institute. Father Ricci came to mainland China in 1583 and spent 27 years here until he died in Beijing on May 11, 1610.

The world map drawn by Fr. Ricci

The Jesuit, known as Li Madou among the Chinese, is widely regarded as the founder of modern-day Christianity in China and a pioneer of East-West cultural exchange. He and Xu, a Catholic scholar and imperial official, collaborated closely to translate Western texts into Chinese, and Confucian classics into Latin. Although Father Ricci did not leave his mark in Shanghai, his Jesuit confrere Father Lazzaro Cattaneo introduced Catholicism here in 1608 at the request of Xu. Shanghai gradually became a major center for the Jesuits’ missionary activities in eastern China, particularly after foreign powers forced China to open its doors in the mid-19th century.On 16 of May, Fr. Rossa together with his brother and his family were in the cathedral of Beijing, the place where the Fr. Matteo Ricci was working 400 years ago. In the photo are: Fr. Rossa, CMF, brother of Fr. Rossa, Victor, Bety his wife and their daughter Andrea.

Hopes for Ricci’s helper to become a saint too
Catholics are hoping that Paul Xu Guangqi, the first Catholic in Shanghai, may also be proclaimed a saint along with Father Matteo Ricci. Italian Jesuit Father Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) and Catholic Chinese imperial official Paul Xu Guangqi (1562-1633) collaborated closely in Beijing to translate Western texts on mathematics, hydraulics, astronomy, trigonometry and geography into Chinese.
They also translated Confucian classics into Latin so as to introduce the dominant Chinese philosophy to Europe. Father Ricci arrived in Beijing in 1601 and the Chinese emperor allowed him to stay in the capital until his death on May 11, 1610. His native Macerata diocese in Italy re-launched the process of his beatification in January.
Some Shanghai Catholics told UCA News that they hoped Xu could also enjoy the same honor, as their diocese would begin a similar process soon. Xu, a Shanghai-born bureaucrat, agricultural scientist, astronomer and mathematician of the Ming dynasty, first met Father Ricci in 1600 and was impressed by his knowledge and holiness.Xu was baptized three years later and took on the name of Paul. He then invited another Jesuit priest to spread the Gospel in his birthplace. His family became the first Catholic family in Shanghai.
Xu died in Beijing in 1633 and was buried in today’s Xujiahui district in downtown Shanghai, where his family used to live. In 1847, Jesuit missioners built their missionary headquarters on a large piece of land in Xujiahui.
Ricci exhibition in Shanghai
Father Ricci and Xu translated Euclid’s Elements, the mathematical and geometric treatise by the Greek mathematician, and their work is on display at the Shanghai Museum from April 3-May 23. Shanghai is the second stop of the touring exhibition titled Matteo Ricci: An Encounter of Civilizations in Ming China, which would coincide with the Shanghai World Expo, which runs from May to October.

The exhibition has attracted crowds of visitors, including local priests, nuns and laypeople. They described it as “worth seeing” and “very fruitful.” The exhibition is organized by Italy’s Marche Region, which covers Macerata, to mark the death anniversary of Father Ricci and the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Italy. The 113 exhibits come from museums in mainland China and Italy. In the Photo: Justin, brother of Fr. Rossa and his family at the Museum of History in Shanghai where the exhibition on Matteo Ricci is arranged