World Prays for the Church in China
Catholics in mainland China prayed on May 24, the day dedicated to prayers for the the Church in the country, although many were unable to visit the popular Sheshan Marian shrine in a Shanghai suburb. The number of pilgrims has not returned to the level before Pope Benedict XVI issued his letter to Chinese Catholics in June 2007 dedicating the feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians as the special prayer day and mentioning the Sheshan shrine in particular, say local sources. This was because the government-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China have issued notices since then discouraging cross-province pilgrimages during the Marian month of May, reports UCA News.
Catholics in mainland China prayed on May 24, the day dedicated to prayers for the the Church in the country, although many were unable to visit the popular Sheshan Marian shrine in a Shanghai suburb. The number of pilgrims has not returned to the level before Pope Benedict XVI issued his letter to Chinese Catholics in June 2007 dedicating the feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians as the special prayer day and mentioning the Sheshan shrine in particular, say local sources. This was because the government-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China have issued notices since then discouraging cross-province pilgrimages during the Marian month of May, reports UCA News.
Sheshan Marian Basilica at ShanghaiOn 23 May, Pope Benedict XVI mentioned the day of prayer at his reflection following the mid-day Regina Caeli, which he prayed with those gathered in St. Peter's Square. "While the faithful in China pray that the unity between them and with the universal Church continues to deepen, Catholics throughout the world -- particularly those of Chinese origin -- unite with them in prayer and in charity, that the Holy Spirit may fill our hearts especially on today’s solemnity," he said.
Virgin Most Holy, Mother of the Incarnate Word and our Mother, venerated in the Shrine of Sheshan under the title "Help of Christians", the entire Church in China looks to you with devout affection. We come before you today to implore your protection. Look upon the People of God and, with a mother’s care, guide them along the paths of truth and love, so that they may always be a leaven of harmonious coexistence among all citizens.
When you obediently said "yes" in the house of Nazareth, you allowed God’s eternal Son to take flesh in your virginal womb and thus to begin in history the work of our redemption. You willingly and generously cooperated in that work, allowing the sword of pain to pierce your soul, until the supreme hour of the Cross, when you kept watch on Calvary, standing beside your Son, who died that we might live.
From that moment, you became, in a new way, the Mother of all those who receive your Son Jesus in faith and choose to follow in his footsteps by taking up his Cross. Mother of hope, in the darkness of Holy Saturday you journeyed with unfailing trust towards the dawn of Easter. Grant that your children may discern at all times, even those that are darkest, the signs of God’s loving presence.
Our Lady of Sheshan, sustain all those in China, who, amid their daily trials, continue to believe, to hope, to love. May they never be afraid to speak of Jesus to the world, and of the world to Jesus. In the statue overlooking the Shrine you lift your Son on high, offering him to the world with open arms in a gesture of love. Help Catholics always to be credible witnesses to this love, ever clinging to the rock of Peter on which the Church is built. Mother of China and all Asia, pray for us, now and for ever. Amen!
When you obediently said "yes" in the house of Nazareth, you allowed God’s eternal Son to take flesh in your virginal womb and thus to begin in history the work of our redemption. You willingly and generously cooperated in that work, allowing the sword of pain to pierce your soul, until the supreme hour of the Cross, when you kept watch on Calvary, standing beside your Son, who died that we might live.
From that moment, you became, in a new way, the Mother of all those who receive your Son Jesus in faith and choose to follow in his footsteps by taking up his Cross. Mother of hope, in the darkness of Holy Saturday you journeyed with unfailing trust towards the dawn of Easter. Grant that your children may discern at all times, even those that are darkest, the signs of God’s loving presence.
Our Lady of Sheshan, sustain all those in China, who, amid their daily trials, continue to believe, to hope, to love. May they never be afraid to speak of Jesus to the world, and of the world to Jesus. In the statue overlooking the Shrine you lift your Son on high, offering him to the world with open arms in a gesture of love. Help Catholics always to be credible witnesses to this love, ever clinging to the rock of Peter on which the Church is built. Mother of China and all Asia, pray for us, now and for ever. Amen!
Marking this day on 24 May, together with a few friends and Fr. George Theruvel, CMF who was on a visit to Hong Kong, Frs Ezakias and Jose went on a Rosary pilgrimage, starting from the Cathedral Church to the Rosary Hill Shrine.
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