Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Benedict XVI, in his letter written on May 27, 2007 to the Catholics of the People's Republic of China, expressed his desire that May 24 of every year be a Day of Prayer for the Church in China, on this day which is dedicated to the liturgical feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians, who is honored with great devotion at the Marian Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai.
According to the intentions of the Pontiff himself, the Day is primarily for Catholics in China: “I encourage you to celebrate it by renewing your communion of faith in Jesus our Lord and of faithfulness to the Pope, and by praying that the unity among you may become ever deeper and more visible.” (no. 19)
“On that same day, the Catholics of the whole world – in particular those who are of Chinese origin – will demonstrate their fraternal solidarity and solicitude for you, asking the Lord of history for the gift of perseverance in witness, in the certainty that your sufferings past and present for the Holy Name of Jesus and your intrepid loyalty to his Vicar on earth will be rewarded, even if at times everything can seem a failure.” (ibid)
Chinese Catholics, even in the midst of present difficulties normally organize prayerful events during the entire month of May, in their homes and communities. In Italy, on May 24, 2008, the Holy Father Benedict XVI asked that a Mass be said in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, which was attended by over 1,000 faithful, praying for not only the Church in China but for all Chinese people.
On the eve of the Marian feast, Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, has sent a letter out to all the Bishops of the world, reminding them of the Day of Prayer for the Church in China, inviting the Bishops and religious communities throughout the world to remember the Church and the Chinese people, especially in the celebration of the Mass.
On August 21, 1988, our beloved Pope John Paul II said the following, in a Sunday Angelus: “Our pilgrimage this Sunday takes us to the Far East, to the Shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan, in China, which was raised to the dignity of Basilica in 1942...I wish to spiritually unite myself to the pilgrimage made by the Chinese faithful, entrusting me to their prayers. Along with them, I present my act of filial devotion to Our Lady of Sheshan, entrusting her with my prayers for the entire Church, especially for the Church in China.”
Cardinal Dias also asks each of us to take part in this spiritual pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan. When making a physical pilgrimage is impossible, people can always pay homage and express personal devotion to Our Lady in their own parish or even in their own home.
All the Catholics of the People's Republic of China can, through prayer and a spiritual pilgrimage, renew also on this occasion their fidelity to the Church and actively contribute to the good of their own country. From their testimony, everyone will see that, as Pope Benedict XVI has repeated on various occasions, there is no contradiction in being devout faithful and upright citizens.
The Pope himself, in communion with the faithful of the People's Republic of China, is praying for reconciliation and mutual acceptance. Under the protection and maternal intercession of Our Heavenly Mother, the hope is that we may all experience, on this occasion, communion with the Risen Christ, united in the Universal Church, led by the Successor of Peter. (Agenzia Fides 29/4/2009)
