HONG KONG (SE): Pope Francis sent special greetings to Catholics in China on Sunday, May 24, on the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, when the Chinese Catholics “venerate the Blessed Mother with particular devotion at the sanctuary of Sheshan” on the outskirts of Shanghai.
“Let us unite ourselves spiritually to the Catholic faithful in China,” Francis said, in his telecast address from the papal library of the Apostolic Palace following the Regina Coeli prayer.
“Let us entrust to the guidance and to the protection of our Heavenly Mother the pastors and the faithful of the Catholic Church in that great land, so that they may be strong in faith and firm in fraternal union and be joyful witnesses and promoters of charity and hope,” Pope Francis said, as he invited Catholics throughout the world to join in this prayer for Catholics in China.
He then addressed them with some personal words. “My dear Catholic brothers and sisters in China, I would like to assure you that the universal Church, of which you are an integral part, shares in your hopes and supports you in your trials. She accompanies you in prayer for a new effusion of the Holy Spirit, you that the light and beauty of the Gospel, God’s power for the salvation of those who would believe, may shine in you. While once again expressing my profound and sincere affection for you all, I impart upon you a special Apostolic Blessing. And may Our Lady always keep you.”
To mark the occasion in Hong Kong, Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission organised an online Mass concelebrated by Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun and Father Carlos Cheung, along with a talk by Father Jacob Kwok Wai-ki.
Father Kwok in his talk shared about a tradition to venerate Mary started among the Chinese Catholics in Donglu, a village in Baoding, Hebei province, after Our Lady was said to have appeared to them in their stand against members of the Boxer Rebellion in 1900.
He said devotions to Mary remind people of her role as a mediator and intercessor in the history of salvation and that she protects people in the midst of their trials.
In his homily, Cardinal Zen encouraged the faithful not to be disappointed when confronted with the challenges of the world as Mary has been journeying with us in the same way as she did with Jesus.
“We may not be able to see an immediate result of what we pursue. But there are many examples that encourage us to keep our faith till the end,” he said.
In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI declared May 24 the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China in an act of solicitude and solidarity with the faithful there.
