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There are two famous Marian shrines in China. One is the
national shrine dedicated to our Lady of Sheshan in Shanghai. The
other is dedicated to our Lady of Dong Lu in Hubei. The Shrine at
Sheshan is under the control of the Patriotic Association while
Dong Lu remains with the loyal underground Roman Catholic Church.
The devotion to the Holy Mother in the village of Dong Lu began
in the early 1900's. Every year, hundreds of thousands of
pilgrims came to pray before Our Lady of Dong Lu.
During the month of May this year, not only all roads leading to
Dong Lu were cut off by the Government, but also tickets for all
modes of transportation to Dong Lu and its neighboring towns were
selectively sold only to those whom the authority identified as
non-Catholics. Yet people came from all over the country. They
walked or biked days and nights covering hundreds of miles. Cars
and trucks drove on little known paths to avoid the Government
troops. They all came to the "Hill of the Blessed
Mother" to pray. On the sides of the statue, there is a
couplet this year. On one side, it said: "The
serpent's head is crushed. Under whose feet was it
defeated?" On the other side: "My child,
what are you afraid of? Mother is at your side."
On another wall, there was a huge notice announcing the accident
injury of the Pope and requesting prayers and sacrifice for his
recovery.
Twenty-four hours a day for thirty-one days in May, tens of
thousands of people knelt before the statue with both hands
folded in front of their chests. After such a long suppression
under the Communist government, they could no longer control
their emotions and their love for Mary. Many cried openly without
any restrain, because they had finally come home and knelt at the
feet of their Mother Mary. They simply poured their hearts out to
Mary who in turn looked at them with the most understanding smile
and motherly love. There was so much to tell their Mother. After
40 years of persecution, how desperately they were in need of
Mary. "Mother of the Church and queen of China, have
pity on your children! You have always been keeping the suffering
Church in China in your heart, showing solicitude for our
sufferings, our weaknesses, and understanding for our needs. Do
not leave us. Only under your protection and direction, we have
not fallen into the trap of the devil. Grant us the courage to
continue our fight. Dear Mother, we beg you to look after the
Church in China and to save us."
Many faithful carefully touched Mary with their rosaries and holy
pictures for a brief moment, and these rosaries and holy pictures
became a priceless possession to them. There were young, old,
disabled, sick, and strong. One could see a sea of humanity
stretching over the field, all kneeling and praying with their
hands folded. Not one person could be found distracted or talking
casually. One lady and her child knelt in front of Mary. While
embracing her child, tears covered the woman's face. Next to her
was a middle aged man. He too was weeping and praying. Both of
them were engaged in a deep conversation with Mary. There were
literally tens of thousands like them - weeping, praying and
talking to Mary. No doubt, they were all getting the consolation
from Mary after such harsh persecution with no end in sight. No
doubt, they were offering all their sufferings to Mary not only
for the future of the Roman Catholic Church in China, but also
for their Holy Father and the Universal Church. No doubt, they
were all happy to have arrived in this Hill of the Blessed Mary
against great personal risks and financial sacrifice.
May the 24th is the most important feast day of Mary in China.
The sky was overcast. It began to drizzle. The underground Church
has no church in Dong Lu. The Mass was celebrated in the open
field. About eight o'clock in the morning, the procession for the
Holy Mass was about to start. Four bishops and about 120 priests
arriving from underground dioceses all over China concelebrated
the Mass with the main celebrant His Excellency Bishop Su
Chi-Min, the auxiliary bishop of Baoding. The procession also
included over 100 seminarians, 200 nuns, many deacons and minor
seminarians. Just at this time, the drizzle became steady pouring
rain and the rain became heavier. The procession continued.
Nothing could stop their devotion to their Most Holy Mother.
Imagine the scene. There were over fifty thousand pilgrims. Few
had umbrellas. Most have only a piece of vinyl sheet. When they
saw the priests, seminarians, and nuns proceeding in the rain
without any covers, they pushed forward trying to offer whatever
protection their umbrellas and vinyl could bring. In an instant,
all were wet and soaked. But their spirit was at the highest,
marching and singing in the rain. They were soaked in the love of
Mary and in the grace of God. It cleansed their hearts and souls.
With renewed vigor and determination, together with the entire
loyal underground Church, they marched fearlessly against the
storm of persecution. No storm could stop their march. No
persecution could crush them. With their heads held high, the
suffering Church marched on, proud to show their faith and to
share the cross of our Redeemer. The crucified Christ will be the
risen Christ. The storm will make way for the sunny days.
The Mass started. Every one knelt down in the mud. From more than
fifty thousand faithful, the sound of hymns and prayers waffled
through the fields rising directly to heaven. The experience was
very inspirational. The history of the Church came into my mind.
From the persecution of the Church in the Qing dynasty to the
current communist regime, the schismatic Patriotic Association,
the imprisonment and torture of bishops, priests, nuns, and
faithful, the thousands of martyrs, the destruction and
confiscation of the Church properties , the ban on religious
activities - all testifying vividly that the Roman Catholic
Church is moaning under the persecution of the communist
government, praying for the mighty God's mercy to save them.
Regardless of all the hardships, the Mass of May 24, 1994 in Dong Lu must be, we dare to say, the dawn of the recovery of the Roman
Catholic Church in China.
"My eyes are getting blurry. Tears and rain drops are
mixed together, cascading down my body, penetrating my heart."
Mass is still in process...and will never end. The history of the
struggle of the Church in China is like a Mass itself which,
having been offered to the Lady of China, is accepted by our
merciful Lord. After the storm of the persecution, with the seeds
of martyrdom, the Church in China will grow with new
vitality."
Our Lady of China, Our Lady of She Shan, Our Lady of Dong Lu,
pray for us.
Biography of Ignatius Pin-Mei Cardinal Kung (Gong)
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