HONG KONG, MAY 27, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Joseph Zen led Hong Kong Catholics in celebrating the first World Day of Prayer for the Church in China, lamenting that the faithful were not allowed to make pilgrimages for the event.
Cardinal Zen celebrated Mass for about 1,400 people in Hong Kong, who also prayed the rosary and joined in a Eucharistic procession to mark the feast day of Our Lady Help of Christians.
The feast, May 24, is the date Benedict XVI declared as the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China in his 2007 letter to Chinese Catholics.
At the Mass, Cardinal Zen lamented that authorities had not sufficiently respected the Pope's naming of May 24 as a world day of prayer.
Catholics in mainland China had been advised not to conduct pilgrimages outside their provinces and municipalities. That meant, for example, that for most, it was difficult to visit the Our Lady Help of Christians shrine at Sheshan, about 22 miles from Shanghai.
Cardinal Zen affirmed, though, that “religious freedom does good to the country."
The Pope nevertheless granted a plenary indulgence for Catholics in Hong Kong, after that diocese's pilgrimage to Sheshan was canceled. Local authorities in Shanghai said it was "inconvenient" to host the Hong Kong Diocese.
The vicar general of the Hong Kong Diocese urged the faithful there to offer the indulgence for the souls of the earthquake victims in central China, still suffering the aftershocks of the powerful earthquake that killed thousands.
Meanwhile in Shanghai, some 2,400 gathered to mark the feast day. The faithful at the shrine also prayed for the victims of the quake.
Thank you
On Monday, Cardinal Zen told Vatican Radio, "We are very grateful because it is evident that the Holy Father wanted the whole Church to pray for China."
The prelate said the world day is "an unprecedented initiative: The Pope who moves the whole Church to pray for the Chinese faithful. We know with certainty that the Virgin and the Holy Spirit listen to this desire of the Pope. This abundance of prayer will certainly give its fruits."
The cardinal added: "The Holy Father, with much sincerity, has reminded everyone of the nature of the Church as the Lord established it. The Church is apostolic, and should be guided by the bishops, having as their head the successor of St. Peter.
"Unfortunately, in China today it is still not possible to fulfill this ideal of the Church, but we have had signs of growing closer. We hope that they are signs that lead to more important things, [so] that also in China, it will be possible to live this faith in peace, in joy, as the Holy Father says. In this way, it will be lived fruitfully; our faith will give fruit, also for the good of society."
Cardinal Ivan Dias, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, celebrated a Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary Major to mark the day of prayer.
Lead up
Prior to the world prayer day, in an article for AsiaNews, Cardinal Zen said, "We entrust the destiny of China and its Church in the hands of Our Lady on this day for she likes us and is very powerful. Since the situation in China is not as optimistic as some might believe, Our Lady is our only hope to tear down walls and touch hearts."
The cardinal said he is "under the impression that the authorities are too edgy about the day of prayer."
He explained: "Not only are [the authorities] creating problems for pilgrimages but they are also ordering many priests not to conduct any pastoral work during the month of May, as if this month might turn into a revolution.
"A priest from the underground Church said that since the beginning of May, he has been under the surveillance of two policemen day and night. They follow him when he goes to the doctor or the dentist.
"I can't imagine what they [the authorities] think Catholics do in May. […] Ours is a spiritual revolution that harms no one and is good for all."
Cardinal Zen noted that "this fear is something negative and runs askance of acts of friendship and closeness that have taken place in recent months, such as concerts by the Beijing Philharmonic Orchestra and the Shanghai Choir in the Vatican."
"It seems to me that these two approaches come from different levels," he said. "Positive signs come from the top leadership; negative ones come from lower down the hierarchy. The latter fear that normalizing relations between China and the Vatican might cut into their existing advantages and so they do all they can to stand in the way. The Lord and Our Lady shall, however, win."
ZE08052701 - 2008-05-27
Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-22706?l=english
Hong Kong Marks Prayer Day for Church in China
Cardinal Zen Laments Authorities Being "Too Edgy"
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