n his letter to the clergy, religious, and laity of the Catholic Church in China, Pope Benedict XVI proposed that May 24, a day “dedicated to the liturgical memorial of Our Lady, Help of Christians, who is venerated with great devotion at the Marian Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai”, could be “an occasion for the Catholics of the whole world to be united in prayer with the Church which is in China”.
The Pope then asked the members of the Church in China themselves to keep May 24 as a day of prayer for the Church in China, and said that, on that 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”.
Our Holy Father wrote: “I would like that date to be kept by you as a day of prayer for the Church 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. I remind you, moreover, of the commandment that Jesus gave us, to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us, as well as the invitation of the Apostle Saint Paul: "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our
Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim 2:1-4).
The image to the right is a picture of a model of the statue located at the top of the bell tower of the Marian Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai, which was elevated to the status of Minor Basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1943 and thus became the first basilica of the Far East. Since then, millions of pilgrims have gone to the basilica, especially during the month of May, to venerate Our Lady of Sheshan, Help of Christians, and many miracles have been attributed to her intercessions.
Pope Benedict XVI concludes: “May Mary Most Holy, Mother of the Church and Queen of China, who at the hour of the Cross patiently awaited the morning of the Resurrection in the silence of hope, accompany you with maternal solicitude and intercede for all of you, together with Saint Joseph and the countless Holy Martyrs of China… I assure you of my constant prayers and, with affectionate remembrance of the elderly, the sick, the children and young people of your noble Nation, I bless you from my heart.”
Following are suggested Prayer Intentions for the Church in China, to be used as Novena during during the month of May or as intentions for the Rosary or other forms of prayer.
That all families in China may live according to God’s will.
That there may be an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life in the Church in China.
That all of China may come to believe in God.
That all the clergy, religious, and laity in China may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding to live in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God (cf. Col 1:9–10).
That all faith communities in China may faithfully follow God’s guidance.
That there may be a just sharing of God’s creations among the people in China.
That the particular Churches in China may all be in communion with the universal Church.
That all the different religions in China may co-exist in harmony through religious dialogues.
That the particular Churches in China may all be reconciled with each other.
Pope: Prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan
Prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan: "Mother of China and all Asia"
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!
(From Xaverian News)