Church

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Regarding Chinese New Year Day Mass (Special Mass)

With regards to today, Sunday, 10 February 2013, which is the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time, in some areas where Chinese New Year is celebrated by Chinese people around the world, special Mass might be adopted instead, namely the Chinese New Year Day Mass with a different set of readings from the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time.

The vestments used are also red in colour, instead of the usual green (for Ordinary Time). Even though Sundays, like Sunday of the Ordinary Time should take precedence over other celebrations, even Feasts of Saints, it seems that although Chinese New Year is a cultural event and non-Christian in origin, but it is important enough for all the Chinese people, including Chinese Christians (Catholics) that in areas where Chinese New Year is celebrated, special dispensation for Chinese New Year Mass is allowed.

Note : Red is a very auspicious and preferred colour to the Chinese, and this is why, Chinese New Year, being the most important event in the Chinese calendar year, has red all over the place, and the red vestments used in the Mass represents this symbolism of Chinese New Year. It is also a colour of joy and love in the Catholic Church, also used mainly to represent martyrs, and God’s own Sacrifice out of His love for us on Good Friday. In addition, oranges are often given out after the Mass as a symbol of blessings for the new year, with the oranges being blessed by holy water prior to distribution. This custom is special, and only occurs in Chinese New Year Mass.

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A great article from the weekly bulletin of Church of St. Francis Xavier, Archdiocese of Singapore on Chinese New Year and Its Significance to Chinese Christians

http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8402:jesus-and-qyuq-abundance&catid=187:news-mosaic&Itemid=119

This article was excellently written, especially when trying to harmonise and find the common ground between the Chinese culture and the Christian faith, which although they have their fundamental differences, there are similarities that we should not ignore.

It is fitting indeed that Chinese New Year celebration this year falls on Sunday, 10 February 2013, which is also the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time, whose readings have parallels with the core of the Chinese New Year celebrations.

Please spend some time to read this article, and especially for Chinese Christians out there, to make the Chinese New Year celebrations we have, into a truly Christian celebration. Not just of partying and feasting, but also to show and spread love and joy, and sharing them with one another, giving thanks to Christ who made all things possible.

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Pope Benedict XVI to canonise 813 Martyrs of Otranto, and religious Mother Laura and Mother Lupita in October 2013

http://www.romereports.com/palio/pope-will-announce-on-monday-date-for-canonization-for-over-800-saints-english-8965.html#.URYtnKWyCWU

Pope Benedict XVI will canonise the blessed Martyrs of Otranto, 813 of them in total, whose skulls can still be seen in the Cathedral of Otranto behind the main altar. These martyrs lost their lives defending their faith during the Ottoman invasion and raid on southern Italy in 1480, 27 years after the fall of Constantinople.

These 813 brave martyrs chose death rather than turning their back on the Lord, and were massacred by the Ottomans by beheading on the hill after refusing conversion to Islam.

Mother Laura and Mother Lupita are Latin American saints-to-be, with Mother Laura being the very first Colombian saint, and Mother Lupita as the second Mexican saint. Mother Laura and Mother Lupita were noted for founding religious congregations, namely Missionaries of St. Mary Immaculate and St. Catherine of Siena, and Handmaids of Saint Margaret Mary and of the Poor respectively.

(Pope Benedict XVI has canonised 45 Saints to date, and with these new 815 Saints, in October 2013, Pope Benedict XVI will have canonised 860 new Saints of the Church. His predecessor, Pope John Paul II canonised 483 Saints during his Pontificate.)

Let us ask the intercession of these holy peoples, that as they are being recognised finally as saints, due to their merits in life, in defending the Faith, all of us too, can follow in their footsteps, in nurturing our faith and love of God. Amen.

(Update : Since Pope Benedict XVI will retire effective at the end of February 2013, we are waiting for the election and confirmation of the next Bishop of Rome to preside over this canonisation ceremony)

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Friday, 8 February 2013 : 4th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Jerome Emiliani, and St. Josephine Bakhita, Virgin (Scripture Reflection)

We heard today of the tale of how St. John the Baptist was killed by Herod, out of Herod’s adulterous behaviour with his brother’s wife, and that wife’s hatred on John. St. John the Baptist, who had come before Christ to make straight the way for the Lord, met his death at the hands of the corrupt and immoral person who called himself the king of Judea at that time.

Who is John the Baptist? He is the cousin of Jesus, son of Elizabeth, miraculously conceived when Elizabeth was already old and barren, because the Lord desires that through her, a great prophet preceding Christ be born. St. John the Baptist indeed become the last prophet just before the coming of the Messiah, declaring to the world to repent and to be baptised at the River Jordan, in order to prepare themselves for the Messiah, who in fact at that time, had already walked on this world, in the form of Jesus, son of Mary, and Son of the Most High God.

John the Baptist’s call was heeded by many, who came to be baptised by John, and to truly repent from their sins. Nevertheless, the Pharisees and the scribes, just as they will later reject Jesus, they were also skeptical of John’s prophetic mission, and did not repent as many others do. But John managed to lay out the foundation for the later works of Christ and His disciples, just like a farmer plowing the soil preparing for it for the sower, who is Christ, who spreads the seeds on the plowed soil, fertile and ready, and thus are able to produce fruits hundredfold and thousandfold.

After Jesus was baptised by John, He arises in importance, which John in great humility said to his own disciples that just as the Lord for whom he has come to prepare the path for, is rising, he himself has to become lesser. His task in preparing the path for the Lord is complete, and in the last part of his life, which was told in the Gospel today, he was imprisoned for chastising Herod the king and his adultery with Herodias, his brother’s wife.

In ancient Jewish custom, this is actually not unacceptable for a brother to take care of a deceased brother’s wife, and take her as his own wife. Remember another story from the Bible, where the Saducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, asked the Lord about whose wife is the woman who was married to seven brothers, who died one after the other. Clearly, this custom is identified as the norm at that time, as the widow is perceived to be financially incapable of supporting herself, and therefore, it is justified for the brother to come in and take care of his sister-in-law by marrying her himself.

However, in this case, this is different because, just as Jesus later will stress, that marriage is a sacrosanct act, in which a man and woman is joined by God, and through God, this union, when made is eternal and cannot be dissolved by either man or even angels. For what God has made one, no man shall divide. This is the new commandment of the new covenant that Christ brought with His coming, and John, as the messenger of the Lord, did his last service to God by putting forward this teaching, against none other than Herod himself.

It is sad that today, many disregard the sanctity of marriage, and think that marriage is a trivial matter, and that divorce can be so easily contemplated and done. Divorce is something which should be avoided at all costs, as it directly violates what God has told us, that what He had brought together in marriage, which is a Sacrament on its own, no one, not even the husband and the wife themselves should divide back into two. It is sad that in our modern world, many take divorces lightly, and even marry again after the divorce. Many who did this, did so because they claim that they no longer love the wife, or worse that they have been tempted with lust and desire for another woman or man.

In order to maintain the sanctity of marriage, it is paramount that in the family, the faith in the Lord be kept strong, and that all actions should be carried out in love, and in accordance with God’s will. This is why it is important for couples and families, to come together and have meals together as best as they can everyday, so that they will stay close, despite challenges and temptations, and pray together, that the Lord will continue to bless them and strengthen their union, so that the evil one cannot come in between them and made them to decide to split.

Many couples are able to last for decades and many last beyond 50 years, and indeed, until death brought them apart, but not forever, since we know that we eventually will be reunited with the loved ones when we ourselves ascend to heaven at the end of our own lives. Indeed, their secret is no other than ensuring that couples constantly speak to one another from heart to heart, and coming together at all times, with their children, to pray regularly, to share the meal at the table. Remember that when more than two and three gathered in God’s name, He will be there, and will remain there with them, always.

Another story which I will bring to your attention, besides the already told story of John the Baptist, Herod, and Herodias, is the story of the divorces of King Henry VIII, the founder of the Anglican ‘church’ in his vain search for a male heir. King Henry VIII divorced his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, because she was not able to produce a male heir for him, although she did produce a daughter. His appeal to divorce her to the Pope was rejected, and King Henry VIII, displeased at the Papal disapproval went his own way and rebel from the Church, creating his own Anglican ‘church’.

St. Thomas More, King Henry VIII’s chancellor, refused to follow his king into rebellion from Rome, and chastised the king for his immoral behaviour in seeking to marry Anne Boleyn, who was to become the king’s second wife. He was asked to choose between loyalty to his king, and be given great wealth and influence as he always had before that, and thus even greater afterwards, or death if he remains faithful to the true Church. St. Thomas More abandoned all of his worldly wealth and fame, and chose to remain faithful to the Lord, and was therefore martyred.

Ultimately, King Henry VIII would kill Anne Boleyn after she herself failed to produce a male heir, and eventually married no less than four more times, with a total of having six wives and at least two mistresses, and all ultimately in vain, since even when there was a male heir, he died young, and the dynasty died out.

All that futile attempts was most damaging especially if we see how today, 80 million Christians who are in the Anglican Communion, are the direct product of this adulterous behaviour of King Henry VIII. This is an example on how if marriage is not kept as sacrosanct and indivisible in nature, not only it can affect just the two, but especially in King Henry’s case, it caused the destruction of the unity in the Body of Christ, that is the Church. Until today, we still pray and hope that all of them will eventually return soon to the true Faith and Church.

Today we also celebrate the feast of St. Jerome Emiliani, an Italian charitable man who cared deeply for the poor and orphans in early 16th century northern Italy, and died after in his pious work of service to the sick and the poor, he contracted a disease that killed him, and St. Josephine Bakhita, a Canossian nun, who was once a slave from Sudan, who after being freed from slavery, converted to Christianity and committed herself to the Lord by joining the Canossians as a nun. She was noted for her great faith in the Lord, and her dedication to Mary, His mother. She was also very much noted for her great heart and forgiving nature, seeking not revenge against her enemies, and even her former slavemasters, but rather seeking to forgive them and bless them instead.

Therefore, in the footsteps of these great saints, let us all strive, especially for those amongst us who are married, to keep our lives holy and meaningful, by doing what is good for the sake of others, just like St. Jerome Emiliani in service of the poor and the sick, by giving and sharing what we have more to those who need them more, and by our gentle and forgiving nature, following the example of St. Josephine Bakhita, who strive to keep herself pure and holy in the presence of God.

Let us pray also for the unity of all Christians, that especially for the Anglicans today, that their detachment from the Body of Christ that is the Church can soon be reversed, through our constant prayers to God, and through God’s actions, may the unity of the Church be restored. What damages King Henry VIII had done in his adulterous ways parallel to what Herod had done, in direct opposition to the Lord’s will on the sanctity of marriage, may we begin to heal through concrete attempts to reunite back the branches of the Body of Christ back onto its trunk, the Church.

Pray for us, St. Thomas More. And St. Jerome Emiliani, and St. Josephine Bakhita, pray for us all too. Pray for God’s holy Church that it will be one again, and indivisible, just like marriage, as the Lord has made His Church one, just like He and the Father is one and indivisible in the Holy Trinity. Amen.

+Ut Omnes Unum Sint+

(That they all may be One)

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Being Chinese… and being Christian. Happy Chinese New Year! (Sunday, 10 February 2013)

We are Chinese, but we are also Christian. What does this mean? Let us temper the overemphasis on prosperity and excessive focus on greatness, success, and fame, with the Christian values of humility, love, and compassion.

Remember that while the most important of all the celebrations of the Chinese culture is coming up tomorrow, namely Chinese New Year itself, after all the celebrations, the joys, and the parties, we have to settle down and prepare ourselves for the season of Lent which will begin on next Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, and 4th day of the Chinese New Year.

Share your excess graces and blessings with those who need them more, and share with them too your love and your joy. In doing this, you have gained a greater wealth that will not be lost, that is life eternal. What use is there to accumulate wealth that will eventually be lost? We will not carry our wealth with us when the time comes for us to return to the Lord.

Let us share, and while still keeping some for ourselves, it does not hurt to give as much as we can give, that all those around us will also share in our happiness. God loves those who love their brothers and sisters as themselves, and He loves those who look kindly on those weakest, least, and lowest in the society.

Happy Chinese New Year to all Chinese around the world! and may God bless you all in this coming year!

And may the Lord bless all of you too with a fruitful Lenten season which will come soon, that all of us will be ready for the celebration of the Lord’s Passion and Resurrection.

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Passing of Cardinal Giovanni Cheli (Italy), President Emeritus of Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People

http://www.gcatholic.com/hierarchy/data/cardJP2-7.htm#32

Cardinal Giovanni Cheli of Italy, who was the Cardinal Priest of Ss. Cosma e Damiano, passed away at the age of 94, on Friday, 8 February 2013. He was the Pro-President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People from 1986 to 1989, and then as the President from 1989 to 1998.

Let us pray for Cardinal Cheli, that God will indeed welcome him into His heavenly kingdom, and may eternal rest be granted upon him. Requiescat in Pace. Amen.

(College of Cardinals now stands at 209 members, with 118 electors and 91 non-electors (reduced by 1 due to the passing of Cardinal Cheli))

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Live from Rome : Papal visit to the Major Seminary of Rome (begin at 5 pm UTC on Friday, 8 February 2013)

http://www.vatican.va/video/

The Pope will visit the Major Seminary of Rome today, 8 February 2013 at 6 pm Rome time (Central European Time/UTC+1) or corresponding to Saturday, 9 February 2013 at 1 am for Singapore, Malaysia, China, HK, and other UTC+8 countries.

The other timings for other regions are Friday, 8 February 2013 at 5 pm UTC, and in New York it is on Friday at 12 pm EST (UTC-5), and on Friday at 9 am for PST regions (UTC-8).

Well, hopefully one day soon, I will be one of the students there, looking forward to my ordination as a priest at that time. Pray for me! 

Surprisingly, Italian (and Latin) is not too difficult to understand, since at the moment, in fact, my ability to understand and comprehend Italian has actually surpassed my ability to comprehend Chinese (not good, but good enough for daily conversations, and to use for basic conversations). Nevertheless, pray for me that I will be ever faithful in my journey!

+Ut Omnes Unum Sint, ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam+

(That they all may be One, for the greater glory of God)

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An excellent article on what a Coadjutor Archbishop/Bishop is (from the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Archdiocese of Singapore)

http://www.olps.sg/understanding-term-coadjutor-bishop-449#.URNZ46WyCWV

The Article :

On December 29, 2012 the Vatican announced that Rev Msgr William Goh has been appointed as Coadjutor Archbishop of Singapore. What does this term “Coadjutor” mean? Read on to find out!

It’s been all over the catholic news in Singapore since our year of 2013 begun – the news of Rev Msgr William Goh being appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Singapore. In order to understand what this all means, read this article which explains in depth what a “Coadjutor bishop” is, what he does, and why he is appointed.

What is Coadjutor?

In terms of Sacramental Character or Sacramental “powers”, a Coadjutor bishop is truly a bishop, for he receives Episcopal consecration just like the diocesan bishop. He therefore has the power validly to ordain priests, to confirm, and to consecrate other bishops.

In terms of ecclesial “title”, the Coadjutor has similar a title to the resident Bishop, or in the case of our Archdiocese, the Coadjutor is similar in ecclesial honour to our Archbishop.

However, the jurisdiction, or governing authority, of a Coadjutor bishop is another matter. Within a given diocese, the existing diocesan bishop alone has full responsibility for the entire diocese which the Pope has entrusted to his care (cf Paul VI, Muto proprio, Pastorale manus, on the powers and privileges granted to bishops, 30 November 1963. AAS 56 (1964) c. 381.1).

A Coadjutor bishop, therefore, is not to be construed as a co-leader of a diocese, as he does not have full authority over that diocese—only the existing diocesan bishop himself does.

A coadjutor bishop, as described in canon 403.3, also is given special faculties. In a sense a Coadjutor bishop can be given governing power, but it is generally limited to certain geographic sections of the diocese, or to certain aspects of it. Regardless of a Coadjutor bishop’s duties, however, the existing diocesan bishop retains ultimate authority

Why appoint a “Coadjutor Bishop”?

The exact time when a bishop will be replaced by a successor is not always predictable, of course. Obviously, a diocesan bishop can always die unexpectedly, or find himself obliged to resign (for medical or other reasons) with relatively short notice.

In these cases, there is normally a period of time—ranging from months to even years, depending on the circumstances—when the diocese is without any bishop at all. The code provides strict rules about who has authority, and in which situations, during this vacancy (cf. Muto proprio, Pastorale manus cc. 416-430).

But often it is easy for Rome to foresee that a diocesan bishop will need to step down. Usually this is due to the bishop’s age. Diocesan bishops are requested to submit their resignation to the Holy Father when they reach their 75th birthday (c. 401.1).

The Pope is not, however, required to accept it, and he may choose to extend the bishop’s tenure in his diocese for many more years if he sees fit (and, of course, if the health of that diocesan bishop permits). But the Pope can, and frequently does, accept bishops’ resignations as soon as they are submitted—and in these cases a successor naturally has to be chosen as soon as possible.

In some case, the Holy Father may decide to pre-empt the resignation of the existing bishop, and after the due process of selection of a new bishop, he may name a coadjutor bishop for Bishop X’s diocese right now.

What are the benefits?

For instance, the coadjutor bishop already knows that in June, Bishop X will resign and he himself will be the new diocesan bishop. Between then and now, this gives the coadjutor bishop a period of several months to become acquainted with the diocese, its people and its problems—and since the soon-to-be-retired diocesan bishop is still present, he can give his successor-to-be some pointers!

What are the formalities required of a “coadjutor bishop” (cf Paul VI, Muto proprio, Pastorale manus, on the powers and privileges granted to bishops, 30 November 1963. AAS 56 (1964) c. 381.1):

The Coadjutor needs to formally “take office”

Can. 404 §1 The coadjutor Bishop takes possession of his office when, either personally or by proxy, he shows the apostolic letters of appointment to the diocesan Bishop and the college of consultors, in the presence of the chancellor of the curia, who makes a record of the fact.

§3 If the diocesan Bishop is wholly impeded, it is sufficient that either the coadjutor Bishop or the auxiliary Bishop show their apostolic letters of appointment to the college of consultors, in the presence of the chancellor of the curia.

He undertakes responsibilities and appointments

Can. 405 §1 The coadjutor Bishop and the auxiliary Bishop have the obligations and the rights which are determined by the provisions of the following canons and defined in their letters of appointment.

§2 The coadjutor Bishop, or the auxiliary Bishop mentioned in can. 403 §2, assists the diocesan Bishop in the entire governance of the diocese, and takes his place when he is absent or impeded.

Can. 406 §1 The coadjutor Bishop in can. 403 §2, is to be appointed a Vicar general by the diocesan Bishop. The diocesan Bishop is to entrust to him, in preference to others, those things which by law require a special mandate.

When dealing in matters requiring decisions

Can. 407 §1 For the greatest present and future good of the diocese, the diocesan Bishop, the coadjutor can. 403 §2, are to consult with each other on matters of greater importance.

§2 In assessing matters of greater importance, particularly those of a pastoral nature, the diocesan Bishop is to consult the auxiliary Bishop before all others.

§3 The coadjutor Bishop since they are called to share in the cares of the diocesan Bishop, should so exercise their office that they act and think in accord with him.

The coadjutor’s liturgical and pastoral functions

Can. 408 §1 As often as they are requested to do so by the diocesan Bishop, a coadjutor Bishop are obliged to perform those pontifical and other functions to which the diocesan Bishop is bound.

§2 Those episcopal rights and functions which the coadjutor can exercise are not habitually to be entrusted to another by the diocesan Bishop.

He has right to succession

Can. 409 §1 When the episcopal see falls vacant, the coadjutor immediately becomes the Bishop of the diocese for which he was appointed, provided he has lawfully taken possession.

Where must he reside

Can. 410 The coadjutor Bishop and the auxiliary Bishop are bound, like the diocesan Bishop, to reside in the diocese. Other than for the fulfilment of some duty outside the diocese, or for holidays, which are not to be longer than one month, they may not be away from the diocese except for a brief period.

Episcopal Ordination Mass & Reception

The Episcopal Mass and Reception in conjunction with the upcoming Ordination of our Coadjutor Archbishop, Rev Msgr William Goh will be held as follows:

EPISCOPAL ORDINATION MASS
Date : Friday 22 Feb 2013
Time : 7.30 pm
Venue : Singapore Expo (The Max Pavilion and Exhibition Hall 9)
1 Expo Drive, Singapore 486150
Presider : The Apostolic Nuncio to Singapore, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli & assisted by our Archbishop Nicholas Chia and Archbishop Murphy Pakiam from Kuala Lumpur
Admission : Tickets will be allocated to Parishes by mid-Feb 2013
Dress Code : Smart casual

GENERAL RECEPTION (HIGH TEA)
Date : Saturday 23 Feb 2013
Time : 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm
Venue : Catholic Spirituality Centre
1261 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534796
Admission : No tickets required. Open to ALL parishioners to meet the new Coadjutor Archbishop
Dress Code : Smart casual

View article on Catholic News

OUR WISH FOR OUR COADJUTOR BISHOP

The Parishioners at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church sends their heartiest congratulations and good wishes to Coadjutor Archbishop, Rev Msgr William Goh on his Episcopal Ordination.

We pray that the wisdom and strength of the Holy Spirit will be with him as he takes on the role as Shepherd for the Church in the Archdiocese of Singapore. May the good Lord Bless, guide and protect him always!

My Personal Comments and Additions: 

Therefore, in simple summary, coadjutors are successors to the diocesan bishop, while auxiliaries are helpers to the diocesan bishop. This does not mean that auxiliary bishops cannot be selected as the successor by the Pope, but it means that this kind of succession is not automatic, whereas coadjutors are guaranteed the succession (automatic).

But coadjutors actually do not always succeed the diocesan bishop, as in some cases, some coadjutors actually died before the diocesan bishop resigned, and therefore never succeeded as the rightful diocesan bishop. In some other cases, coadjutor of certain diocese may be reassigned as a bishop/archbishop of another diocese/archdiocese before their succession).

Lastly, as there are still confusion on the nature of coadjutor archbishop’s office, they are no longer assigned any titular see, which is a formerly active diocese that had been suppressed due to lack of Christians or historical reasons (Muslim conquest, etc., which is why many titular sees are actually ancient dioceses in North Africa and Eastern Mediterranean region), and then restored as a titular diocese.

Auxiliary bishops are assigned a titular see upon their appointment as auxiliary, and coadjutor bishop/archbishop too were once (before around 1970) assigned a titular see upon their appointment. However, in present practice, coadjutors are named as Coadjutor Bishop/Archbishop of the diocese/archdiocese that they are going to succeed in (example : Coadjutor Archbishop of Singapore (Archdiocese), William Goh), and no titular see is assigned to the coadjutor.

I hope these simple explanations do help many who still have questions in understanding more on the office of the bishop and his helpers (and successor).

+Ut Omnes Unum Sint, ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam+

(That they all may be One, for the greater glory of God)

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9th Anniversary of my experience at Mass in the Catholic Church (6 February 2004 – present)

Today marks the 9th anniversary since the very first Mass that I fully participated in. That Mass was not the first Mass I ever attended, since I had attended the wedding Mass of my aunt two years before that.

However, on Friday, 6 February 2004, on the first Friday of the month, on the feast day of Saints Paul Miki and Companion the martyrs, which remained as a strong memory in my mind, is the first Mass I attended and I participated in, save for receiving Communion of course.

Yes, I was not a born Catholic, but was baptised as a teenager in September 2004. This year marks my eighth year in the Catholic faith.

I would like to thank God for His constant love for me, and His constant guidance to me. I would not be here, not even writing this blog regularly on the faith, if God is not with me since the very beginning. Thank you everyone too, for your constant support, love, and prayers.

Sts. Paul Miki and Companions, pray for me, and for all of my brethren in faith.

St. Peter the Apostle, St. Peter Canisius, and St. Michael the Archangel, my patrons, pray for me too, and also for all my brethren in faith.

King David of Israel, my namesake, pray for me, and for all of God’s beloved children.

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On China, the Faith, and the Catholic Church

http://www.firstthings.com/article/2009/05/chinas-catholic-moment-1243211148

A very well written article, summarising the condition of the faith in China and the developments (up to 2009 – sadly to say in the next few years after that until today, relations had gone from bad to worse).

A good quote from the article (2 paragraphs near the end) :

“Beijing always has such priorities as the economy, unemployment, ties with Taiwan, and relations with the United States—all good reasons to put the Catholic issue on the back burner. But Catholics could become a major issue for Beijing if radicals get the upper hand. The Chinese leadership has trouble understanding what the power of the Catholic Church is and to what extent it might represent a benefit or a danger.”

“The trouble is that Beijing thinks of the Vatican in purely political terms and cannot quite grasp that the mission of the Church is spiritual rather than temporal. China’s leaders simply do not have the historical and cultural references to understand the Church after the Second Vatican Council. Beijing wants to offer Rome a minimum presence on a trial basis, waiting to see the result. In turn, Rome is wary that the Chinese Communist party will exploit ties with Rome without making the substantial concessions required for effective communication between the Vatican and Chinese Catholics.”

China is the world’s fastest growing Christian nation, but as outlined in this article, most Chinese Christians learn about the faith from ambiguous and untrained sources, self-learning the faith rather than properly, and many of these ‘preachers’ are not even mainstream Christians at best, reason why I noticed more than half of Chinese Christian immigrants in Italy who are Jehovah’s Witness and other non-Christian entities claiming to be Christian (a data from a region in Italy mentioned about 92% non-Christians, 8% Christians, with Catholics numbering only 3.5% of the 8%, Jehovah’s Witness made the bulk of the non-Catholic Christians). This is the danger when one simply take the faith upon him/herself, and not being in communion with the whole Universal Church, where we can learn and understand the faith more and appropriately, through the teachings and traditions handed down to us from the Apostles.

Let us pray and work indeed that, all Christians in China (and beyond) will return to the One and only Church, established by Christ. China indeed is the future of the Church, and there is more than a billion potential new Catholics (and Christians) out there in that country. The faith is not necessarily against the rich Chinese tradition and culture, and in fact, the faith only serve to enrich that great culture even more. Remember yesterday’s Gospel reading, that no matter how much prosperity and affluence you have, if you have no love, you are nothing.

Faith adds this love, as the core of every being, to anchor the person firmly in God, and make them from nothing, to the greatest of all.

+Ut Omnes Unum Sint, ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam

(That they all may be One, for the greater glory of God)