CHINESE NEW YEAR MASS AT THE PRIORY

The Chapel of Saint Dominic’s Priory was filled to its capacity on Febuary 3, as the community and friends gathered to celebrate the first day of the Chinese New Year of the lunar calendar. A group of Vietnamese Catholics in their traditional garbs also attended the liturgy adding color and solemnity to the feast. In accordance to the calendar of the Macau Catholic Diocese, the day’s liturgical was celebrated  in honor of Our Lady of China, families came together and prayed, thanking God for the blessings over the past year and asking for the Virgin’s unconditional protection and blessings during the new year of the rabbit.

The solemn mass was presided by Fr. Athanasius Chen OP who reminded the congregation that the New Year festival is not only a celebration of Chinese culture and their way of life but also a remembrance of the faith and the struggle of the Church in China in these most difficult of times. China we celebrate the Chinese people, their faith, their culture and  their way of life.

In his homily, Fr. Jarvis Sy, OP commented on the gospel passage of the day when Mary was entrusted to the care of John at the foot of the cross. The feast reminds us of Mary’s role as the Mother of humanity. Bringing all of us to the singular grace of sonship through Jesus; and through Jesus, uniting the whole humanity into one body and one spirit He also spoke on the importance of appreciating God’s gift of eternal life, embracing everyone in love and service and creating new opportunities for creative inculturation and authentic evangelization.

After Communion, the Prior, Fr. Alejandro Salcedo, OP wished the congregation, their families and friends, a prosperous New Year, calling on the maternal protection of Our Lady of China, and asking for peace and prosperity in the world and in China.

The celebration ended with the singing of the Salve.

BACKGROUND OF OUR LADY IN CHINA

According to popular tradition, during the height of the Boxer rebellion in northern China, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in Donglu, Hebei province. The mother of Christ appeared to the Christians as protector and consoler, defender for helpless and the righteous.

During the historic Council of Shanghai in 1924, the Apostolic Nuncio Celso Constantini led all the Bishops of China to make a collegial act of consecration of China to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This consecration was to be repeated yearly on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. In 1941, Pope Pius XII approved the Marian title of “Queen of China”. With the liturgical reforms after the Council, the Chinese Bishops’ Conference (Taiwan), the feast was  transferred on the Saturday before the Second Sunday of May with the title “Our Lady of China”; while the Diocese of Macau chose that the feast be celebrated on New Year’s Day.

Through the years, this Marian title has grown more significant with China begins to take center stage in the global world and international economy. From an ecclesial perspective, it is also the most populous country where the Gospel needs to be preached and religious freedom be assured. With Mary’s intercession, may China become a beacon of light and hope for the world where family is valued, life is protected and rights be defended.

Note on the image: An officially-sanctioned image of Our Lady of China—the seated Virgin and the child Jesus seated in a throne and wearing a crown and ornate imperial Manchu gowns— was blessed and by Pope Pius XI in 1928. This image had become identified with the apparitions of Donglu. In recent years, various artists had represented the Virgin in Chinese garb and had become popular among Christian communities.

Fr. ALEXANDRO SALCEDO OP.  St. Dominic priory prior.