May 24---Shenzhen, not Sheshan
This morning I went to Mass at St. Paul's in Nantou (Shenzhen) for the 8 am Mass. I must confess that I wasn't sure until I arrived if this Mass was for the Sichuan earthquake victims or for the May 24 Papal intentions. I was too sick to attend Mass last Sunday, and I received a text message this week from one of my friends not to forget to attend the Saturday Mass.
After I arrived it was pretty clear what the Mass intentions was. The priest and Deacon were in white, and the congregation was already singing a Marian hymn. I understood enough of Father's homily to know that he was talking about the Blessed Mother (Maria transliterates into Mandarin) and Lourdes, Fatima, and Guadalupe, as well as something about Sheshan and the Chinese church (Zhongguo Jiaohui).
Following the dismissal from Mass we proceeded to the Marian grotto for a short prayer service. We sang another Marian hymn, the priest prayed, and we closed with yet another Marian hymn.
I am pretty sure that Father, like just about everyone else in the world, read the Pope's prayer in between the Marian hymns. I may have gotten some video of that, but I need to confirm that I actually got video of that prayer and not something else. Also, the cicadas are very loud, and drown the priest out. If I don't get that video up, apologies.
Here is some video of our closing hymn, though.
After I arrived it was pretty clear what the Mass intentions was. The priest and Deacon were in white, and the congregation was already singing a Marian hymn. I understood enough of Father's homily to know that he was talking about the Blessed Mother (Maria transliterates into Mandarin) and Lourdes, Fatima, and Guadalupe, as well as something about Sheshan and the Chinese church (Zhongguo Jiaohui).
Following the dismissal from Mass we proceeded to the Marian grotto for a short prayer service. We sang another Marian hymn, the priest prayed, and we closed with yet another Marian hymn.
I am pretty sure that Father, like just about everyone else in the world, read the Pope's prayer in between the Marian hymns. I may have gotten some video of that, but I need to confirm that I actually got video of that prayer and not something else. Also, the cicadas are very loud, and drown the priest out. If I don't get that video up, apologies.
Here is some video of our closing hymn, though.
During the Mass I sat next to a woman who is the godmother of some of my friends at Nantou church. She is quite old, perhaps close to 90, and lives in an apartment on the church grounds. She is able to attend Mass daily that way. During Mass I glanced over at her prayer book. It was in Chinese with yellowed pages turning towards brown. I know that she has been a Catholic her entire life, but I don't know what she did for all the years that the churches were destroyed and desecrated here, when Mass wasn't even possible. She and her ancient-looking prayer book have remained in China through it all, and now she can go to Mass everyday, in China even.
Our Lady, Help of Christians, pray for us.
Comments