Our Lady of She Shan

Most of us probably never heard of Mary under this title, Our Lady of She Shan, but because today has been designated as the World Day of Pray for the Church in China, and since our Marist Brothers have been there since the beginning of the 20th century, a word about this title and place is appropriate. The name comes from the hill 40 km west of Shanghai where a large basilica built between 1925-1935 is the only site of pilgrimages in China. The Jesuits built a small church there in 1863, later built another, which became inadequate, so this third one was built, was ravaged during the Cultural Revolution, and has been slowly repaired. However, it remains under the jurisdiction of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, which is independent from Rome. It's bishops are appointed by the government without the consent of the Pope. Bishop Kung and most Chinese priests made a vow here not to join the Patriotic Church but to remain faithful to Rome; some were martyred and Bishop (later, Cardinal) Kung was imprisoned for several years. Pope Benedict continues the work of Pope John Paul II to reconcile the divided Church, and has written a special prayer for this day of prayer for China, asking Mary, Help of Christians venerated at the Shrine of She Shan, to protect and guide the growing number of Catholics in China. Our Marist Brothers lost everything, even contact with the world outside China from 1949 until the '90's, when relations with the Western World improved. Some, at age 80, had remained faithful to their Marist vows, while living their religious life in secret, and rejoiced to see their day of liberation. Such hope and perseverance is a light to us all. And so the Pope prays,
"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, offer 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!"
Bro. Rene