Beijing (Fides) - The news of the canonization, on October 1st 2000 in St Peter's in Rome, of 120 people martyred in China, has been received with rejoicing from Chinese Catholics but disapproval from the government.
Fides sources in mainland China say the canonization "is a recognition of the faith and witness of Chinese Catholics and also a courageous act on the part of the Church". A priest said that "the example of these martyrs will help both sides of the Chinese Church, official and unofficial, to grow in authentic Catholic faith. The event will encourage us in our mission particularly for reconciliation and witness of life. This event will make us reflect on the past and help find the right path for the future. It reevaluates history".
"We pray that the Chinese martyrs, future saints, Fides sources conclude - will protect us and help us in our mission so we may be always faithful to the universal Church and to our Chinese Christian identity""
The news triggered reactions of joy also in Hong Kong. Auxiliary Bishop John Tong said the diocese will hold several celebrations to honour the martyrs. Several chapels and church centres are named after some of the martyrs for example Blessed Peter Wu Guosheng (1768-1814) and Blessed Joseph Zhang Dapeng (1754-1815). Many of the diocesans hope to be present in Rome for the October 1st canonization.
Catholics in Taiwan are also organizing a pilgrimage to Rome for the event. "Chinese Catholics have prayed for years for the canonization of their martyrs and this is now a great encouragement and honour for all, not only for those in China, but also those abroad, Cardinal Paul Shan, Bishop of Kaohsiung and president of the Chinese Regional Bishops' Conference told UCA News. "The canonization is a purely religious matter and it must not be linked with politics or China-Holy See relations", the Cardinal explained.
But the Chinese government was not pleased by the announcement of the canonization. "We hope the Vatican will look at history and not do again things which hurt the feelings of the Chinese epople, a foreign ministry spokesman told Ansa news agency. "History records that colonialism and imperialism used missionaries to invade China. By means of unequal treaties they caused serious damage to China and the Chinese people, provoking inevitably the anger of the people and natural opposition of the masses" the spokesman continued.
The 120 martyrs aged between 7 and 79, were beatified between 1900 and 1946. They include 62 lay Catholics, 23 priests, 15 sisters, 8 seminarians, 6 bishops, 4 catechists and 2 catechumens. Many are Chinese from the provinces of Guizhou, Hebei, Shanxi and Sichan, 33 were European missionaries. More than 70 of them died in the Boxer Revolution in 1900, the rest died in persecutions during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). In Taiwan a book on the lives of the Martyrs will soon be published in Chinese and in English. The 4m high and 2.5 m wide banner which will be exposed in St Peter's for the occasion was commissioned from Li-chien-yi, a Buddhist artist, who teaches applied art at the Catholic University in Taipei. (31/3/2000)
Fides