SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, MAY 17, 2026
On June 30, 2007, Pope Benedict released an important letter on the relationship of the universal Catholic Church to the Catholics of China with an important reflection on the Church's stance towards the government of China.
In 1951, the Chinese government outlawed the Catholic Church in communion with the Vatican and decreed that the Catholic Church would henceforth be governed by the "Patriotic Association" which was controlled by the government. The Catholic Church in China was divided between an underground church, illegal but free, and an open church, still Catholic but heavily influenced by government control.
The greatest harm to the Catholic Church was not persecution, but that the Catholics were divided. About three decades later, Pope John Paul II insisted that all Chinese Catholics be accepted as true Catholics and slowly the rift began to heal.
Pope Benedict's letter attempted to continue the recognition of all Catholics as truly Catholic and to heal the hurts between the two groups within the Catholic Church. The 2007 letter insisted that Catholics were free to remain in the underground church or to practice in the open church.
In the intervening years, harassment of the Catholic Church by the government has continued. There is still some mistrust among Catholics, but there has also been progress to allay that mistrust.
In his 2007 letter, Pope Benedict asked that a world day of prayer for Chinese Catholics be observed each year on May 24, the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians. For a year or two, the day of prayer was observed throughout the Church, but for many years in Philadelphia, it is celebrated at Holy Redeemer Chinese Catholic Church and nowhere else, to my knowledge.
At Holy Redeemer, we have combined the day of prayer for China with our annual May procession and May crowning. Based on Pope Benedict's letter, it is fitting to honor Mary and pray for China at the same event.
This year, the people of Holy Redeemer will commemorate the day of prayer for China and their devotion to Mary by processing from Holy Redeemer to Saint John's. May 24 is the actual feast of Our Lady Help of Christians; it is also Pentecost Sunday.
Pentecost is the day when the Church was born and the missionary and evangelizing work of the Church began through the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary, the Mother of the Church, was present in that upper room when the Holy Spirit came at the first Pentecost.
The evangelization of China is the work of the Holy Spirit. Chinese Catholics, like all Catholics, love Mary and entrust their troubled Church to her prayers.
Saint John's parishioners are invited to participate with the Holy Redeemer parishioners in the crowning of Mary after the 12:30 Mass on May 24. As the 12:30 Mass is ending, Holy Redeemer parishioners will arrive in procession to join with Saint John's parishioners and visitors to honor Mary and pray for China.
If your schedule allows, please come to the 12:30 Mass on May 24 and stay for the half hour program of May crowning.
