100-year Old Catholic Sanctuary Ordered to be Destroied in China
Posted by Author on June 22, 2007
chinaaid.org, Jun 21 2007-
A decree defines the sanctuary and the pilgrimages which stretch back over a hundred years involving over 40 thousand faithful each year as “illegal religious activity”. Catholics promise to resist this violation of their right. Perhaps the sanctuary grounds are wanted for the construction of hotels and villas.
Rome (AsiaNews) – Next June 16th pilgrims and faithful from Henan will not be allowed to go on pilgrimage to the sanctuary in Tianjiajing. The government from the province of Henan has in fact decreed that the historic sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel will be blown up with dynamite; a complete ban on Catholics organizing their annual pilgrimage; a complete ban on any religious gathering or function being celebrated in the area. A statue of the Virgin, over one hundred years old, is destined to be destroyed along with 14 stations of The Way of the Cross which punctuate the entrance to the shrine.
The sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel lies in Tianjiajing (Linxian district), in the diocese of Anyang, in the reaches of a mountain which dominates majestic scenery. It was ordered built by PIME missionary Msgr. Stefano Scarsella, then apostolic vicar to northern Henan, to thank the Virgin for preserving them from the dangers of the Boxers persecution in 1900. The shrine was built in1903-1905.
The elegantly styled neo-roman Church was almost completely destroyed first by the Japanese in the Second World War, then by the Red Guard in the 60’s. Since 1979, the faithful returned to celebrating their faith with solemn liturgies and pilgrimages, travelling many kilometres on foot to the sanctuary ruins and representation of the Lourdes Grotto, where still today the original Marian statue can be seen.
According to AsiaNews sources, May 12th last, on the feast of Our Lady of China, the diocese of Anyang distributed leaflets on the upcoming annual pilgrimage to Tianjiajing on July 16th feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Usually the pilgrimage gathers 45-50 thousand people. Since then the Department for Religious Affairs has kept strict surveillance of all priests, forcing them to hold “discussions” to convince them not to go ahead with the pilgrimage.
May 11th last the secretary general of Henan province gave a personal order to cancel the pilgrimage and spread the order to the neighbouring provinces of Hebei and Shanxi.
To occupy the site and prevent any form of sit-in, the provincial government began holding military exercises in the area of the shrine on May 12, mobilizing over 700 soldiers.
Still today all roads leading to the sanctuary are closed. All cars and pedestrians who pass by are stopped and searched.
The provincial governor’s decision has shocked the faithful of the diocese because just this year they began rebuilding the sanctuary, offering money and hours of work, repairing the road and the stations of the Way of the Cross which lie along it.
In answer on May 14th the government of Anyang city revoked the sanctuary’s permit and the permit for the pilgrimage, defining them as “illegal religious activity” and May 16th he issued a resolution which denies access to the land to Anyang Church, requisitioning the sanctuary site.
“It’s unbelievable that they have done this “, one faithful tells AsiaNews. “These local communist leaders don’t even know the central governments laws governing religious polices, they only create useless and dangerous tension”. “We will never give in “says another faithful. “We are not afraid and we will defend our legitimate rights to the very end”.
In the meantime, since the end of May a “working group” from the local government has installed itself in Tianjiajing.
According to some suppositions, the local government move requisitioning the lands and abolishing the pilgrimage is due to the geographical position of the Church, on the summit, above a valley ideal for the building of a hotel or perhaps country villa of some Party member.
Faithful from the diocese of Anyang have launched an appeal through AsiaNews: “We ask all our brothers and sisters in the Lord – they say – to pray for us and spread our message to all the faithful of the world”.
– report from China Aid : Henan government: destroy the sanctuary of Our Lady of Carmel in Tianjiajing
Related:
– 73-year-old Underground Bishop Arrested 10th Time in China, The Cardinal Kung Foundation, June 6, 2007
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This entry was posted on June 22, 2007 at 12:03 am and is filed under Asia, Catholicism, Central China, China, Culture, Freedom of Belief, Henan, Human Rights, Law, News, People, Politics, Religion, Religious, Social. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
43 Responses to “100-year Old Catholic Sanctuary Ordered to be Destroied in China”
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Maria Yvonne Tan said
It is by Grace that we are saved. I agree to pray and pray very hard that our Lady of Mount Carmel will throw her brown mantle over those who give the order and allow God’s Grace to pour out over all the people in China, that they may receive His Truth and Mercy.
Be not afraid for the building. Pray for the souls, especially those in purgatory, the millions that died in past massacres.
Lord of Divine Mercy, pour your Holy Spirit into the hearts and minds, souls and spirits of all those you are now calling in China, that by the intercession of Our Lady of All Nations, Our Lady of Fatima and her Immaculate Heart, Our Advocate, Co-redempr=trix and Mediatrix, we be spared from degeneration, disaster and war. Blessed Mother pray for us.
Los Angeles, All souls day, November 2, 2007.
jaypem said
His Will Be Done! Jesus, I trust in You!
Pray for us O Holy Mother of God, that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.
Hera said
The world is now in chaos. Let we all pray for Peace and that the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ ” LOVE ONE ANOTHER ” will be spread not only in China but through all the world.
Let all of us pray the Rosary as our Lady has told us . So that we can have peace in the world especially at the place where they have war , violance and that the 100 Year Old Sanctuary of our Lady of Mount Carmel in China will be saved and that more pilgrimage will come to this Shrine. Pray for PEACE. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Blessings » Links for You said
[…] pilgrimage there and a complete ban to hold any religious gathering and function in the area. Read 100 Year Old Sanctuary to be Destroyed in China for the complete […]
hiutopor said
Hi all!
Very interesting information! Thanks!
Bye
Melanie Steffan said
This is an important message, please read and pass it along. God has made contact. The message is about Revelation. The message is from God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost respectively. It was sent in the Spring of 2006. It is about the meaning of First is Last and Last is First . The message is this: In the morning I go to Heaven. In the afternoon I live my life. In the evening I die, death. What does this mean? In other words this means Birth is Last and Last is Birth. To understand this don’t think from point A to point B. Think of this as a continous circle of life. Birth, Life, Death, Birth. God also said that Judgment will be before Birth in Heaven. AS birth on Earth is painful so will birth in Heaven. It is possible that this message was delivered by one of God’s Angels in the Spring of 2006. Yes, God has made contact and he sent a messenger. Spread this message along, just like a chain letter. Tell two people. OH, one more thing. Did you know that Mike Douglas died on his Birthday. Melanie Steffan
Dario Eusse said
The world, and even a great deal of catholics are not paying attention to some important things in what is related to God. The Holy Virgen Mary has appeared in so many places and the world is not paying attention to it. The world did not listen Our lady of Fatima, and we had the II W. War with all the horrific consequences. In Conyers, a town in Georgia US, there was a whole decade of apparitions of Our Lady and Jesus. We are turnint away from that. I have one of the books that was written from the conversation with Nancy (the vident of mistic)Jesus says that a great war is going to come from China. That China Russia and Korea are the mortal Trio; and that is due to the way of the modern Sodom and Gomorrah we are drifting to every day.
Maureen Callahan said
“All the civil governments will have one and the same plan, which will be to abolish and do away with every religious principle, to make way for materialism, atheism, spiritualism, and vice of all kinds.”
– Our Lady of LaSalette
the Blessed Mother predicted such things many years ago. Woe to the worldly who turn their backs on all things of God, especially Jesus Christ and His Holy Mother.
chinaview said
Sure. Please go head.
kahlees said
That’s horrible. Can I put something about this on my blog?
Kahlee (Kahlee’s Blog – Never Give a Cheerleader a Keyboard)
————————–
http://kahlees.wordpress.com
S.O.S Nossa Senhora da China « O Possível e o Extraordinário said
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fitnessfortheoccasion said
This is horrible. This is an act of fear by the Chinese government.
Where is the accompanying act of bravery by own own government?
When will our leaders take a stand?
mayhemgolgotha said
whoa. that sucks. all that history gone …
Que demais!!! « Orkutcídio em Massa para Adoradores de Lasagna said
[…] Escrito por Rev. Peterson Cekemp ligado Junho 23rd, 2007 Uma igreja cartólica de 100 anos de idade vai ser destruída na china, porque o governo de lá considerou-a como praticante de religião ilegal (ou coisa parecida, o link da notícia tá aqui)!!! […]
La cristianità in Cina « per una capitanata più felice said
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Joseph Tran said
The Red Dragon may seem flourish at this time, but the Mother of God will prevail in the end.
jakjonsun said
I think part of being a true Christian is to endure persecution, so maybe this is a blessing in disguise.
san said
speechless and helpless… sigh.
charleywho said
Isn’t it interesting that so many people chose to condem the Chinese for their lack of human rights etc. but continue to buy products produced there? To me this is the ultimate hypocracy. If someone has a problem with an organization, country, religion or whatever they can always use their God given right to opt out and clam up.
Raul Gomez said
I fear this sort of persecution will spread to the west. There are a slew of books written by atheists that excoriate Christians and those who believe in God. One book goes so far as to say that “religion ruins everything”. Yet how many have these atheists killed? Why must a little shrine be destroyed? How are people living in charity and love of God a threat? Bring it on! Viva El Christo Rey! We will never worship the false god of the state! Our God is the true God!
John said
God is watching China and they should be prepared to suffer for this with mabye a mega quake
Jon said
I believe that one day China will convert and bring glory to God. We have to pray for that day. In the meanwhile, Christians of goodwill around the world should boycott the Olympics in China to send a message about how we are aware of their terrible human rights record and WE DON’T APPROVE! We’re not turning a blind eye! I went to a university in China and have traveled all around the country. There are many good people there, but they are kept so ignorant of the terrible policies of their government.
An Lin said
this is terribly sad as it is a historic structure or place. Maybe it is part of modernization because if they would say it will be destroyed just to ban the religion i think it absurd. i thought that inspite china a communist country, the people now does have the opportunity to believe in what he wants to believe.
shawal said
They should not do that thing to the historical place…
Shame on them..
http://mclip.wordpress.com
cyril Fernandez said
I feel that the common Chinese people are not against church or Christ. They actually don’t know who Jesus Christ is even the powerful of the government does not know Jesus Christ or his power.the political power is afraid that church would jeopardize their selfish interests and cause to crumple their communist empire.
with prayer and fasting these people can be converted. with our intense prayers and the intercessory prayers of Mother Mary and all the saints, china will be converted in front of our eyes. so let us all pray along with our Lady of Mount Carmal for the kingdom of God to be established in China.
100-year Old Catholic Sanctuary Ordered to be Destroyed in China « Everything You Knew is Wrong said
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PAT KIELY said
Please pray for the conversion of the Chinese leaders to Christ,if this does not happen, the future for many in the world will be bleak…….Patrick (Ireland)
Mary Cowie said
How tragic that China would determine such a course as to blow up Our dear Mother of Mount Carmel Shrine. God forbid in heaven earth and in all spheres that such an action occurs! And I bind my prayer in the Immaculate heart of Mary.
What a fate awaits China. I implore the Government to retract their evil and bigoted decision. May the Virgin Mary be ever known loved and honoured
Mike said
when they start doing things like this it’s a sign of weakness on the Communists’ part. All is well, beat up on Christianity and it grows even more. God Bless the Chinese peoples!
Chinese Taliban « Khanya said
[…] Chinese Taliban Jump to Comments First it was the Taliban using Buddha statues for artillery target practice, and now the Chinese are wanting to destroy a 100-year-old Catholic shrine. […]
dodolipet said
is there anyway that we can submit our protest, and with worldwide support, i hope we can press the chinese gov to stop their action.
Mayanne said
We must pray for the Chinese and all who are persecuted and not permitted to live their faith. But I want to point something out. America is a Christian country and we have freedom. Yet we do not live our Catholic faith. Let us not to forget to also pray for all Catholics, especially those in the West, that their only desire is to do the will of God.
Top Posts « WordPress.com said
[…] 100-year Old Catholic Sanctuary Ordered to be Destroied in China chinaaid.org, Jun 21 2007- A decree defines the sanctuary and the pilgrimages which stretch back over a hundred years […] […]
Linda D said
May God bring the Salvation won by His Son to all the Chinese people through the intercession of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. May He protect all who travel to this wonderful shrine.
Tony Li said
That’s so retard, I’m not catholic but I go to church, and I would hate that!
Christopher Kras said
The Communist Party is so strong in China in part because of capitalistic greed from the USA. Many corporations and those in the government empower the Communists with much money through various forms of business activity in China. This empowerment enables the Communist Party to flourish and do what it wills, where it will, and how it wills. We need to pray for the conversion of these very materialistic capitalists and atheistic communists.
Mary said
Today at 3:00 pm I will implore the Lord to shed His Divine Mercy on this shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, and that it will continue to give strength, courage and spiritual solace to our Catholic brothers and sisters in China.
grobanite90 said
This is absolutly terrible! how thankfull I am to live in america, where we are all blessed with religous freedoms. I’m not catholic, and I don’t agree with catholisism as a religion, but that doesn’t change the fact that that is what some poeple belive, and that they should be able to practice thier belifs.
Merry said
Our Lord Jesus and Our Lady Mary are powerful and are already creating a miracle for the whole world to witness through the historic sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Tianjiajing. Prayer is more powerful than the most evil destructive forces in the world. Praise God!!
Heinz Liechti said
I am praying with Chinese-catholics to Our Holy Lady of Carmel, also with intercession of the day’s Saint Thomas More, that mercy and power of our Lord Jesu-Christ will prevent destruction of the sanctuary in Tianjiajing, to give Glory to our Lord and God.
Linda said
I will pray for God to convert those who want to destroy the historic sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
I pray that if it is His will, it will be saved.
God Bless,
Mike Weston said
I do business in China and have met many wonderful people there who do not know Christ – I do know that none of them ever hear about this kind of persecution and are told by authorities that these reports are lies from the west. I try to get information through to them but I fear e-mails are being monitored. We need to pray and fast more for them.
Viola Aldridge said
Let us pray thar GOD will convert those who want to destroy the historic sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or that he stop them from doing so.