As the Bridal Chorus started in a major Catholic church in Beijing
Sunday morning, all attendants were expecting a special "wedding
ceremony."
"Are you willing to be more intimately united with God?" asked
Bishop Michael Fu Tieshan.
"Yes, I am," responded Theresa Ying Mulan, on her knees like a lamb
in front of the altar, with her eyes brimming with tears.
In
front of Michael Fu, the Bishop of Beijing Diocese, Theresa Ying
and five other nuns vowed to devote themselves to Christ and serve
Church with their whole life in the North Church, the largest
Catholic church also known as Xishiku Church in Beijing.
They vowed to follow Christ according to the teaching of Gospelin
the convent and never alter for lifetime.
They were the first group of nuns taking the perpetual vow who have
been cultivated by Beijing Diocese since 1949 when the new China
was founded. And they made the third batch in the 130-year history
of the St. Joseph's convent of Beijing Diocese.
Even the aisles were packed as the raining day did not dampened the
enthusiasm of over 1,000 Catholics to witness the grand religious
rite that has been of absence for half a century in China. Quite a
few of them are young people.
The six nuns received thorn wreaths on their heads and silver ring
on the ring fingers of their right hands, symbolizing their
perpetual vows, following the climax of the religious rite.
Pipe organ was played, chorus chanted, and gospel preached. The six
nuns were greeted one after another by priests and nuns, some
teary, some smiling. Applause filled the church.
The St. Joseph's convent of Beijing Diocese was established in 1872
by a French priest and three Chinese nuns. The normal religious
activities in China had been suspended during the "Cultural
Revolution" (1966-76). Chinese people's religious freedom was not
guaranteed until late 1970s when China started its reform and
opening up drive. The convent, resumed function in 1986, now has
more than 50 nuns.
Zhang Jinhua, 37, became a nun in 1986. She is the youngest among
the six. "It means I've become Jesus Christ's bride, and I will
serve Church all my life," she said.
Theresa Ying, a 68-year-old doctor, was baptized in the North
Church eight days after she was born.
"We six sisters have become the new roots in the convent," Ying
said, adding that the convent will certainly become fruitful in the
future.
Bishop Fu Tieshan, chairman of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic
Association, said after the rite that China has only one Catholic
Church. Like Catholic Churches in other countries in the world, it
belongs to the same belief. Sunday's ceremony was given according
to the liturgy that has been followed by all Catholics around the
globe.
"China is capable of independently building Church well," he
said.
The Gospel of Christ entered Beijing in the 13th century. China has
seen a rapid development of Catholicism over the past two decades.
Currently there are five million Catholics, more than 100 dioceses
and 5,000 churches. Over 50,000 people receive baptism each year in
China.
(Xinhua News
Agency July 29, 2002)