What can only be described as a supernatural phenomenon was
witnessed by about 30,000 underground Catholics and the majority
of the concelebrants on May 23, 1995. These faithful had gathered
at the Marian Shrine of Dong Lu in the Province of Hebei, China,
to attend a Holy Mass concelebrated by four underground bishops
and about 110 underground priests in an open field. During the
opening prayer of the Mass and the consecration of the Holy
Eucharist, the congregation and the majority of the concelebrants
witnessed and were comforted by a supernatural phenomenon of the
sun in motion. Many compared the incident to the miracle of the
sun at Fatima.
As described by several witnesses, and confirmed by the Bishop of
the Diocese, the sun suddenly lost its overpowering brightness so
that the people gathered could look directly at the sun with
ease. The sun spun alternatively to the right and to the left.
The center of the sun was covered by a white host, with the sun's
circumference surrounded by multiple layers of colors. Rays of
various colors emanated from the sun. With the passing of the
minutes, the sun changed colors, first to yellow, then red, blue,
and followed by other colors. Subsequently, people saw different
apparitions in the core of the sun: a holy cross, the Holy
Family, Holy Mary, and the Holy Eucharist. At times, the sun
would approach the crowd and then retreat. People were heard
crying out: "Holy Mother, have pity on us, your
children", "Holy Mother, please forgive my sins",
and other expressions.
The congregation was so transfixed at the phenomenon that when
they witnessed the changing colors of the sun, the whole
congregation spontaneously shouted and applauded with joy:
"Yellow, red, blue..." This lasted about twenty
minutes, when followed by a sudden white ray, the sky returned to
normal.
This phenomenon happened on the vigil of the feastday of Mary,
Helper of Christians. On this day, we pray especially to Our Lady
for her miraculous victory over the evil one.
There are two nationally famous Marian shrines in China, Dong Lu
in Boading and Sheshan in Shanghai. While the Shrine of Our Lady
of Sheshan in Shanghai is now unfortunately controlled by the
Patriotic Association, the Shrine at Dong Lu remains firmly with
the loyal underground Roman Catholic Church. With the exception
of the Cultural Revolution, Catholics, since 1924, have journeyed
every May from all areas of China to Dong Lu to pray before the
Blessed Mother of Christ.
Since the communists came to power in China, pilgrimages to Dong
Lu have been unauthorized, considered an illegal religious
activity. These pilgrimages often involve months of preparation
under grave risks. Every obstacle has been deployed by the
government to stop this annual pilgrimage. Still, tens of
thousands of people braved the physical abuses, roadblocks, and
other restrictions to pay their respects. During May, all roads
leading to Dong Lu were blocked by the government. Tickets for
all modes of public transport to Dong Lu and neighboring towns
were selectively sold to only officially deemed non-Catholics .
Those caught driving to Dong Lu would have their driver's license
revoked. Yet, multitudes of loyal underground Catholics, over
100,000 in 1995, arrived at Dong Lu.
The Roman Catholic Church is loyal to the Pope, and has been
persecuted by the Chinese Communist government and forced to go
underground since 1949. These persecutions still continue today.
The Roman Catholic Church is illegal in China and is commonly
referred to as the underground, loyal, clandestine, or suffering
Roman Catholic Church.
In contrast, the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA)
was established by an atheistic Chinese Communist Government. It
continues to reject the Pope's authority and is not recognized by
the Roman Pontiff. All CCPA bishops are appointed by the Chinese
Government and are ordained without the Pope's approval.
In recent years, the CCPA presented itself to the free world as
the "Catholic Church in China", causing great confusion
in the west while generating enormous financial support from
unsuspecting, well intentioned Catholics in US. and Europe.
In union with other Roman Catholics worldwide, underground
Chinese Catholics pray to Mary during the month of May. This
year, well over one hundred thousand people knelt and prayed,
keeping a 24-hour vigil, before the statue of Holy Mary. After 40
years of religious persecution, they could no longer control
their emotions and love for Mary. Kneeling at the feet of their
mother, Mary, many cried openly and poured their hearts out. They
had finally come home. They were desperate for Mary's
intercession. They prayed privately such as:
"Mother of the Church and queen of China. Have pity on
your children! Keep the suffering Church in China in your heart,
show solicitude for our sufferings, our weaknesses, and our
needs. Do not leave us. Protect and direct us so that we may not
fall into the snares of the devil. Grant us the courage to
continue our struggle. Dear Mother, we beg you to look after the
Church in China."
It would appear that Holy Mother this year has come to comfort
her children at Dong Lu, rewarding them for their enormous
sacrifice and risk in taking this pilgrimage, with a spectacular,
supernatural statement in the sky.
In his signed statement about this phenomenon, the underground
Bishop, His Excellency Most Reverend Su Zhimin, Bishop of
Baoding, Hebei, China, whose jurisdiction includes Dong Lu,
expressed his belief that the Holy Mother has:
1. Manifested her great power to strengthen the faith of the
pilgrims, because many of them had to overcome various immense
obstacles to be at Dong Lu;
2. Reaffirmed that the Church who is allegiant to the Pope is the
true Catholic Church, supported by God; and
3. Asked us to repent and return to God.