Home / News Type Content Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read | Comment
Beijing Gives First Perpetual Vow-taking Rite for Nuns
Adjust font size:
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)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
Comment
Pet Name
Anonymous
China Archives
Related >>
- Bishop Shocked at CNN's Ignorance
- Catholics Celebrate Their Patriotism
- Beijing to Build Two New Churches
- Religious Services Available in 2008 Olympiad: Bishop
- Religious Harmony in a Chinese Village
- Christian Meeting Highlights Religious Freedom
Most Viewed >>
- World's longest sea-spanning bridge to open
- Yao out for season with stress fracture in left foot
- 141 seriously polluting products blacklisted
- China starts excavation for world's first 3G nuclear plant
- 'The China Riddle'
- Irresponsible remarks on Hu Jia case opposed 
- China, US agree to step up constructive,cooperative relations
- 3 dead in south China school killing
- Factory fire kills 15, injures 3 in Shenzhen
- McDonald's turns to feng shui

Product Directory
China Search
Country Search
Hot Buys
主站蜘蛛池模板: 一级毛片在线观看视频| 国产欧美日韩亚洲一区二区三区| 中文字日本乱码| 特级毛片A级毛片免费播放| 国产成人3p视频免费观看| chinesespanking2实践| 日韩av片无码一区二区三区不卡| 免费在线观看黄网站| 色偷偷av一区二区三区| 国产小视频精品| 欧美浮力第一页| 国产精品成人网站| 97久久国产亚洲精品超碰热 | 8888奇米影视笫四色88me| 无码国产色欲XXXXX视频| 亚洲性图第一页| 精品午夜福利在线观看| 国产成人在线观看网站| 99国产欧美另类久久久精品| 无码任你躁久久久久久久| 久久精品天天中文字幕人妻| 波多野结衣种子网盘| 国产一区二区三区影院| 三上悠亚在线网站| 好大好硬好爽免费视频| 久久精品国产99久久久| 欧美色吧视频在线观看| 呦交小u女国产秘密入口| 蜜桃麻豆www久久囤产精品| 国产精品亚洲专区无码不卡 | 四虎影视永久免费观看| 0588影视手机免费看片| 女人18毛片a级毛片免费视频| 久久久无码人妻精品无码| 欧美日韩中文字幕在线| 亚洲第一性网站| 精品无码久久久久久久久| 国产在线视频不卡| 6080新觉伦| 妖精动漫在线观看| 一级毛片在线免费视频|