“Dear Pastors and all the faithful, the date 24 May could in the future become an occasion for the Catholics of the whole world to be united in prayer with the Church which is in China. This day is dedicated to the liturgical memorial of Our Lady, Help of Christians, who is venerated with great devotion at the Marian Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai. I would like that date to be kept by you as a day of prayer for the Church in China.”
From the letter of Pope Benedict XVI
to the Catholic Church in China, May 27, 2007

Pope Benedict XVI published a letter on May 27, 2007, entitled: “To the Bishops, Priests, consecrated persons and lay faithful of the Catholic Church in the People's Republic of China”. In this letter, the Pope asks that Catholics throughout the entire world set aside May 24th each year as a ‘Day of Prayer for the Church in China’.

Click HERE for the Prayer of Pope Benedict XVI to “Our Lady of Sheshan“ (published on May 16, 2008).

To celebrate this Day of Prayer for the Church in China, the China-Zentrum has put together materials that you can download HERE for your own use.   

Prayers

Intercessions

An Ave Maria from China (with musical notation)     

Thoughts on the Day of Prayer for the Church in China – May, 24th

The Catholic Church in China – from Christian Mandarins, the Opium War and the Cultural Revolution to a living Local Church

The Marian Sanctuary of Sheshan near Shanghai