If you ask me, Cardinal Kung is a saint; eventually, Rome will get around to making it official.
Cardinal Kung, made a Cardinal "in pectore" by St. Pope John Paul II, was appointed the first native-born bishop of Shanghai, just as the Communists came to power in China, promising a utopian future including freedom of religion and delivering - as they always do once they've torn down all the barriers to their power - poverty, oppression, mass murder.
He knew the most important battle was spiritual. He consecrated his people to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, organized Marian sodalities for young people and students, fought off the Chinese regime's efforts to make Legion of Mary members register as spies(!), and declared 1953 a Marian year for Our Lady of Fatima and 1954 a year for Our Lady of Lourdes.
When the Mayor of Shanghai repeatedly tried to pressure him to give into the recognition of a government controlled pseudo-Catholic Church that broke with Rome, he always replied with some version of "There can be no compromise on this question. If you want my life, here it is. Take it."
By 1951, just as is happening right now in Nicaragua, all Catholic schools, universities, hospitals and clinics. orphanages and other charitable organizations were confiscated or closed. Mass arrests of Catholic priests began along with others deemed enemies of the states. The foreign-born missionaries were exiled, many of the native-born priests who refused to recant were either imprisoned or executed. The public executions took place before cheering crowds at the Shanghai dog racing track.
In 1955 when Cardinal Kung was eventually arrested, subjected to torturous "struggle session" and brought before the crowd to recant, he stood before them, a small man in his Chinese pajamas, and shouted “Long live Christ the King. Long live the Pope.” He spent most of the next 30 years incommunicado in prison.
But in 1985, Cardinal Jaime Sin arranged for Bishop Kung to attend a banquet during his visit with Chinese officials. They were carefully seated at opposite ends of the table so they could not communicate. Had the Communists succeeded in breaking Cardinal Kung's spirit and allegiance? Cardinal Sin suggested they liven the banquet by singing songs. When it was Cardinal Kung's turn, he chanted clearly "Tu est Petrus."
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Tu Es Petrus, set by Palestrina; sung by Choir of Westminister Abbey
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The text (above in Latin set by Palestrina) is based on Christ's words in Matthew 16: 18-19:
"You are Peter
And upon this Rock I will build My Church:
And the gates of hell shall not overcome it.
And I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind upon earth shall be bound in heaven,
And whatever you release upon earth shall be released in heaven, and I will give you the keys to the kingdom of Heaven.
And the world saw what a faith build on the Rock of Christ looks like and can withstand.
Cardinal Kung was eventually released to the United States for medical treatment and, despite his wishes, never allowed to return. He is buried (for now) in the holy grounds of Mission Santa Clara.
So the Bay Area is a fitting place for the remembrance of the 25th anniversary of his death. I will be there. I hope you can come or register to receive either the livestream or a recording. (We are still working on getting the livestream link).
The parish expects a big turnout. If you are coming plan on arrive a half an hour early. If you are driving from far out of town perhaps you might want to park at the Cathedral and uber over as parking is limited.
There will be a reception afterwards but the parish hall only holds 400 so not everyone will be able to come.
Wherever you are on March 15, pray for Cardinal Kung and ask him to pray for us.
At 10:30 AM on that day, immediately before the Mass, Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka will lead the schola provided by the Institute of Catholic Sacred Music in singing Frank La Rocca's Hymn for the Martyrs of Chinese Communism.
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Hymn for the Martyrs of Chinese Communism (2024), Frank La Rocca, composer; text by James Matthew Wilson.
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@amalialainez2503 heard this hymn 4 months ago and wrote: "This beautiful hymn made me remember my country. Nicaragua is a very Catholic nation that has a great devotion to the Virgin Mary, Unfortunately, the communist government is persecuting the Catholic Church, destroying churches, putting priests in jails and others have been exiled. Communists are so disrespectful with elderly priests and religious sisters."
The totalitarian playbook is always the same, as Archbishop Cordileone reminded us in his talk at the Hudson Institute last November. Nina Shea, a human rights activist, had just published a report on the at least 10 bishops persecuted right now in China.
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Archbishop Cordileone's speech on "Why Communist Regimes Fear Religion" Hudson Institute, November 2024.
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Pray for Cardinal Kung, and pray that we may be inspired by his faith to live faithfully and courageously in our own time. If you are giving Lenten alms, The Kung Foundation is run by his family to help the persecuted Church in China. They are the principal sponsors of this Mass.
Until next week, as Archbishop Cordileone says: "Fast. Pray. Give."
Love,
Maggie
Maggie Gallagher
Executive Director
BenedictInstitute.org
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