March 9, 2012
My dear Catholics of Hong Kong:
I send my greetings from Her Majesty's Dominion of Canada, the City of Ottawa, with the words, “Knee-How!”
The Catholic (Universal) Church has been divinely sent to ALL nations that She might be the universal sacrament of salvation. Acting out of the innermost requirements of Her own catholicity and in obedience to Her Founder's mandate (cf. Mark 16:16), She strives to proclaim the Gospel to ALL men.
One of the world's most blessed nations is China. I believe that God has kept China behind a veil these many centuries and allowed her to keep a five-thousand-year-old culture so as to become one day a great Christian nation. Doubtless, the Holy Spirit was already at work in China for many centuries, yet on the day of Pentecost, He came down upon the disciples to remain with them forever (cf. John 14:16).
The Church is summoned with special urgency to save and renew every creature. In this way all things can be restored in Christ (Ephesians 1:10), and in Him mankind can compose one family and one people. Hence I give thanks to God for the splendid accomplishments already achieved through the noble energy and zeal of your local Latin Mass community these past ten years.
My wish is that the members of your fine community in Hong Kong, undertaking the narrow way of the Cross of Christ, may spread everywhere the kingdom of Christ, the Lord and Overseer of the ages (cf. Sirach 36:19), and may prepare the way for His coming.
Congratulations and let us pray!
In Christo et Mariae,
John Paul Sonnen
Isn't that a little high-flown, John? It reads like an Apostolic Exhortation.
ReplyDeleteAlso, "et Maria." Ablative. =)
I concur. I did a bit of a 'double-take' thinking the Holy Father had issued another letter to the faithful of China and I hadn't heard about it through the ordinary channels!
ReplyDelete