When one door closes, open a window

http://new.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=12341

Even in persecution we pray to Our Lady of Sheshanby Wang ZhichengA Chinese Catholic from the underground Church sends AsiaNews a message for World Day of Prayer for the Church in China in which he highlights how the faithful pray in communion with the Pope despite hardships and repression, hopeful that he might soon bear witness to a true unity of the Church with the Pontiff.

And:

http://new.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=12396

Pope's prayer for Church in China banned in some diocesesby Zhang YimingPriests forced to "take a trip", to prevent them from going to the shrine of the Virgin of Sheshan; priests prohibited from praying "with the pope"; a shrine in Taiyuan closed and monitored by thousands of police. The war of the Patriotic Association a few months ahead of the Olympics.

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Here are my suggestions. A pilgrimage is wonderful but the faithful are united even if each of them must sit alone. I would suggest adding praying for relief of the anxieties of the authorities to your prayer intentions list. It is anxiety that motivates them, not evil. I would accept the disappointment of many not being able to visit the shrine this year, and use it as an opportunity for many thousands of people to pray for relief of the anxiety of the authorities on this matter. Who knows, next year might find some relief, for prayer and non threatening acceptance of a door being closed is powerful in a gentle and persistent way.

My second suggestion is that a holy card be created of the Lady of Sheshan with a picture of its appearance on the front, a photograph image or a drawing by someone inspired to do so and donate his or her time. You could put the Holy Father's prayer on the reverse or go with a traditional alternative such as the Hail Mary. Make many copies and distribute it in the parishes and especially to those who could not go. If the authorities allow you could have them printed, taken to the shrine, and blessed by a priest there before being distributed. It strengthens faith and is heart warming to have a prayer card that is from the very place one wishes to pilgrimage, but it is not necessary of course. It just would be a nice touch if the cards were able to go to the place the people could not go this year. If not, then a priest's blessing of the cards wherever they are produced and distributed is just fine too.

Even in disappointment one's faith can be strengthened instead of diminished, and feelings of charity can replace the feelings of hurt. I think that many people would love to have a Lady of Sheshan prayer card and that way they are on spiritual pilgrimage to it all the time, they only need to gaze at the card and think of her.