Our Lady of China (English)

Since it's Chinese New Year, even tho not that related, i'm gonna talk about the apparition of Our Lady of China, or which also known as Our Lady of Dong Lu.

In the end of 19th century till early 20th century (1899-1901), there's an event which called as the Boxer Rebellion in China. So Chineses that time were rebelled and reject the foreign influences in the field of politic, religion, trading, technology, etc, including the religion of Christianity. They're also an anti-imperialist movement.
This movement was started by farmers of northern China.
They're called as the Boxers cause their soldiers and members were so good at Chinese martial arts, which called as Chinese Boxing at that time.

In the year of 1900, 10.000 Boxer soldiers attacking Dong Lu, a Christian (exactly Catholic) village which located at the south-west of Beijing, founded by priests of Vincentian Order. Dong Lu known as the place of poor people in China that time.
The Boxer soldiers get closer, and the Christian citizens of Dong Lu, who is less than 700-1.000 people, of course will lose if they were fight against the soldiers.
Knowing this, Father Wu, one of the Vincentian priests who resided there, immediately prayed, asking the protection and intercession of the Virgin Mary.
Cause you know, the Virgin Mary herself believed has help and win many battles, especially in Europe, two of 'em were the Battle of Lepanto at the Gulf of Patras, Greece (16th century) which became the origin of the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (7th October) and the Battle of Vienna at Austria (17th century) which became the origin of the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary (12th September).

When the Boxer soldiers come closer to the gate of the village, suddenly appear in the sky, a beautiful Lady dressed in white surrounded by light. The Boxer soldiers who shocked and feel threatened by the appearance of this Lady in the sky then start to throw their weapons toward the sky and cry any swears and bad words to the Lady, but their weapons cannot harm the Lady.
And suddenly, also appear, a figure of knight riding horse who hold a fiery sword from horizontal direction, cast away the Boxer soldiers and made them runaway chaosly.

The Vincentian priest and the citizens of Dong Lu then identified the Lady in the sky and the knight who hold fiery sword as the Mother of God and St Michael the Archangel.
As thanksgiving, the citizens of Dong Lu build a church to honor the Virgin and paint her along with Baby Jesus in the style and the dress of the Chinese empress at that time.

1924, the Lady of Dong Lu officially approved as Our Lady of China, and the date of 6th May chosen as her feast.
Also in this year Bishop Henri Lecroart consecrate all China, Mongolia, Manchuria dan Tibet to Mary under the title of the Queen of China.
1932, Pope Pius IX approved the Shrine of Our Lady of China as an official Marian shrine.

When the communist regime took over China, they banned all religions in 1951, the church was destroyed along with the painting of Our Lady of China, the only thing that remain is a simple pilgrimage of Our Lady of Dong Lu at Hubei.

24th May 1995, all Catholics of China went to the pilgrimage of Dong Lu to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady, the Help of the Christians. Despite roads being blocked and efforts being made to hinder the grand pilgrimage, it is estimated that around 30.000 pilgrims gather at “the Hill of the Blessed Lady”.
During the procession which leaded by 4 bishops and almost 100 priests, they saw a miracle. The sun spinning from left to right and projecting colorful lights. Furthermore, some people also say that there is a miracle where rosary/rosaries turn to be "gold-ish". Once more Our Lady of China appear in the sky, this time holding Baby Jesus, there also the apparitions of the Holy Family of Nazareth, the Heavenly Father, and The Holy Spirit. Bathed with light, the Virgin Mary always console her child who were suppresed as what she always do in more and less a century ago.
It could be said as "the Fatima of China".
At 2nd June 1995 in early summer, the front page of The Washington Post newspaper write an article about 2 Marian apparitions which happened at the pilgrim site of Dong Lu before around 10.000 people at late May 1995.

The Government of Beijing at that time also forbid pilgrims visiting the pilgrimage of Dong Lu, and the next year the pilgrimage was destroyed. But, with all risks of being prisoned or even more worst, the prohibition does not discourage people from coming to the sanctuary. Many foreign worker in China who continue bring to life the memory of Our Lady of Dong Lu.

In the year of 1973, after the Council of Vatica II, Feast of Our Lady of China observed on Saturday, the vigil of Mothers' Day (2nd Sunday of May).