Cardinal Zen Counsels Patience
Apr 03, 2006
Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun of Hong Kong exhorted Chinese Catholics to be "patient," even though the country does not yet enjoy full freedom of worship.
ROME, MARCH 29, 2006 (Zenit.org).- In a message broadcast by Vatican Radio, the new cardinal said the red color of his vestments recalled "the tears and blood of numerous, nameless, heroes of the Church" in China.
These words were part of a homily given by the cardinal in a Mass celebrated in Chinese and broadcast by Vatican Radio last Saturday, according to AsiaNews.
"My becoming a cardinal shows how much the Pope values people in China," said Cardinal Zen, 74. "The red color I am wearing is meant to signify a cardinal's willingness to shed blood.
"Yet it is not my blood that has been shed: It is the blood and the tears from the numerous, nameless, heroes in both the official and underground Churches who have suffered for being faithful to the Church."
He added that Chinese Catholics should be patient, helping to build a harmonious society and working for the "maturity" of the nation.
"Winter has passed, and spring has come," he said. "The seeds you have sown with tears will bear fruit very soon."
Cardinal Zen Counsels Patience