Our Lady of China

Q: What about Our Lady of China?

A: The artwork was painted by Mr. John Lu Hung Nien, who was born in Peking (Beijing) in 1914. He was trained in the Academy of Fine Arts at the Catholic University of Peking, which was run by the Divine Word Missionaries until the communists took over. Mr Lu, a convert, came to be recognized as a master of religious art, particularly for his Madonna. The late Cardinal Thomas Tien Keng-Hsin, S.V.D., the first Chinese Cardinal, used this Madonna and Child image for the prayer card for the persecuted in China. He promoted the following prayer in the U.S.A. and Canada; and this prayer card is known among Chinese Catholics for the past almost fifty years.

"Almighty and eternal God, Comforter of the afflicted, and Strength of the Suffering, grant that our brothers of China who share our faith, may obtain, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and our Holy Martyrs, peace in Thy service, strength in time of trial, and grace to glorify Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen."

The mosaic is a gift of the Chinese-American Catholics of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Mary's National Shrine. The Chinese-American Catholics immigrated from all over the world including mainland China, Taiwan, plus the native-born generations and converts. Therefore, in a greater sense, the appellation "China" should include all the Chinese whether from mainland, Taiwan, etc.

Ms. Manucia Burioia, who is a mosaic artist, fabricated the mosaic in Italy.

Source: Daisy Y.Y.Lin, MD, MPH