prayer to Mary Help of Christians for the Church in China

 

 

Pope Benedict XVI

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary,
Help of Christians for the Church in China
Virgin Most Holy, Mother of the Incarnate Word and our Mother,
the entire Church in China looks to you with devout affection,
Venerate and honor you as the Help of Christians!
We come before you today to implore your protection.

Look upon the People of God,

with a mother’s care,
guide them along the paths of truth and love,
so that they may always be a leaven
of harmonious coexistence among all citizens.

Oh Help of the Chinese people, sustain all those in China,
who, amid their daily trials, continue to believe, to hope, to love.
May they never be afraid to speak of Jesus to the world,
and of the world to Jesus.

Lift up your Son Jesus on high,
offering him to the world with open arms in a gesture of love.
Help Catholics always to be credible witnesses to this love,
ever clinging to the rock of Peter on which the Church is built.

Mother of China and all Asia, pray for us, now and forever. Amen!

Abridged version of the original.