A Missioner in China

New Zealand Tablet, 25 April 1912, Page 57

A Missioner in China

The manner.in which a missioner in China passes his days is interestingly described by -a Jesuit, stationed at Tsong-niing : I rise at 4.30, and while awaiting the arrival of my Christians spend the time in • prayer. As we have here neither clocks nor bells, ■• there is no way of summoning my congregation, and I must simply possess myself in patience until it is assembled, which often is as late as eight o'clock. Service opens with the singing of the morning prayer. : The Chinese sing all A their prayers. Then comes catechism, a short sermon; the Rosary, and finally Mass. , By ; the time I am ready for breakfast it is ten o'clock, and I am even then besieged by a crowd, anxious to speak a few words, to tell me a bit of news, or to ask advice. After my meal I return to the church to hear confessions, there being often fifty to eighty persons waiting. Two o'clock brings the dinner hour, but this repast is the signal for new visitors, as our Christians are very fond of seeing a missioner eat. They remain standing respectfully during this interesting performance, and when it is over quietly withdraw. The next few moments of ; silence and solitude are given to the breviary, but very soon my faithful parishioners are again waiting for admittance, each one with a request or a grievance. It is night before lam free, and although there is a prospect of a quiet hour or two, I must spend them in preparing the next day's sermon, for in addressing a congregation in the Chinese tongue, the difficulty is not so much in knowing what to say, as how to say it. Such is one day's routine in a missioner's lifea ; life full of delicious fatigue because one's strength is given to God's holy work.