The miracle of Donglü (1900)

Chinese Marian Miracles

The miracle of Donglü is one of the most extraordinary events in China's Marian history. According to tradition, during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, the Virgin Mary appeared on the church of Donglü (Hebei) accompanied by a fire rider identified as San Miguel Archangel, dispersing the attackers and saving the Catholic community.

The context of the miracle

In the summer of 1900, the Boxer Rebellion reached its peak. The Boxers, a secret martial arts society, systematically attacked Christians and foreigners in northern China. The small Catholic community of Donglü, in Hebei province, was in grave danger.

The Boxers, armed with swords and spears, surrounded the village of Donglü with the intention of exterminating Christians. The faithful, gathered in the church, entrusted themselves to the Virgin Mary, praying the rosary and asking for her protection.

The apparition of the Virgin

According to the testimonies of the survivors, when the Boxers were about to attack, an extraordinary apparition occurred on the church. The Virgin Mary appeared in the sky, dressed in white clothes and with a crown on her head. At his side, a rider of fire, identified as San Miguel Archangel, rode with a flamboyant sword.

The Boxers, terrified of the vision, fled in disorder. The Catholic community of Donglü was saved, and the miracle spread throughout the province of Hebei, strengthening the faith of Catholics and converting many non-Christians.

The approval of the miracle

The miracle of Donglü was investigated by the ecclesiastical authorities and approved as authentic. In 1924, Donglü became a place of national pilgrimage. In 1928, Pope Pius XI officially approved the image of Our Lady of China, inspired by the apparition of Donglü.

In 1941, Pope Pius XII set up the feast of Our Lady of China, which is held on the second Sunday of May. The feast is a reminder of Donglü's miracle and the Virgin Mary's protection of the Church in China.

The image of Our Lady of China

The image of Our Lady of China, inspired by the apparition of Donglü, represents the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus in Chinese imperial clothing. The image was commissioned by Father René Flament, a Lazarist missionary of Donglü, and painted by a French artist from Shanghai.

The image of Our Lady of China is venerated throughout the country and in Chinese diaspora communities. It is a symbol of the Chinese Catholic faith and the protection of the Virgin Mary in times of persecution.

The inheritance of the miracle

The miracle of Donglü has left a deep mark on the Church of China. The apparition of the Virgin Mary during the persecution of the Boxers is seen as a sign of the divine protection and of the presence of the Virgin Mary in the history of China.

The devotion to Our Lady of China, born of the miracle of Donglü, is the center of the spiritual life of Chinese Catholics. The image of the Virgin with the Child Jesus in Chinese imperial clothing is a sign of the inculturation of faith in Chinese culture.