Our Lady of the Rosary of Longtian - Villa of the Rosary of Fuzhou

Marian devotion

Where is he?

The Villa of the Rosary of Longtian -Rosary Villa o Meiguishanzhuang- is a Marian complex of Longtian, in Changle, within the city of Fuzhou, Fujian province, China. The marker points to the cult building known as & quot; & quot;, & quot; in OpenStreetMap & quot;, way 1442736569, located at 25.8904, 119.5364. The precision is verified building: Mapping identifies the temple, although the sanctuary also includes gardens, pavilions and other dependencies.

Documented history

Agenzia Fides included the sanctuary among the Marian places of China under the name of Our Lady of the Rosary of the "People of the Rosary" of Fujian. A research report from the Refugee Review Court of Australia, dated 9 March 2007, shows that the sanctuary was initially opened on 30 April 1993, on a hill in the village of Longtian, near Fuzhou. The same report identifies it as a place dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary and called Rosary Villa.

The Australian report explains that the whole is not in the urban core of Fuzhou, but in a rural environment of the Fuzhou administrative demarcation near Changle. The Catholic guide he quotes places Longtian south of Changle and names Longtian Rosary Hill and the pilgrimage of Our Lady of the Rosary. The sources, therefore, allow to distinguish the city of Fuzhou from the specific village and hill where the sanctuary is.

The complex includes the church of Our Lady of the Rosary, a pavilion with an image of Mary, gardens, convent, library, residence for the elderly, host and representations of the crucis and the mysteries of the Rosary. The report states that the Rosario church was officially opened in May 2001. It also describes the whole as a mixture of Western-style buildings and Chinese elements, including the marble pavilion that houses a Marian image.

Tradition and devotion

The name of Villa del Rosario recalls the historical presence of the Dominicans in Fujian and his dedication from the region to Our Lady of the Rosary before 1949. This is a historical and devotional explanation of the title, not an affirmation of a local apparition. The image on the pavilion came from Italy according to the documentation collected by the report, while the whole was developed as a place of prayer, retreat and pilgrimages.

The shape of the enclosure makes the prayer of the Rosary visible: the gardens, the stations of the way of the cross and the representations of its mysteries help to travel the life of Christ with Mary. This devotion is a Marian veneration oriented towards Jesus. Mary is asked to intercede; worship belongs only to God.

Legend

Some journalistic sources relate the complex to the advocation of María Rosa Mística and describe the devotion spread from Montichiari. In this document this relationship is presented as a devotional reference of the place, not as an approved Chinese apparition. There is no local apparition of Longtian or a miracle recognized by the Church that should be added to the history of the sanctuary.

Ecclesial State

The place is recorded as permitted veneration: the sources describe it as Marian sanctuary, place of pilgrimage and complex of the open Church of the diocese of Fuzhou; the 2007 report also reflects its recognition as a legal religious place. This state describes the documented cult activity. It does not amount to the approval of an apparition, a private revelation or a supernatural miracle, for which there is no specific decree here.

Anecdotes and stories

The construction was promoted by Bishop Joseph Zheng Changcheng, native to the area and bishop of Fuzhou, as a religious, cultural and community project. The sources highlight that the sanctuary was raised on a hill that was previously arid and that eventually incorporated trees, flowers, gardens and reception spaces. The church, the Chinese pavilion with the image of Italy and the path of the crucis show a concrete inculturation: architectural forms and local memory serve the same Christian pilgrimage.

The complex also received visitors who did not come only as Catholic pilgrims. The documentation presents it as a place that attracted curious, retreat groups and people interested in its landscape and architecture. This variety of visitors does not change their main identity as Marian sanctuary of the diocese of Fuzhou.

Prayer

St. Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary of Longtian, pray for the Church of Fuzhou, for the families of Fujian and for those who come to your sanctuary seeking comfort and renewal. Teach us to walk with faith the mysteries of Jesus' life, to serve the elders and the weak and to build reconciled communities. Take our pleas before your Son and help us to glorify God. Amen.

Sources

• Agenzia Fides, "I Santuari Mariani in Cina": includes the sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary of the People of the Rosary of Fujian.
• Refugee Review Tribunal de Australia, Research Response CHN31482, «China – Longtian, Fuzhou – Catholic Marian shrine».
• OpenStreetMap, 玫瑰山庄, way 1442736569, edificio de culto.

Documentary expansion: dates, architecture and scope

The research response CHN31482 of the Australian Refugee Review Tribunal contains two distinct milestones of Longtian history: the sanctuary was described as open on 30 April 1993 and it is also documented that the construction began in 1993 and that the church of Our Lady of the Rosary had its official opening in May 2001. The difference is kept as a difference between the sources: it can refer to the whole and the church, respectively, and not a single date is forced for the entire complex.

The same documentation describes a Western-style church next to gardens, library, convent and a Chinese-style pavilion. Longtian is in the administrative area of Fuzhou, but not in the urban centre of Fuzhou; the sources place it in the Changle area on a hill. This contextual accuracy accompanies the OpenStreetMap point of the building and avoids moving the sanctuary to the city center for using Fuzhou's name.

Source of this enlargement

• Refugee Review Court of Australia, Research Response CHN31482 on the Marian shrine of Longtian.
• OpenStreetMap, way 1442736569, edificio cartografiado en Longtian.