“Donglu.” The name echoes through the story of Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel. It is a story of faith and resilience. It begins in a small Chinese village attacked during the Boxer Rebellion.
Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel stands as a testament to the enduring power of faith. Its story intertwines with that of Our Lady of China. This title is associated with a Marian apparition in Donglu, China, in 1900.
Legend says that the Virgin Mary appeared in white. She was with a fiery horseman, believed to be Saint Michael. They drove away the attacking soldiers. The village of Donglu was saved.
The local priest commissioned a painting. It depicted Mary like Empress Ci Xi. This image became known as Our Lady of Donglu. Donglu became a pilgrimage site. In 1924, bishops consecrated the Chinese people to the Virgin Mary.
Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel echoes this devotion. Though geographically distant from Donglu, it shares a spiritual connection. It is a place where the faithful can connect with the story of Our Lady of China.
In 1928, Pope Pius XI blessed the image of Our Lady of Donglu. Pope Pius XII designated her feast day in 1941. In 1973, the Chinese Bishops’ Conference set the feast on the vigil of Mother’s Day.
The original statue was destroyed in 1966 during the Cultural Revolution. A new canvas was created in 1989. It showed Mary and Jesus in golden imperial robes. This image is now at the “Our Lady of Donglu” parish.
The story of Our Lady of China extends beyond mainland China. In 1976, a statue was made in Taiwan. It is venerated at the National Shrine of Our Lady of China. Pope Francis granted it a canonical coronation in 2021. The coronation happened in 2022.
Even in the United States, there is a shrine to Our Lady of China. It was erected in Rockville, Maryland, in 1982. It serves as a pastoral mission to Chinese people.
Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel participates in this global devotion. It offers a space for prayer and reflection. The mosaic is displayed at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Controversy arose due to the Marian iconography allegedly having syncretist associations to the Buddhist goddess Kuan Yin and not being officially sanctioned by the Holy Office for religious propagation.
The story of Our Lady of Sheshan is also linked to Our Lady of China. Sheshan is a pilgrimage site near Shanghai. The bishops of China consecrated the country to Our Lady of China in 1924.
Today, Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel calls us to remember this history. It is a reminder of faith and perseverance. It is a place to honor Our Lady of China. It is a haven of peace in the bustling city.