Our Lady of China:

1900 and Confirmed in 1995

The problem with miracles is that there are just too many of them. Internet research will disclose a never-ending stream of stories and claims about the miraculous. Some or many may be a fortuitous coincidence that can be explained as natural events. Others, however, can be explained only as divine intervention. Our Lady of China is one such event, witnessed by a multitude of hostiles in 1900 who acted contrary to their own best interests because of such intervention. This event was confirmed in 1995.

Our Lady of China

Some miracles have been ruthlessly suppressed by government officials, and Our Lady of China is a prime example.

The Boxer Rebellion was a violent internal uprising that took place in China between 1899 and 1901. The Boxer’s mission was to exterminate and drive out foreign powers and Christians. In 1900, 10,000 Boxer soldiers surrounded the village of Dong Lu, located about 90 miles southwest of Beijing and vowed to kill all the village Catholics, believed to have numbered between 700 and 1,000. The village priest invoked the Blessed Virgin to save his people. With only a few guns and one cannon the villagers were able to fight off the attackers four times.

The 1900 miracle

Suddenly, the attacking soldiers started to shoot senselessly into the sky and fled. They never came back. Later, some boxers who had converted said that a woman in white had appeared above Dong Lu and in their fear fired at her, but without effect. The Lady did not leave and a strange horseman put them to flight. He was later identified as St. Michael the Archangel. In gratitude to the Blessed Mother for her protection a large gothic church was completed three years later.

The 1995 miracle

In 1941 Japanese artillery destroyed the church. A new church was built in 1991, which was one-third larger than the original and could accommodate 3,000 people. On May 23, 1995, 30,000 Catholics gathered for Mass at the Dong Lu shrine on the vigil of the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians. Four bishops were concelebrating the Mass and nearly 100 unofficial priests were standing in the open field. The sun suddenly lost its overpowering brightness so that people could look directly at it. The center of the sun was covered by a host (the Eucharist Bread). People observed the sun spinning, first to the left and then to the right. It was surrounded by a variety of colors. People saw different apparitions, including the Holy Cross, the Holy Family, and Mary. The sun would approach the participants and then return. Then following a sudden white ray the sun returned to normal. This all lasted for about twenty minutes.

These are simply the facts.

The next day security forces barred more pilgrims and started sending them away. Still, about 100,000 pilgrims found alternative ways to get to the shrine.

In April 1996 the government forbade anyone from going to the Dong Lu shrine. Soon thereafter, the Chinese government mobilized 5,000 troops, supported by dozens of armored cars and helicopters, annihilated the shrine, confiscated the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and arrested many priests. The bishop was sentenced to 26-28 years imprisonment, and no one is sure whether he is dead or alive.

That’s the price for being a faithful Christian in China.

Reference is made to the YouTube series, Marian Shrines of the World, and The Miracle Hunter. Images and other accounts of the 1900 and 1995 can be accessed at “The Virgin Mary’s Apparition in Dong Lu, China” and the Divine Mysteries and Miracles Divine Mysteries and Miracles website and enter “Dong Lu” in the search box.

Some websites and references

Last modified July 27, 2019