• La Civiltà Cattolica
  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Contact us
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
LA CIVILTÀ CATTOLICA
Advertisement
  • Home
  • Church Life
    • Faith
    • Mission
    • People
    • Pope Francis
    • Spirituality
  • Church Thought
    • Doctrine
    • Scripture
    • Theology
  • Culture
  • Politics
  • Editions
  • Authors
  • Donate

No products in the cart.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Church Life
    • Faith
    • Mission
    • People
    • Pope Francis
    • Spirituality
  • Church Thought
    • Doctrine
    • Scripture
    • Theology
  • Culture
  • Politics
  • Editions
  • Authors
  • Donate

No products in the cart.

No Result
View All Result
LA CIVILTÀ CATTOLICA
No Result
View All Result
     
Home 2304

Candida, Other Women and Jesuits in 17th-century China

Federico Lombardi, SJbyFederico Lombardi, SJ
March 29, 2023
in 2304, Biography, China, Church Life, Edition, Education, Faith, Full Text Article, Mission, Spirituality, Subscriber Only Articles, Trending Article, WHAT FORM WILL FUTURE CHRISTIANITY TAKE?
0
Candida, Other Women and Jesuits in 17th-century China
0
SHARES
563
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Many have heard about the Jesuit missionaries in China in the 16th-18th centuries. The most famous was Matteo Ricci, who has gone down in history as the initiator of the encounter between Chinese and Western culture and – as far as the Church is concerned – as a model of inculturation, of the proclamation of the Gospel to China and, more generally, to peoples of cultures very different from that of Europe. Ricci was only the first in a long series of outstanding figures, remembered mostly for their scientific or technical abilities (astronomy, mathematics, hydraulics, cannon casting…), cultural (translation of Confucian classics…), artistic (painting, architecture…), so much so that there are those who question whether the Jesuits’ main commitment was to cultural encounter rather than evangelization.

It is good, therefore, to remind ourselves that the deeper intention that moved the missionaries was to offer knowledge of the Gospel and the newness of Christian life inspired by it. In these pages we will touch on a not very well known aspect of their evangelizing activities and the response they encountered among the Chinese women who became Christians.[1]

First baptisms, first confessions, participation in community life

In Chinese upper-class society, women had to lead an extremely withdrawn life under the very tight control of their parents, husbands and family members. Therefore, the missionaries’ direct dealing  with them was practically impossible, indeed to be avoided, so as not to arouse  suspicion and rejection. The Jesuits soon abandoned the clothes and lifestyle of the bonzes to take on that of the literati. While the women of the lower classes  frequented the bonzes, social control over women of the educated classes was very strict.[2]

The first residence established by the Jesuits in China, after many attempts, was that of Fathers Ruggieri and Ricci in Zhaoqing, in the South, where they would remain for six years. In all this time there were no more than 70-80 baptisms (not counting those of dying children), but in the final year, 1589, “the last baptism ceremony that took place was  of 18 people, amongst whom were  several honorable matrons, who have given great credit and support to Christianity in their houses” (FR I, 261).[3] These were the first Chinese women to join the Church! They were certainly wives or mothers of cultured men, already baptized or very close to the two missionaries, who could in no way catechize the women directly, but only through third persons (ibid., No. 2). Even later and in other places this remained the normal way to reach women and arrange their baptism.

This article is reserved for paid subscribers. Please subscribe to continue reading this article
Subscribe

Welcome to
La Civiltà Cattolica !
This article is reserved for paid subscribers
Please login or subscribe to continue reading this article
LOGIN
SUBSCRIBE
What is La Civiltà Cattolica?

Tags: BoymCandidaCaritas omnia sustinet “Charity cares for everything"Caspar FerreiraChinaChinese Rites ControversyChongzhenDiego PantojaDr PaulDu HaldeEmanuele LoreficeFather RuggieriFr. Emanuel DiazJohan Adam Schall von BellKofflerLazarus CattaneoLi ZichengMatteo RicciNanjing Church incidentNicholas LongobardPhilippe Couplet)SambiasiXu GuangqiYongli
Previous Post

Cultures and Encounters

Next Post

The Passion for Evangelization: The apostolic zeal of the believer

Federico Lombardi, SJ

Federico Lombardi, SJ

Emeritus editor, La Civiltà Cattolica

Related Posts

The Symbolic Universe of Cormac McCarthy
Biography

The Symbolic Universe of Cormac McCarthy

byAntonio Spadaro, SJand1 others
October 2, 2023
The Renewal of a College of Cardinals Always Ready for its Service
Church Life

The Renewal of a College of Cardinals Always Ready for its Service

byFederico Lombardi, SJ
September 29, 2023
globalization
Climate Change

Globalization and Ecological Transition

byGaël Giraud, SJ
September 27, 2023
Earthly Home
Buddhism

‘Inhabiting the Earthly Home and Embracing Heaven’

byAntonio Spadaro, SJ
September 25, 2023
Violence Transformed by Art: Five women artists - women artists
Art

Violence Transformed by Art: Five women artists

byBert Daelemans, SJ
September 22, 2023
Next Post
The Passion for Evangelization: The apostolic zeal of the believer

The Passion for Evangelization: The apostolic zeal of the believer

Please login to join discussion

Subscription Offers

Premium Content

The Symbolic Universe of Cormac McCarthy

The Symbolic Universe of Cormac McCarthy

October 2, 2023
globalization

Globalization and Ecological Transition

September 27, 2023
Earthly Home

‘Inhabiting the Earthly Home and Embracing Heaven’

September 25, 2023

Browse by Category

BEATUS POPULUS CUIUS DOMINUS DEUS EIUS

The most respected digital Catholic journal from Rome. A must-read on all the present issues alive in the Church. Discover top Church scholars interpreting the history, politics, culture, science and art in the light of the Christian faith.

Categories

  Editions
  Church Thought
  Authors
  Church 
 
  Culture
  Perspective Series
  Politics & Socitey

 

About Us

   Contact Us
   La Civiltà Cattolica  
   China Forum
   Feedback
   Terms & Conditions
   Privacy Policy
    Email : [email protected]
My IP Address : 2a03:2880:25ff:75::face:b00c
Facebook Twitter Instagram

© Union of Catholic Asian News 2023 | All Rights Reserved.
Except for any fair dealing permitted under the Hong Kong Copyright Ordinance, no part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without prior permission.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Church Life
    • Faith
    • Mission
    • People
    • Pope Francis
    • Spirituality
  • Church Thought
    • Doctrine
    • Scripture
    • Theology
  • Culture
  • Politics
  • Editions
  • Authors
  • Donate
SUBSCRIBE

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?
Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
  • Login
  • Sign Up
Forgot Password?
Lost your password? Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.

laciviltacattolica.com uses cookies and similar technologies to optimize the user experience,  analyze site traffic and communicate with subscribers. To read more about how we use cookies and how you can control them click on settings, or click Accept to start browsing our site.

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?
LA CIVILTÀ CATTOLICA
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.