Archbishop Tang Yee Ming and the Holy Mass

The Coat of Arms of Archbishop Dominic Tang Yee-Ming

"Do this in remembrance of me." -Luke 22:19 (NIV)

The tomb of the Holy and Eucharistic Archbishop of Canton

at the Mission Sta. Clara de Asis in Sta. Clara, California

where he was buried upon his death in Stamford, Connecticut

at the age of 87.

When in Macau, SAR China, in one of my many visits there, I got the chance of talking a very devout Catholic old lady. She was from Canton in the Mainland China and she was just in Macau also for a short visit. Thanks to a Chinese friend who translated our conversation. The lady told of of a story about a certain Jesuit Archbishop named Dominic Tang Yee Ming. He was born in Hong Kong on May 13, 1908.

She said that this Holy and Eucharistic Archbishop inspired most of them to love Jesus in the Holy Mass. This is her story about the late Archbishop of Canton.

Archbishop Dominic was arrested on February 5, 1958 and was imprisoned for twenty-two years, the charges were his loyalty to the Catholic Church and the Pope and his faith in Jesus Christ.

He was in put for five years in a solitary cell. A dark and windowless cell. After five years of confinement in his prison cell, the guards told him that he was free to do whatever he wanted. He could also leave the prison cell for some few hours. The guards then asked the good Archbishop what he wanted.

"Would it be hot food or a hot shower?" He was asked. "Or would it be a telephone call to priests or family members?" "Do you want to read news papers?", were the other questions. They wanted to know what he wanted to do.

But the good Archbishop replied, "I would like to celebrate Holy Mass."

The Archbishop, despite being imprisoned because of his faith in Jesus, still wanted to show how much he loved Him. May like him, we be able to celebrate the Holy Mass with all our hearts to show our love and our faith in Christ, our Lord.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for your loving presence in the Holy Eucharist. May we continue celebrating your love in the Holy Mass. Amen.