荷兰遣使会全体神父致研讨会的函 | The Letter of The Council of the Dutch Vincentian Fathers, CM

致参加正定研讨会的全体成员：

各位女士们、先生们：

荷兰遣使会的神父们很高兴并很感激，在77年前， 1937年10月9日在正定被残暴杀害的文致和主教和六位同伴、以及一位熙笃会会士及一位平信徒得以如此重视。

这些致命者为了保护几千年轻妇女而不惜牺牲自己的生命，这些妇女处于被国外侵略者士兵的危险中，致命者是何等的勇气。这些传教士本来可以为了保护自身的安全选择返回自己的家乡，丢下那些受威胁的妇女。然而文致和主教及其同伴的勇敢见证显示了他们在中国传教和工作的本质及真实意图，这也是一直以来教会在中国的使命。

耶稣给他门徒和教会的使命就是到世界各地为全人类宣讲并实践天主的爱，不分任何人、国家、文化或种族。这就是为什么历代天主教传教士到世界各地通过爱和各种服务带给人们福音：如教育、医疗、教学、科技、农业等。

法国Vincent de Paul神父（1581-1660）非常关心贫困和受苦的人，因此他建立了两个修会：遣使会和仁爱修女会，以解救贫穷者的需要和痛苦。他们中许多人被派遣到中国。在1850年至1950年间，荷兰遣使会神父共派出约一百位，为服务中国穷人的需要，其中正定教区15人。他们把爱完全奉献给了中国人民。在中国经历了许多的磨难与牺牲，有不少人在年轻的时候就死于斑疹伤害和黄热病。Antoon的兄弟Joseph Geerts神父在中国仅仅四年就于1899年去世。他在荷兰的父亲听到这个噩耗之后，深深的叹了口气说：“现在我们家没有人能代替Joseph了”。他的大儿子Antoon回答说：“好吧！亲爱的父亲，让我去吧！”。于是很快到了中国，并接替了他弟弟Joseph的地方。Antoon是在1937年文致和主教、Gerard Wouters、以及其它六人一起被杀害的。

荷兰遣使会的神父们非常感谢这次在中国组织的为纪念那些为保护很多中国年轻妇女而英勇致命的学术研讨会，他们的勇敢行为见证了他们对中国人民和中国文化伟大的爱。天主教，事实上每一个基督徒，都在为中国所有人民的和平与全人类的幸福而奋斗。

愿天主祝福这次研讨会以及参会的每一个人！ 谢谢。

 

Dutch Vincentian Fathers  the Netherlands  Panningen October 2014
To the organizations and participants of the Conferencee on the murder of bishop Frans Schrave c. m. and eight companions in Zhengding,
Shijiazhuang. October 28 – 29 2014.
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen,
The Douth province of the Vincentian Fathers is glad and grateful as well, that his conference pays attention to the atrocious murder of bishop Frans Schraven cm and six confreres, one Trapist and one layman, 77 years ago in Zhending, China, October 9th 1937.
These martyrs had the courage to sacrifice their own lives for the safely of a few thousands young women, who were in danger because of the invasion of hostile foreign soldiers. If these missionaries would have, they could have chosen for their own safety by returning to their homeland, and leaving the frighten women to their own devices.

The courageous witness of bishop Frans Schraven and his confreres have revealed the very nature and true intentions of their mission and work in China in particular as well of the Catholic Church in general throughout the ages.

Jesus gave his apostles and the church the task to go everywhere in the world to bear witness in profession and practice of God’s love for all mankind, without any exception of person, country, culture or race. The love of God has no boundaries. That’s why throughout the ages Christian missionaries wandered all over the world to bring the Good Gospel in all kinds of love and service: education, healthcare, teaching, science, agriculture and so forth.

The French priest Vincent de Paul (1581 - 1660) was so concerned about the poverty and sufferings of the people, that he founded two religious congregations, the Vincent Fathers (Lazarists) and the Daughters of Charity, to ease their needs and pain. Many of them were sent to China. During the time between 1850 and 1950 the Duth Province of the Vincentian Fathers has sent about one hundred members to serve the poor and needy in China. Fifteen of them in this Diocese of Zhengding. Their love and dedication to the Chinese people was overwhelming. However, live in China was for many a real sacrifice. Not few of them died at a young age because of typhus or yellow fever. So did father Joseph Geerts, the brother of Antoon, who died already after only four years in China 1899. His father in the Netherlands, after hearing this horrible news, made a deep sigh and said: “ now there’s nobody anymore in our family who can replace Joseph:! Then his oldest son Antoon replied: “Well, dear father, let me go!” so Antoon Geeerts arrived a short time later in China to take over the place of his young brother Joseph. Antoon was murder in 1937 together with bishop Frans Schraven, father Gerard Wouters and six others.

The Council of the Dutch Vincentian Fathers is very grateful that this conference in China on the tragic murder is organized in order not to forget their heroic death for safeguarding the lives of many young Chinese women. Their courageous behavior is an authentic witness of their great love for the Chinese people and their culture. The Catholic church actually every Christian, is striving for peace and happiness of all mankind under the blessing of God, who in China so meaningfully is called. The Lord of heaven, Thian –ju.
May the blessings of the Lord of heaven rest on this conference and on  all of you, who participate.