In May 2007, Pope Benedict XVI released a Letter to Chinese Catholics, in which he asked that May 24 each year be dedicated a World Day of Prayer for the Church in China. He chose May 24 because it is the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, who is venerated at the Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai.
In honor of the first celebration of the World Day of Prayer for China, in 2008, Pope Benedict composed a prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan and asked that Christians throughout the world recite it on May 24.
Let us follow the Holy Father and join our Catholic brothers and sisters in China, many of whom still suffer persecution, in approaching Our Lady Help of Christians in prayer. "Mother of China and all Asia, pray for us, now and for ever!"
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