Andreas Brender, Manfred Kierein-Kuenring, Catholic Hierarchy in China since 1307. Cluj-Napoca 2012.
Nach 20 Jahren Recherche und zahlreichem Briefverkehr mit chinesischen Bischöfen und emeritierten Missionsbischöfen konnte endlich ein Gesamtbild der Bischöfe und Bischofsweihen in China seit 1307 erstellt werden.
Zusammen mit dem Wiener Kirchenhistoriker Dr. Manfred Kierein habe ich meine Forschungsergebnisse publiziert. Das biographiesche Lexikon enthält Kurzbiographien der Bischöfe in China von Johannes von Montecorvino in 1307 bis zum Kardinalat Bischof Tongs im Februar 2012.
„Catholic Hierarchy in China since 1307” ist erschienen bei Editura Napoca Star, Cluj-Napoca (Rumänien) und kann dort bezogen werden. Für mehr Infos und Kontaktdaten bitte eine E-Mail an: bishops.china@googlemail.com
Auszug:
Introduction:
The history of the Catholic hierarchy in China begins in the year 1307 with the appointment of Giovanni de Montecorvino as Bishop of Khanbaliq. Missionaries from Europe and other areas, along with Chinese clergy, governed the gradually developing dioceses, apostolic vicariates, apostolic administrations, apostolic prefectures and missions in China. Many of them died as martyrs, spent decades in prison and labour camps, or were or remain impeded from the exercise of their duties. Chinese clergy still govern today.
This work contains the research of various historians who independently collected and investigated data of bishops and priests in China over decades.
The main research focus was based on the data of the bishops’ consecrations. This data includes the dates and places of consecration as well as the names of the principal consecrators and provides a general overview of the apostolic succession in China. Additional biographical information completes each bishop’s data.
It is important to note that in this work, we also included priests who were either named bishops but did not receive consecration or who were named ordinaries without the episcopal dignity (e.g., apostolic prefects). A distinction between Roman nominations and nominations of bishops of the Catholic Patriotic Association (CPA) was specifically not made.
Graphic material was not included in this work, as the copyright was unclear.
The work on China by Father Isidore Perraud, C.S.Sp. (1907-1992, France) forms the basis of this book. Over many years he collected data and facts as well as numerous photos, paintings and engravings of bishops in China. His research (~ 1950-91) includes data from all Chinese bishops since 1307 and also includes the appointed bishops of the CPA. Biographic data which Father Perraud assembled is mostly without any references. However his data still functions as a basis and was substituted by footnotes only when the authors used additional references or used other data.
The authors and Mr Charles Bransom (USA), internationally accredited specialists for underground churches and consecration lines, began their research on biographies of Chinese bishops and secret consecrations years ago, at a time when the public did not even know about the existence of underground bishops in China.
With our work and that of Charles Bransom we updated Father Perraud’s research.
Despite extensive research over many years, some of the data could not be determined exactly. We used the spelling of Chinese family names and villages according to the source. This is due to the fact that those involved in this book do not have any knowledge of Chinese.
Beginning in 1958, there was difficulty determining if certain bishops were auxiliary bishops, coadjutors or administrators. As many of the exact dates of nominations are also missing, we decided to start the chronologies of the diocesan lists using the year of consecration as the beginning of a bishop’s ministry.
For the list of the dioceses, the new nomenclature of the Annuario Pontificio was used. Dioceses and their names according to the CPA are shown as cross-references.
In reference to priests who are members of religious orders, at times the dates of their joining the orders differ because some sources use the date of entry into the order as a postulant or novice, while others use the date of final vows.
Our personal thanks goes to all people who assisted with the research of data and with corrections. In addition to Charles Bransom, we would like to mention especially Mr. Martin Wolters (Hamminkeln/Germany), Father Angelo Lazzarotto P.I.M.E. and Father Giambattista Politi, P.I.M.E., who answered all our questions with expertise and patience.
We would also like to thank all of our Chinese friends who provided us information and details, often in situations which proved to be very difficult for them. We would like to extend our appreciation and thanks to all of them.
Rome/Vienna, March 1st. 2012
Andreas Brender Manfred Kierein-Kuenring |
