Six Catholic nuns pledged to devote their lives to Christ last Sunday in Beijing. They are the first batch of nuns in the country to take vows since Liberation in 1949, Xinhuanet reported.

Torrential rain did not prevent thousands of excited converts from congregating at the Xishiku Church, the biggest church in Beijing, to celebrate the historical moment.

"Will you marry God for eternity, Sister Ying Mulan?" asked Fu Tieshan, chairman of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association.

"I will," Ying Mulan answered, kneeling in front of the altar like a lamb. Tears covered her face.

The 68-year-old Ying Mulan was the eldest among the six nuns.

Born in a Catholic family, she was baptized eight days after her birth and educated in church schools. She became a doctor in her twenties.

Ying said her road to Catholicism was not that smooth, especially during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76). During the 20 years, she suffered a lot being forced to stop her medical practice and sent to the countryside to do hard labor. What's worst, she was forbidden to practice her religion.

"I saw the suffering as a test from God," said Ying philosophically, "I felt extremely honored and happy when I was admitted to the mission in my later years."

The six nuns vowed to devote their lives to Jesus Christ and serve the mission for life at the mass.

The ritual was dazzling for laymen. Sacrifice, greeting, confession, baptism, praying - everything was conducted according to Western rituals.

The ceremony was carried out to the music of the "Wedding March".

New entrants to the mission can only pledge to serve God for one year. Then three years, then five years. The pledge can be invalid if nuns leave the mission for a period of time. But the pledge of serving God for life means they can never leave the mission.

Catholic nuns will study rudiments of the Catholic Church, the Bible, English, Chinese, politics, embroidery and physical education. They will also relieve people in disasters, help poor children and serve the old and patients.

The gospel was brought to Beijing in the 13th century. The Catholic Church has been developing rapidly over the past 20 years. Now, China has 110 Catholic parishes and 5 million Catholics. More than 50,000 Chinese Catholics are baptized each year.

(Shanghai Star August 3, 2002)