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Dear guests, family of the bishop, fellow priests, brothers, sisters, and all in Christ! Today we gather here for the funeral mass of Bishop Wei Zengjue Zhu Weifang, praying for the merciful God to accept him into eternal light. We firmly believe that the loving Father will reward Bishop Zhu a hundredfold for his lifelong dedication and faithfulness. From the moment he was called, Bishop Zhu steadfastly walked the path of his vocation and service, as inscribed on a memorial banner: “Twice imprisoned and faced with numerous hardships, a life of storms through ninety springs and autumns.” Throughout his long journey of faith, vocation, and pastoral care, he bore beautiful witness to the Lord, leaving us with many inspirations to inherit a living faith.
Bishop Zhu was born in a small village in Yongjiayangao and moved to Wenzhou Cathedral with his father, Mr. Zhu Renzhai, during his childhood. From then on, he formed an inseparable bond with God and the Church. Growing up, he lived closely with priests from both China and abroad, which nurtured the seed of his vocation in his young heart. Starting from the age of 13, he left home to pursue monastic life, and at 27, he was ordained a priest, facing many challenges along the way. The eight years of the War of Resistance often left him unable to return home. The conflicts between the Nationalists and Communists further delayed his ordination. To ensure he could continue his studies and be ordained, Bishop Zhu once went to the outskirts of Hong Kong, hoping to attend a seminary abroad, but was unable to do so and had to return to Wenzhou. Thank God, through His protection, after enduring through Ningbo, Jiaxing, Fuzhou, and finally the Xujiahui Seminary, he was ordained in Shanghai, beginning his tumultuous priestly career. The path of vocation is one that can only be walked with the Lord’s guidance. Without the Lord’s care and selection, no one could reach the end. It is a path filled with wonderful grace; the more difficulties one faces, the more the Lord’s faithfulness, omnipotence, and mercy are revealed. The scripture says: “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). God attracted Bishop Zhu during his childhood through the good faith atmosphere around him and beautiful testimonies; during his youth, he was propelled by the Church’s nurturing and guidance; especially when the opportunity for ordination seemed bleak, Christ truly encountered him deep within his heart. Just a year before his ordination, he wrote the classic lyrics of “Being with Christ”: “Christ, my soul cannot be apart from you; I am captivated by your holy presence. You subtly influence my thoughts and life, like turning ordinary water into fine wine.”
Former Pope Benedict XVI explained the vocation by saying: “First and foremost, the priestly vocation is an inner encounter with Christ, being drawn by Him, moved by His words, actions, and person.” It is precisely due to this profound encounter with Christ that he followed Him all his life, never looking back. God has a beautiful plan for each of us, a unique vocation in our lives. Especially for Christians, Pope Benedict XVI stated in his encyclical “God is Love”: “The beginning of Christianity is not an ethical decision or a great idea, but an event of encounter, an encounter with a person, which gives life a new starting point and thus a decisive direction.” This indicates that the starting point of new life is meeting Christ! Every Christian must believe and earnestly hope to frequently encounter Christ, so that they can find their purpose and spread the Gospel, walking steadily on the path to the Kingdom of Heaven. Even though we often walk through dark valleys, we do not fear danger, for His rod and staff comfort us. The book of Hebrews states: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Just as the Lord Jesus led and took care of the bishop’s life, He will also guide and protect us throughout our lives. For He has endured countless hardships to dwell among humanity. As long as we maintain a lively hope and desire to meet Christ, responding to Jesus’ longing, we will often live in joy and peace. Bishop Zhu, as an elder, lived among us in the Wenzhou Church for a long time. His straightforwardness and wit, along with his quick thinking, were often praised, though sometimes misunderstood. However, people look at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. The scripture says: “My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him” (Hebrews 10:38). Regardless of whether the sky over Wenzhou Church is clear or filled with dark clouds; whether the sea is calm or fraught with danger, Bishop Zhu always maintained good habits in his spiritual life. Daily morning masses, Eucharistic adoration, and the rosary were almost unshakeable. He often said that the key to a day is in the morning; by performing these spiritual practices in the morning and entrusting everything to God, one can naturally find peace and composure. There is a saying in the Church: how one prays is how one lives. The law of prayer determines the law of faith. This saying is fully evidenced in the bishop’s life. It was through repeated encounters with Christ in prayer, lifting his heart upwards, that he often remained calm and composed during critical moments, speaking with wisdom and shining with the light of insight. Jesus promised: “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all” (Mark 16:17-18). Reflecting on the bishop’s life, he lost his freedom twice for a total of twenty-two years. He faced numerous movements and storms, suffering much criticism and inner turmoil. Without persistent and continually strengthened faith, how could he maintain an optimistic and open mindset? Without faith as his foundation, how could he act and speak with the Holy Spirit at critical moments involving major principles and directions of faith? In the small details of life, due to long-term trust and reliance, he did not suffer from insomnia, a common issue among many elderly people. The Bible says: “You fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8-9). Time does not spare anyone; even as he aged and was afflicted by illness, his excellent sleep still fully demonstrated his prayer power and deep faith. True faith also allowed him to see God in all things, growing in admiration for Him. He particularly loved nature; whenever the weather permitted, even in the rain, he would seek to be close to nature. Sometimes, a flower, a blade of grass, a tree, or a piece of wood would make him pause for a long time, marveling at God’s omnipotent goodness. Every detail is vivid in memory. The book of Hebrews 13:7 states: “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” No one is perfect, and gold is not without blemish. Evaluating a person should focus on the overall character and mainstream actions, looking at deeds and facts. In the life of Bishop Cai, we see endurance and foresight; in the life of Elder Wang, we see integrity and selflessness; in the life of Bishop Lin, we see caution in speech and humility in self-governance. Bishop Zhu’s complete trust in faith, with measured actions, is also extraordinary, representing a valuable asset for the Wenzhou Church, a monument. Each of us, as church members and religious, walking this path of faith, must firmly grasp the core and essence of faith, “for in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith'” (Romans 1:17). The Church has always existed and developed in grace and trials, and the stage of the Wenzhou Diocese will always have various dramas performed. Without faith, we cannot take a single step. The journey of every Christian to the Kingdom of Heaven is also fraught with challenges and twists. However, the scripture says: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2). Let us follow the encouragement of scripture; although the road ahead may be unclear, let us move forward in faith. Bishop Zhu has today been called by the Lord, returning to the embrace of the Father, but his life has left us with many inspirations. During his second imprisonment, he fainted from heat exhaustion while harvesting crops for six or seven hours. If God had taken him at that time, Wenzhou Diocese might have gained another pilgrimage site. Sometimes we may wonder why God chose to keep this man, who could have been a saint in the eyes of the faithful, amidst judgment and criticism. We may even worry why he was appointed as the complex bishop of Wenzhou Diocese at such an advanced age. He was so straightforward and candid; how could he possibly fulfill the role of bishop? Thank God, in significant occasions, Bishop Zhu, alongside the clergy, demonstrated loyalty to Christ, adherence to principles, and commitment to pastoral care and evangelization, which is commendable. These experiences tell us, especially our young priests: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” (Romans 11:33). Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are God’s ways higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. We, humble and foolish people, can only say: Father, not my will, but yours be done.
Indeed, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong; and the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). The scripture also says: “Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins, and he is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness” (Hebrews 5:1-3). Since God often chooses imperfect people to accomplish His perfect work, we cannot demand others to be a certain way; rather, we should reflect on ourselves, how to complement each other, accept and embrace, and build the Church together. The Apostle Paul, when discussing the building of the body of Christ, said: “On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty” (1 Corinthians 12:22-23). In the face of unreasonable people, places, and things, we should “go towards the sacred side of the world” (Deuteronomy 17:25). We should give thanks in all things, rather than blame, criticize, or complain. Instead of tearing down, we should build up and support. Do not ask what the Church has done for you, but ask what you have done for the Church. Be assured and recognize that everyone and everything around you appears for a reason, all with God’s good intentions and blessings. Only then will harmony prevail, and through love, others will recognize us as Christians. Where there is a bishop, there is a Church. The bishop is a sign of unity and communion. However, the Wenzhou Diocese, which has suffered from division, has had bishops throughout its history but still lacks sacramental communion. We pray to God and ask Bishop Zhu, now in heaven, to continually pray for the unity of Wenzhou. May everyone recognize and transcend the true causes of internal and external divisions. Unless the grain dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Each elder who loves the diocese, upon entering the eternal kingdom of bliss, brings us one step closer to the goal of unity. Brothers and sisters, as we near the end of this sharing, I thank the bishop for prophetically entrusting the complex Wenzhou Diocese to the council I lead. I feel deeply unworthy and incapable, and I earnestly pray to God: may the dawn of diplomatic relations between China and the Vatican arrive soon, even tomorrow, so that the suffering Wenzhou Diocese may truly return to one shepherd and one flock. Now, on behalf of the diocesan council, I express gratitude to the bishop’s family for completely dedicating their loved one to God and entrusting him entirely to the Church, allowing the Church to take full responsibility for him. I thank all the priests, religious, and sisters; we are all sons of the bishop, all assistants to the bishop, sharing the same fate and burdens, especially during the most difficult times in the Church, we have always accompanied the bishop. I also thank all the faithful for their care, understanding, and sincere prayers for the bishop, allowing him to complete his life’s journey in peace. I thank all the guests and leaders from various sectors, especially for the exceptional treatment received during the bishop’s hospitalization, allowing him to return smoothly to Ma’ao Church and peacefully return to the Father’s house. Dear faithful, dear religious, and fellow clergy, we bear the great mission of developing the Church and saving souls. Let us carry this mission forward, glorifying God and benefiting others, walking this glorious path to the Kingdom of Heaven. May God bless you! May you be graced throughout your life, prosper in all things, bear abundant fruit, and share eternal happiness with Bishop Zhu in the future. Amen!
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