Pope Benedict XVI (born 1927 – ) has called Matteo Ricci [a 16th century Jesuit, 1552 – 1610] a model for a “fruitful meeting” between civilizations. Source: Catholic News Agency
America and the other Western democracies could learn much from this man, who is being considered for beatification by the
Vatican.
This wasn’t the first time I heard of the Jesuit missionary. In 1999, while my wife and I were on our honeymoon in China, she told me about Ricci. At the time, I was busy learning of Sir Robert Hart, the protagonist in my first two historical fiction novels, “The Concubine Saga”.
When we first visited Book City in Shanghai, I searched for information of Ricci but the only copy I found was in Mandarin, which I do not read.
Over the years, I forgot about Ricci until a commenter, Y Chan, reminded me when he left a comment for The Connection Between Opium, Christianity and Cannon Balls in China , a post republished March 1, 2011.
Here’s what Y Chan first said in his comment.
“You may want to be more specific when using the word “Christianity” in your article.”
Continued on May 12, 2011, A “Fruitful Meeting” Between Civilizations – Part 2
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Lloyd Lofthouse is the award-winning author of the concubine saga, My Splendid Concubine & Our Hart. When you love a Chinese woman, you marry her family and culture too.
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Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse 
