Wednesday night was Fr. Mario Rosso's Memorial Service. Fr. Mario (aka 朱神父) was my spiritual overseer for almost 18 years.
I thought I knew this man... but on the night of his memorial service, did I come to realize what he's done as a servant of Jesus. Born in Italy... he left to be a missionary in China in 1938 at the ripe age of 14. Before World War II.... he already had a heart for the missions, a heart for China. Starting at age 14, he went to China to learn Chinese, Cantonese, Shanghainese. Not just to speak, but to read and write. And not just write... but write elegantly.
As a Catholic missionary, he survived World War II. He survived the rise of Communism, the expulsion of organized religion, and survived the trials and tribulations of being a white man in a yellow country.
"An egg" is how he characterizes himself. White on the outside, yellow on the inside. Conversely, I call myself a banana... yellow on the outside, white on the inside.
One of my most vivid memory of 朱神父, unfortunately, was when he came into the sacristy and scolded me for not being solemn enough as an altar boy. He was so pissed... he said if I didn't change my ways, "Don't come and serve on Sundays." I never acted up ever again....
His Resurrection Mass was beautiful. The first reading was from Isaiah 61:1-3.... the passage for a missionary... as the priest would describe it. Responsorial Psalm was Psalm 23.... very fitting. And the 2nd reading was from Philippians 1:3-11.... as it was Paul's letter to the Philippians, it was also a letter from 朱神父 to all of us. The choir was amazing... for the most part. And even the altar boys (or altar servers) evoked a smile on my face with their tiniest little motions of bowing and turning.
朱神父 never had much in his life. But he legacy he leaves behind... is more than most people can ever imagine. Rest In Peace.... you are in a much better place now.
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