WISE MAN FROM THE WEST

Wise Man from the West

An exhibition celebrating the 4th Centenary
of the death of P. Matteo Ricci, SJ,
a wise man from the West.
an apostle to the East
bridging science and evangelization,
Christian religion and Chinese culture
in friendship, humility, service and faith,
for God's greater glory.

29 July to 29 October 2010
SHP Alternative Contemporary Art Studio,
Sacred Heart Parish,
242 D. Jakosalem St., Cebu City

The work of evangelization, of making Christians, should be carried on both in Peking and in the provinces… following the methods of pacific penetration and cultural adaptation. Europeanism is to be shunned. Contact with Europeans, specifically with the Portugese in Maca, should be reduced to a minimum. Strive to make good Christians rather than multitudes of indifferent Christians… Eventually when we have a goodly number of Christians, then perhaps it would not be impossible to present some memorial to the Emperor asking that the right of Christians to practice their religion be accorded, inasmuch as is not contrary to the laws of China. Our Lord will make known and discover to us little by little the appropriate means for bringing about in this matter His holy will.

-Matteo Ricci, in his diary regarding his explicit missionary directives.