Nicholas Kao Se Tseien O.C.S.O. (traditional Chinese: 高師謙; simplified Chinese: 高师谦; Cantonese Yale: Gōu Sī-hīm; Jyutping: Gou1 Si1him1; pinyin: Gāo Shīqiān; 15 January 1897[1] – 11 December 2007),[2] was a Chinese Trappist priest in Hong Kong who was the oldest-living Catholic priest and also the oldest person ever to have had a cataract operation, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.[1][3]
The Reverend Nicholas Kao Se Tseien | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
高師謙 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Kao in 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 15 January 1897 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 11 December 2007 (aged 110 years, 330 days) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Religion | Roman Catholic | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Amoy University | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Known for | Oldest living Catholic priest | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Organization | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Order | Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Church | Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Our Lady of Joy Abbey | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 高師謙 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 高师谦 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Biography
editBorn in Foochow, Fukien province (now Fuzhou, Fujian province), one of four brothers, Kao studied law at Amoy University (now Xiamen University) and later converted to Catholicism aged 18 while attending a school run by Spanish Dominican friars. He was trained as a teacher and studied law at night, but he ultimately decided to become a priest.
His life spanned parts of three centuries, two Emperors of China, and ten papacies. He stated that in 1912 he voted for Sun Yat Sen as China's president.[1] His clerical life would bring him from China to Taiwan, Malaysia, and finally Hong Kong.
In 1972, he was at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.[4] He lived a cloistered life, but regularly shared advice for a healthy and long life. He gave visitors a list of "Healthy Seven Nos": no smoking; no anger; no alcohol; no overeating; constant exercise; constant prayer; no rudeness. He was devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary throughout his life — he would say the Rosary many times each day, and built six shrines to her in Taiwan, mainland China, Malaysia and Hong Kong.[5]
He stayed at Our Lady of Joy Abbey at Lantau Island for more than 30 years,[5] where he died peacefully in his sleep on the morning of 11 December 2007, aged 110 years and 330 days. His body was buried in the Monastery's private graveyard.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Mitchell, Justin (8 October 2005). "Priest confesses secrets of longevity". The Standard. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012.
- ^ "Secluded in Lantau Island, the longest-lived Hong Kong native, 110 day old man died 隱居大嶼山修道 最長壽的香港人110歲人瑞逝世". Apple Daily appledaily.atnext.com (in Chinese). 12 December 2007. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- ^ Reportage at Vatican Radio, January 18, 2007 Archived October 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Hao, Gao (November 26, 2017). "Master's Day, Christ the King's Day, 3849 Recalling Father Gao Shiqian". Retrieved December 4, 2018.
- ^ a b ""Other Local Church News" Father Gao Shiqian of the Lantau Mountain Monastery, Master Shi Qian, celebrates the 110th birthday 其他本地教會新聞 大嶼山神樂院高師謙神父 感恩祭慶祝一百一十壽辰". Kung Kao Po (in Chinese). Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ "本地教會 第3330期". kkp.catholic.org.hk. Retrieved 2019-06-13.
External links
edit- Reportage at Vatican Radio, 18 January 2007 (in Italian)
- Fr Kao's photo on The Standard
- Fr Kao's Memorial Webpage
- Fr Kao's Memorial Blog
