Jimmy Lai’s Faith Shines Amidst Adversity, Says Daughter at Prayer Breakfast
Claire Lai, daughter of the imprisoned media tycoon Jimmy Lai, recently spoke at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, sharing how her father’s faith remains steadfast in the face of adversity. Despite being incarcerated, Jimmy Lai views his life as dedicated to God, a sentiment he expressed through his daughter.
The event, held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, featured messages from both Pope Leo XIV and President Donald Trump, along with speeches by various political and religious leaders, and entertainers.
Claire recounted her father’s journey over the past six years, emphasizing his enduring faith in Jesus Christ. She relayed his words: “I should stop thinking about myself. My life is no longer about me, but God. Difficult, no doubt. I must try to get into the mindset of self-denial. This is the way to get to the presence of the Lord. God help me. If I have God, God alone is enough.”
Jimmy Lai’s remarkable life story includes escaping Communist China for British Hong Kong at the age of 12 and later flourishing in America, where he embraced freedom and was guided by the Holy Spirit, even before he consciously realized it.
In 1997, the same year Hong Kong was handed back to China, the Lai family converted to Catholicism. This period was marked by anxiety for many in Hong Kong, but Jimmy found solace in his faith, overcoming doubts through divine mercy and grace.
Jimmy Lai’s troubles began in 2020 with the imposition of a stringent national security law in Hong Kong by Beijing. He was arrested shortly after the law’s enactment and has been in solitary confinement since, with a recent sentence extending to 20 years.
Claire shared the toll this isolation has taken on her father’s health, including poorly managed diabetes and heart conditions. He endures confinement in a small, dark cell with limited access to fresh air and sunlight.
Despite being denied access to sacraments like the Eucharist, Jimmy Lai continues to find ways to serve God. Claire expressed gratitude that his faith remains unshaken, noting his strength in aligning his suffering with Christ’s and finding joy in offering prayers for others, including those who have wronged him.
Reflecting on her upbringing, Claire noted, “Growing up, I was reminded by my parents that everything is grace. My father’s experience consistently reminds me that suffering is also grace. It helps us find the way to the foot of the cross on Calvary.”
With hope for her father’s release, Claire expressed optimism about the support from America, a country her family deeply admires. She acknowledged the efforts of the president and administration in freeing those wrongly detained worldwide and hopes they will succeed in freeing Jimmy Lai.
Previously, at the 2021 National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, Jimmy Lai was awarded the Christifideles Laici Award in absentia for his dedication to fostering awareness of the Church’s mission.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
