Friday of the Third Week of Lent

This great season of grace is your gift to your family to renew us in spirit. You give us strength to purify our hearts, to control our desires, and so to serve you in freedom. You teach us how to live in this passing world with our heart set on the world that will never end.

Roman Rite

這恩典的偉大季節是你賜予你家人的禮物，為要在靈裡使我們更新。你賜給我們能力來潔淨我們的心，節制我們的慾望，以致於能夠在自由中敬拜服事你。你也教導我們如何藉著那盼望永恆國度的心，而生活在這將要過去的世界中。

羅馬教會崇拜禮儀

Thursady of the Third Week of Lent

The language that God hears best is the silent language of love.

John of the Cross
Sixteenth Century

You know that good makes no noise and noise does no good. In the common life calm is necessary for the brothers and sisters who are praying, reading and writing, or at night, resting. For love, then, watch your step, your work, your greetings and yours speech. Silence too is charity.

Pierre Marie Delfieux

上帝最喜悅聽見的是愛的靜默之語。

十架約翰
16世紀

你知道良善並不製造喧鬧，而喧鬧並不帶出良善。在日常生活中，對於那些正在禱告、閱讀與寫作，或是夜間正在休憩的弟兄姊妹而言，安靜乃是必須的。因此，為了愛的緣故，留心你的步履、動作、致意和言語。沈靜也是一種恩慈。

皮耶‧馬利‧戴菲爾

Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent

One may understand the cosmos, but never the ego; the self is more distant than any star. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God; but thou shalt not know thyself. We are all under the same mental calamity; we have all forgotten our name. We have all forgotten what we really are. All that we call mommon sense and rationality and practicality and positivism only means that for certain dead levels of our life we forget that we have forgotten. All that we call soirit and art and ecstasy only means that for one awful instant we remember that we forget.

G. K. Chesterton

When from the dust of death I rise
To claim my mansion in the skies,
This then shall be my only plea:
Christ Jesus lived and died for me.

Nicolaus L.
von Zinzendorf
Eighteenthe Century

人或許能夠瞭解宇宙，但從未有人瞭解自我；因為自我比任何星辰都更加遙遠。你能愛主你的上帝，但你卻無法認識你自己。我們全都處在相同的心智災難之下，我們全都已經遺忘我們的名字，也全都遺忘我們究竟是甚麼。一切我們稱之為常識、理性、實用性和實證主義，都僅僅是指著我們為了生命中那些確定死去的層面，而忘記我們已經遺忘的。一切我們稱之為精神、藝術與渾然忘我，都僅僅是指著我們為了一可畏的瞬間，而記得我們所遺忘的。

G. K. 卻斯特頓

當我自死亡的塵土中復活之際，
要宣告我的居所乃是在諸天之中，
這是我唯一的呼籲：
基督耶穌活著，並為我死。

尼可拉斯 L. 親岑多夫
18世紀

Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent

I sing as I arise today!
I call on my Creator's might:
The will of God to be my guide,
The eye of God to be my sight,
The word of God to be my speech,
The hand of God to be my stay,
The shield of God to be my strength,
The path of God to be my way.

Patrick of Ireland
Fifth Century

當我今天起來之時，我要歌唱！
我要呼求創造主的大能：
願上主的旨意成為我的指引，
上主的眼目成為我的視野，
上主的話語成為我的言語，
上主的膀臂成為我的扶持，
上主的保護成為我的力量，
上主的路徑成為我的道路。

愛爾蘭的派翠克
第五世紀

Monday od the Third Week of Lent

We must not imagine that the way of self-denial is always a way of tranquillity and uninterrupted peace. It does not resolve all doubts and deliver us from every scare as if by magic. Self-denial attunes us to the Spirit of God and the Spirit may not always sing a tune that harmonizes with our nature. There may be terrible discords instead of tranquil harmonies. Self-denial brings order into our lives sometimes in the form of an apparent disorder, and we may sometimes have to find peace as best we can in the midst of confusion.

Thomas Merton

我們不應當想像捨己之路總是一條寧靜且平安不斷之路。這無法化解所有的疑惑，宛如藉著魔法帶我們遠離一切驚惶。捨己使我們與上帝的靈相調和，並且聖靈並非總是吟唱與我們的本性相和諧的曲調。或許有討厭的不協調取代寧靜的和諧。有時捨己以表面上失序的方式，將秩序帶入我們的生活之中，而我們有時也必須竭盡所能地在狼狽混亂中，尋見平安。

多瑪斯‧牟敦

Third Sunday of Lent

Jesus met the Samaritan woman at Jocob's well.
The One who covers the earth with clouds
ask water of her.
Oh, what a wonder!
The One who suspended the earth on the waters
ask for water.

Byzantine Vespers

耶穌在雅各井邊遇見撒馬利亞婦人。
以雲朵覆蓋大地的這一位向她要水喝。
喔！太不可思議了，
讓大地浮出水面的這一位，竟然要水喝。

拜占庭晚禱詞

Saturday of the Second Week of Lent

The reason I have told you this parable of the prodigal son is so that you will understand that even sins committed after baptism can be forgiven if we face up to them. I do not say this to encourage indolence but to save you from despair.

John Chrysostom
Fourth Century

我告訴你浪子比喻的原因，是為了要叫你明白，即便是在洗禮之後所犯的罪，如果我們願意面對的話，仍舊可以得著赦免。我說這些不是要鼓勵人怠惰，而是要救你脫離困頓絕望。

約翰‧屈梭多模
第四世紀

Let us have clean hearts ready inside us for the Lord Jesus, so that he will be glad to come in, gratefully accepting the hospitality of those world, our hearts.

Clement of Alexandria
Third Century

You were one of those for whom Christ offered up his last prayer and sealed it with his precious blood. What a thought is this, a thought almost too great for our faith! Scarce can we refrain from acting Sarah's part, when we bring it before us, so as to laugh with amazement and preplexity.

John Henry Newman
Nineteenth Century

讓我們清潔我們的心，為了主耶穌預備我們的裡面，以致於祂將要歡喜地來到裡面，感謝地接受那些地方的款待，也就是我們的心。

亞歷山卓的革利免
第三世紀

在基督為他們獻上最後的禱告，並以寶血為記號的人之中，你是其中一位。這是何等的一種想法，對我們的信心而言，近乎是太過偉大。當我們將這種想法帶到我們面前時，幾乎無法不跟撒拉一樣，帶著驚奇與不解地大笑。

約翰‧亨利‧紐曼
第十九世紀

Thursday of the Second Week of Lent

Give alms from your possessions, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it. Do not turn your face away from anyone who is poor, and the face of God will not be turned away from you. If you have many possessions, make your gift from them in propostion; if few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have.

Tobit 4:7-8

從你的財產中提撥救助金，並且當你進行之時，別讓你的眼睛吝惜這些財物。切勿迴避任何一個窮人，因為上帝的臉也未曾迴避你。倘若你有許多財產，那就按比例從中提撥救助金；如果你的財產少的可憐，那也別害怕按著你所少有的施捨與人。

多比書4:7-8

Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent

Let us sacrifice ourselves to God; further, let us go on every day offering ourselves and all our activities. Let us accept everything literally; let us imitate the passion by our sufferings; let us reverence the blood by our blood; let us be eager to climb the cross.

If you are Simon of Cyrene, take up the cross and follow.

If you are crucified with him as a robber, have the honesty to acknowledge God. If Jesus was numbered among the transgressors becuse of you and your sin, you must become righteous becuse of him. Adore him who hung upon the cross through your fault; and while he is hanging there, draw some advantage even from your own wickedness; buy salvation by his death; enter paradise with Jesus and learn what is the extent of your deprivation.

If you are Joseph of Arimathea, ask the executioner for the body; make your own the expiation of the world.

If you are Nicodemus, the man who served God by night, prepare him for burial with perfumes.

If you are one or other Mary, or Salome or Joanna, shed tears in the early morning. Be the first to see the stone removed, and perhaps the angel too, and even Jesus himself.

Gregory of Nazianzus
Fourth Century

讓我們將自己獻給上帝，更進一步，讓我們每日持續地將自己及一切言行舉止都獻給上帝。讓我們按著字面接受每件事；讓我們藉著苦難，仿效基督的受難；讓我們藉著我們的血，向基督的流血致敬；讓我們渴望登上十架。

如果你是古利奈人西門的話，那就背起十架跟從吧！

如果你是與祂同釘十架的強盜的話，那麼你有承認上帝的誠實。如果耶穌因為你和你的緣故，而被列在罪犯之中，那麼你就要因為祂變成義的。尊崇那因你的過犯而掛在十架上的祂；並且當祂掛在那裡時，你甚至是從你的惡中，得到一些益處；藉著祂的死，你獲得了救恩；與耶穌一同進入樂園，並且學習到你所剝奪的範圍。

如果你是亞利馬太的約瑟，那就去向行刑者求那屍體；為這世界盡一份補償。

如果你是尼哥底母，那位夜裡來敬拜上帝的，那就為祂預備安葬用的薰香吧。

如果你是這位或另一位馬利亞、撒羅米或是約亞拿，那就在清晨留下眼淚。成為首先看到石頭被移開，或許也看到天使，甚至是耶穌自己。

拿先斯的貴格利
第四世紀

Prayer of Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent

Almighty and eternal God,
you dwell on high yet look on the lowly;
to bring us your gift of salvation
you sent Jesus your Son,
our Lord and God.

Look kindly on these catechumens,
who bow before you in worship;
prepare them for their rebirth in baptism,
the forgiveness of their sins,
and the garment of incorruptible life.

Enfold them in your holy, catholic, and apostolic church,
that they may join us
in giving glory to your name.

Rite of Christian
Initiation of Adults

全能永恆的上帝，
你居於高天，卻俯看卑微的人；
你差遣你的兒子，我們的主上帝，耶穌，
將你救恩的賞賜帶給我們。

你慈悲地看顧這些初信者，
就是在崇拜中謙恭在你面前的人，
你在洗禮中為他們預備了重生、
罪得赦免，以及不朽生命的外袍。

將他們抱入你聖潔、大公、為使徒所立的教會之中，
使得他們在將榮耀歸於你名的事上能夠加入我們。

基督教禮儀
成人入會禮

Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent

Spring occupies a very important place in the life of the tiller of the soil; as far as humans are concerned, spring decides what the crop will be. Similary in the life of grace, Lent holds an almost decisive position (Lent is but another word for spring). The more carefully we put away the deeds of winter, the "dead" deeds, the deeper we plow in order that the new seed may find a well-prepared soil enriched with the good deeds of fasting and prayer, the more shall we enjoy the vigorous plants that will spring up and the abundance of the harvest.

Therese Mueller

春天在土地耕耘者的生命中占有重要的地位；就人所關注的而言，春天決定了農作收成將會如何。同樣地，在恩典的生命中，欲苦期也具有類似決定性的地位（預苦期是春天的另一個字）。我們越是謹慎地拋棄冬天的行為（也就是「死」的行為），我們就能耕耘的更深，為了使新的種子能夠找到一片預備妥當，被禁食與禱告的好行為所滋潤的沃土，而我們也將更多地享受即將長成的茂盛作物和無比豐富的收成。

德蕾莎‧穆勒

Monday of the Second Week of Lent

Healing is a sacrament because its purpose or end is not health as such, the restoration of physical health, but the entrance of man into the life of the Kingdom, into the "joy and peace" of the Holy Spirit. In Christ everything in this world, and this means health and disease, joy and suffering, has become an ascension to, and entrance into this new life, its expectation and anticipation.

In this world suffering and disease are indeed "normal", nut their very "normalcy" is abnormal. They reveal the ultimate and permanent defeat of life, a defeat which no partial victories of medicine, however wonderful and truly miraculous, can ultimately overcome. But in Christ suffering is not "remove"; it is transformed into victory. The defeat itself becomes victory, a way, an entrance into the kingdom, and this is the only true healing.

Alexander Schmemann

醫治 是一項聖禮，因為其目的並不是健康，亦即身體的康復，而是人進入國度生命，進入聖靈的「喜樂與平安」的入口。在基督裡，世上的一切事，亦即健康與疾病，喜樂與受苦，已經變成上升通往所期待與指望的新生命之入口。
在世上，苦難和疾病確實是「正常的」，但它們的「常態」卻是不正常的。它們揭露了生命終極與持續的挫敗，一項藥物也沒有局部勝利，然而卻奇妙且真正奇蹟地被戰勝的挫敗。但在基督裡苦難並未被移除，而是被轉變為勝利。挫敗本身變成勝利，一條道路，一個通往國度的入口，而唯有那才是真正的醫治。

亞歷山大‧士門曼

The Friday of the First Week of Lent

There is no excuse from the good work of forgiveness, since it depends entirely upon will. One may say, my health is poor and I cannot fast. Or, I am afraid that if I give to the poor I will be in need....But who can say I did not pardon the one asking forgiveness because my state of health prevented it or because I had no hand to stretch forth in kindness?

Augustine of Hippo
Fifth Century

迻譯如下：
沒有任何可以推辭赦免善行的藉口，因為這全然出於意志。人或許會說，我的健康欠佳，無法禁食；抑或擔心如果施捨給窮人，我將有所匱乏。…但誰能說因為健康狀況不允許，或是因為沒有餘力向人表達憐憫，所以我就不原諒那祈求赦免的人呢？

奧古斯丁
第五世紀

The Thursday of the First Week of Lent

Come, sinners, to the gospel feast,
Let every soul be Jesus' guest;
Ye need not be one left behind,
For God hath bidden all human kind.
Sent by my Lord, on you I call;
The invitation is to all:
Come, all the world; come, sinner, thou!
All things in Christ are ready now.
Come, all ye souls by sin oppressed,
Ye restless wanderers after rest,
Ye poor, and maimed, and halt, and blind,
In Christ a hearty welcome find.

--Charles Wesley, 18th Century

迻譯如下：
來赴這福音盛宴吧，罪人們！

讓每個靈魂都成為耶穌的賓客，
你們無須裹足不前，
因為上帝已經吩咐所有人類。
我為主所差，傳達於你，
這邀請是對眾人：
來吧！所有的世人；來吧！你這個罪人。
如今一切在基督裡都已預備妥當。
所有被罪所壓制的靈魂啊，
歇息之後，仍舊無盡迷失的人啊，
貧窮的、傷殘的、殘缺的、眼瞎的人們啊，
你們來吧！
在基督裡，必要發現誠摯的接納。

查理斯‧衛斯理
十八世紀

The Wednesday of the First Week of Lent

Every creature prays. Cattle and wild beasts pray and bend the knee. As they come from their barns and caves they look up to heaven and call out, lifting up their spirits in their own fashion. The birds, too, rise and lift themselves up to heaven: They open out their wings, instead of hands, in the form of a cross, and give voice to what seems to be a prayer.

What more need be said on the duty of prayer? Even the Lord himself prayed.

--Tertullian, third Century

迻譯如下：

各樣的受造物都禱告。牲畜和野獸屈膝禱告，當牠們從欄舍和洞穴出來，望著天呼喊，以牠們的方式振作牠們的精神。飛鳥也是，躍起飛向天際：牠們以十架的形式展開雙翼，代替雙手，發出鳴啼，宛如禱告。

還需要多說禱告的責任嗎？即使主自己也禱告。

特土良，第三世紀

聖灰日(Ash Wednesday)禱詞

聖灰日(Ash Wednesday)是預苦期(Lent)的第一天，以下的禱詞是引自《日用禱詞》：

主耶穌，我們感謝你，因為你到世上來，不是要受人的服事，乃是要服事人，並願意作上帝的羔羊，擔當世人的罪孽，為我們的罪作了挽回祭。求你保守我們，叫我 們常常思念你的教訓，就是凡愛惜自己生命的要失喪生命；凡為你的緣故捨了生命的，必要保守生命到永生。求主使我們殷勤服事你，使我們願意在為你的名受逼迫 和苦難的路上至死忠心，好叫我們將來同你進入永遠的榮耀，得著生命的冠冕。阿們。