First Sunday of Easter

It is on Sunday that we all assemble, because Sunday is the first day: the day on which God transformed darkness and matter and created the world, and the day on which Jesus Christ our Savior rose from the dead. He was crucified on the eve of Saturn's day, and on the day after, that is, on the day of the sun, he appeared to his apostles and disciples and taught them what we have now offered for your examination.

Justin
Second Century

Holy Thursday

Maundy Thursday served as a preparation for the feast of Easter about to follow. The penitents were to be able to join in the Easter celebrations; therefore they had to be "reconciled" on the day before the Paschal Triduum began, that is, on Maundy Thursday.

Josef Jungmann

濯足日乃是為著緊接著到來之復活節筵席所做的預備。因為悔罪者能夠在復活節的慶典中加入，因此在逾越節之三重日之前那天，也就是濯足日，他們必須被「復和」。

馮曼

Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Lent

Father of life and God not of the dead but of the living,
you sent your Son to proclaim life,
to snatch us from the realm of death,
and to lead us to the resurrection.

Free these elect
from the death-dealing power of the spirit of evil,
so that they may bear witness
to their new life in the risen Christ.

Rite of Christian
Initiation of Adults

生命的父，不是死人的，乃是活人的上帝，
你差派你的聖子來宣揚生命，
拯救我們脫離死亡的權勢，
領我們進入復活之中。

求你釋放那些從邪靈死亡權勢中所揀選的人，
使得他們能夠為他們在復活基督裡的新生命作見證。

基督教禮儀
成人入會禮

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Lent

Not only our ancestors alone did the Holy One redeem but us as well, along with them, as it is written: "And God freed us from Egypt so as to take us and give us the land which had been sworn to our ancestors."

Therefore, let us rejoice at the wonder of our deliverence: from bondage to freedom, from agony to joy, from mourning to festivity, from darkness to light, from servitude to redemption. Before God let us ever sing a new song.

The Passover
Haggadah

聖者所救贖的不僅是我們的祖先，我們也在其中，正如經上記著：「上帝將我們從埃及釋放出來，為了領我們，並將那已經立約要賜給我們祖先的應許之地賜予我們。
因此，讓我們為我們蒙拯救的奇妙歡喜，就是從綑綁到自由，從痛苦到喜樂，從哀哭到歡慶，從黑暗到光明，從為奴到得贖。在上帝面前，讓我們不斷地唱新歌。

逾越節軼事

Monday of the Sixth Week of Lent

When the church is reborn of water in this same Spirit, she becomes one body in Christ, so that they are two in s single body.

This wedding lasts from the first moment of Christ's incarnation until his return, so that all its rites may be completed. Then those who are ready, having duly fulfilled the requirements of so exalted a marriage, will go in to the eternal wedding banquet with Christ, filled with awe. Meanwhile, Christ's promised bride is brought to her husband, and in faith and mercy they pledge themselves to one another every day until he comes again.

Paschasius Radbertus
Ninth Century

當教會在同一的聖靈中，由水裡重生之時，她就變成了在基督裡的身體，以致於他們就成了兩位一體。

此一結合乃是從基督道成肉身的那一刻開始，一直延續到祂再來為止，使得一切所有的儀式都告完成。然後那些預備好的人，就是已經充分地滿足這崇高婚姻之要求，將要滿有敬畏地與基督一同步入這婚筵當中。此刻，基督所承諾的新婦將要被帶到她的良人面前，並且他們每日要以信心和仁慈彼此立誓，直等到祂再來。

拉得伯徒
第九世紀

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

That, then, is the evening sacrifice: the Lord's own passion, his cross, the offering on it of the saving victim, of that holocaust which is acceptable to God. And by his rising, Christ turned that evening sacrifice into a morning oblation.

Similarly, the pure prayer which ascends from a faithful heart will be like incense rising from a hallowed altar. No fragrance can be more pleasing to God than that of the Son. May all the faithful breathe out the same perfume.

Augustine of Hippo
Fifth Century

那麼這就是晚祭：主自己的受難，祂的十架，在其上是獻祭犧牲，是被上帝所悅納的燔祭。並且藉著基督的復活，祂將晚祭轉為晨間的奉獻。
類似的是，從忠實可靠的心中所發出之純潔禱告，就像是從聖壇中裊裊升起的馨香。沒有任何香氣比聖子的馨香更討上帝喜悅。願所有忠實可靠之人，都吐露同樣的馨香之氣。

希坡的奧古斯丁
第五世紀

Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Christ, the life of all the living,
Christ, the death of death, our foe,
Christ, yourself for me once giving
To the darkest depths of woe:
Through your suff'ring, death, and merit
Life eternal I inherit.
Thousand, thousand thanks are due
Dearest Jesus, unto you.

Ernst C. Homburg
Seventeenth Century

Observe those who hold erroneous opinions concerning the grace of Jesus Christ, which has come to us, and see how they run counter to the mind of God! They concern themselves with neither works of charity, nor widows,nor orphans, nor the distressed, nor those in prison or out of it, nor the hungry or thirsty.

Ignatius of Antioch
second Century

基督，你是一切活物的生命，
基督，你是死亡，我們的仇敵，的死，
基督，你曾為我將你自己棄於那苦難的深處：
通過你的受苦、受死和功勞，
我承受了永生。
最為親愛的耶穌，萬分萬分的感激都要歸予你！

恩斯特‧C‧洪堡
十七世紀

仔細看清楚那些對於那已經臨到我們之耶穌基督的恩惠，抱持著錯謬觀點的人，並且瞧瞧他們是如何背離上帝的意念。他們看重自己，卻毫無慈善行為，他們眼中既看不見孤兒、寡婦，也沒有貧乏需要之人；既沒有囚禁在監或釋放出獄的，也沒有飢餓乾渴的。

安提阿的伊格那丟
第二世紀

Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Too much searching conceals the things we really ought to find. Nor is it certain that we have any urgent obligation to find sin in ourselves. How much sin is kept hidden from us by God, in mercy? After which God hides it even from God.

Thomas Merton

太多的搜尋遮掩了那些我們所應該發現的事物。難道我們沒有任何迫切責任感去發掘那在我們裡面的罪？有多少罪被上帝以慈悲從我們身上被隱藏？在此之後，上帝甚至將罪從祂面前隱藏起來！

多瑪斯‧牟頓

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Without the sense of God's Will we narrow down our lives to the material world. We are like misers crouching over their hoards and never seeing the skies; indeed we may narrow our prison still further, seeing in everything only the image of ourselves.

But once we are made aware of the greatness of events as expressions of God's love, once we see and live their sacramental value, then we liberated into a greater lifer; the winds of eternity blow about us, and the infinite skies are our home, and we too walk the eternal hills.

Gerald Vann

如果沒有上帝旨意之意識的話，那麼我們的生活將被窄化淪落為物質世界而已。我們就像是個盤據在自己財產上頭的守財奴，從來沒看過天空。的確，我們不斷地窄化我們的牢籠，只以我們的想像來看待每件事情。

但是一旦我們明白了事物的偉大乃是上帝愛的表現，我們看到並且活出它們的聖禮性價值，那麼我們就得著釋放，成為一個更大的無期徒刑囚徒：永恆的風吹拂著我們，而無垠的天空是我們的家，並且我們也要在無盡的山嶺中奔跑。

傑洛德‧范

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent

The greatness of Christianity lies in its being hated by the world, not in its being convincing to it.

Ignatius of Antioch
Second Century

基督教的偉大之處乃在於它為世界所憎惡，而非它為世界所信服。

安提阿的依格那丟
第二世紀

We can of course shake off the burden which is laid upon us, but only find that we have s still heavier burden to carry -- a yoke of our own choosing, the yoke of our self. But Jesus invites all who travail and are heavy laden to throw off their own yoke and take his yoke upon them -- and his yoke is easy, and his burden is light. The yoke and the burden of Christ are his cross.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

我們當然能夠甩掉我們身上的擔子，卻只會發現我們依然有著更沈重的擔子—一副我們自己選擇的軛，就是我們自己的軛。但是耶穌邀請所有勞苦擔重擔的人，卸下他們自己的軛，來負祂的軛——而祂的軛是容易的，祂的擔子是輕省的。基督的軛和擔子正是祂的十字架。

潘霍華

Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent

God in heaven, you have helped my life to grow like a tree. Now something has happened. Satan, like a bird, has carried in one twig of his own choosing after another. Before I knew it he had built a dwelling place and was living in it. Tonight, my Father, I am throwing out both the bird and the nest.

Nigerian Prayer

天上的上帝，你已經幫助我的生命成長如樹一般。現在發生一些事。撒但，就像鳥一樣，一再任意地抓去樹枝。在我知道之前，牠已經築好安居之處，並且住在其中。我親愛的天父，今夜我要將這隻鳥和鳥巢一併攆走。

非裔原住民禱詞

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent

I was determined that the fire shall not consume me, since you have given me your body and blood to feed me. I refuse to be carried off to hell, for you have given me baptism as a garment to clothe me. Grant me the dew of your grace, and in your mercy, Lord, forgive me my sins.

Rabbula of Edessa
Fourth Century

我確信烈火無法將我燒盡，因為你已賜我你的身體和血，來餵養我。我拒絕被地獄所騎劫，因為你已賜我洗禮，如同外袍裹住我。主啊！將你恩典之甘露賜給我，並以你的慈憐，赦免我的罪。

艾迪薩的瑞布拉
第四世紀

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

The Lord is believed to have been conceived on the 25th day of March, upon which day he also suffered. So the womb of the Virgin in which he was conceived, where no mortal was ever begotten, corresponds to the new grave in which he was buried, wherein no one was ever laid, neither before him nor since.

Augustine of Hippo
Fourth Century

主耶穌在三月廿五日成孕，而這天也是他受難的日子，這是普遍被相信的。所以，主耶穌成孕之所在，就是在其中生出無罪之那一位的童女瑪麗亞的子宮，正好是對應著主耶穌所被安葬的新墓穴，一個在祂之前空無一人，自此之後依然如此的墓穴。

希坡的奧古斯丁
第四世紀

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

The only reason for Jesus to mix clay with the spittle and smear it on the eyes of the blind man was to remind you that he who restored the man to health by anointing his eyes with clay is the very one who fashioned the first man out of clay, and that this clay that is our flesh can receive the eternal life through the sacrament of baptism.

You, too, should come to Siloam, that is, to him who was sent by the Father. Come and be baptized, it is time; come quickly, and you too will be able to say, I was blind, and now I see.

Ambrose of Milan
Fourth Century

耶穌將塵土和唾沫混合，然後抹在那生來瞎眼者的眼睛上面，唯一的理由就是要提醒你：他，以塵土使這人眼睛重見光明的這一位，就是以塵土造了亞當的那一位，而透過洗禮，塵土（就是我們的身體）能夠領受永生。

而你也應當來到西羅亞，也就是來到被父所差遣的這一位那裡。就是現在，來吧！並且受洗。快點來吧！你也將會說：「從前我是眼瞎的，如今能看見了。」

米蘭的安波羅修
第四世紀

Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent

From the night I seek thee early, O Lover of humankind: give me light, I pray thee, and guide me in thy commandments, and teach me, O Savior, to do thy will.

In night have I passed all my life: for the night of sin has covered me with darkness and thick mist. But make me, O Savior, a child of the day.

I confess to thee, O Christ: I have sinned, I have sinned like the brethren of Joseph, who once sold the fruit of purity and chastity.

As a figure of the Lord, O my soul, the righteous and gentle Joseph was sold into bondage by his brethren; but thou hast sold thyself entirely to thy sins.

O miserable and wicked soul, imitate the righteous and pure mind of Joseph; and do not live in wantonness, sinfully indulging thy disordered desires.

Joseph was cast into a pit, O Lord and Master, as a figure of thy burial and resurrection. But what offering such as this can I ever make to thee?

Byzantine Matins

人類的至愛者啊！我從夜間就早早尋找你：我向你禱告，求賜我亮光，以你的誡命引導我，並且，救主啊，求你教導我遵行你旨意。

在夜間，我已走過我的一生：因為罪的夜晚以黑暗和濃霧籠罩我。但是，親愛的救主，求你使我成為白晝之子。

基督啊！我向你認罪：我犯了罪，就像約瑟那些曾經出賣純淨與貞節的兄弟一樣。

我的靈魂啊！那公義溫柔的約瑟被他的兄弟出賣為奴，但你卻將自己完全出賣給你的罪。

卑賤邪惡的靈魂啊！你當效法約瑟那公義純潔的心靈，斷不可生活放蕩不羈、縱情聲色。

主啊！約瑟被丟到坑裡，正如你被葬與復活。但我何曾為你獻上這些呢？

拜占庭早禱文

Fourth Sunday of Lent

There are two times, say St. Augustine, one which is now, and is spent in the temptation and tribulation of this life; the other which shall be then, and shall be spent in eternal security and joy. In figure of these, we celebrate two periods: the time before Easter and the time after Easter. That which is before Easter signifies the sorrow of this present life; that which is after Easter, the blessedness of our future state ... Hence it is that we spend the first in fasting and prayer; and in the second we give up our fasting, and give ourselves to praise.

The church, the interpreter of the sacred scripture, often speaks to us of two places, which correspond with these two times of St. Augustine. There two places are Babylon and Jerusalem. Babylon is the image of this world of sin, in the midst whereof we have to spend years of probation; Jerusalem is the heavenly country, where we are to repose after all our trials.

Prosper Gueranger

聖奧古斯丁說有兩個時間，一個是這個時候，是花在今生的試探和困苦之中；另一個則是那個時候，是將要用於永恆的保障和喜樂之中。依照這些樣式，我們慶祝兩個時期：在復活節之前，和在復活節之後。那在復活節之前的，象徵著此刻生命的悲傷；那在復活節之後的，則是象徵我們將來狀態中的福份。…所以，我們在第一段時期中禁食、禱告，而在第二段時期中，我們不再禁食，而是盡情讚美。

做為聖經詮釋者的教會，通常告訴我們有兩個地方（這是按著聖奧古斯丁的兩個時間而來的）。這兩個地方是巴比倫和耶路撒冷。巴比倫是這罪惡世界的形象，在其中我們必須耗費歲月察驗；耶路撒冷是屬天的國度，是我們經歷一切試探後得以安息之處。

蓋朗勒

Saturday of the Third Week of Lent

There is no condition for forgiveness. But forgiveness could not come to us if we were not asking for it and receiving it. Forgiveness is an answer, the divine answer, to the question implied in our existence. An answer is answer only for one who has asked, who is aware of the question. This awareness cannot be fabricated. It may be in a hidden place in our souls, covered by many strata of righteousness. It may reach our consciousness in certain moments. Or, day by day, it may fill our conscious life as well as its unconscious depths and drive us to the question to which forgiveness is the answer.

Paul Tillich

赦免是無條件的。 但是假使我們不去祈求並且領受的話，赦免也不會臨到我們。赦免是一個答案，一個神聖的答案，是針對被蘊含在我們的存在中的問題。答案只能夠是那已經提問，察覺問題之人的答案。然而此一察覺是無法被捏造的，它或許是在靈魂的隱匿處，被許多層的正義所覆蓋。在明顯的時刻，它會達到我們的自覺。或者，日復一日，它會充滿我們自覺的生命並其不可知的深度，並領我們走向以赦免為其答案的問題。

保羅‧田立克

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。