每週聖人分享 Saints of the week

2024-11-17
	按此詳閲: 今週聖人 按此详阅: 今周圣人 Saint of the week, read more...

(反回本頁頂部 back to top of the page)

今週聖人: 聖加大利納‧錫耶納

生平

聖加大利納於1347年生於意大利錫耶納，她在6歲時看到異象：耶穌坐在榮耀中被聖徒包圍，7歲便立志守貞事主。16歲時，她的父母有意要她出嫁，她剪掉頭髮以示反對，父母本來以待她如同女僕來威迫她，但父親見她每天勞苦工作後就到小室中喜悅地祈禱，知道無法勸阻，只得隨她所願。加大利納既不選擇出嫁亦不選擇棄俗，決定在修道院外過著積極祈禱及敬主愛人的生活。
加大利納加入了道明第三會，接著三年在家中度著深刻而孤獨的祈禱和冥想生活，每天獨自在房中祈禱、守齋和補贖，期間不斷受到考驗。1366年耶穌顯現給她並締結神婚。接著她另一段生涯開始了，她離開房間服務他人，包括照顧病人、賙濟窮人及探訪囚犯等。耶穌向她顯現的次數越來越頻密，她常在聖堂內神魂超拔，更有神蹟相隨，有些人開始追隨她，加大利納教導他們如何修德成聖，她的名聲傳至國外。1374年，加大利納經歷了一段長時間的出神時間，彷彿死了一樣，之後又進入另一個階段。加大利納開始扮演各地和教會的和平使者，調停貴族的糾紛，與許多有影響力的人物通信，勸誡甚至斥責他們要改過及保持聖潔，包括當時的教宗。她也寫下了《對話集》，敘述她與基督之間的親密談話。
教宗額我略十一世因為義大利黑死病肆虐，城邦間又戰事連綿，於是避難至法國的亞維農，教務由一群留在羅馬但腐敗的神職人員處理。聖加大利納親自到了亞維農，直率地表示當地沾滿罪惡，敦請教宗務必返回羅馬，教宗果然遷回。可惜教宗不久過世，教會分裂並出現一段同時兩位教宗在位的時期。加大利納感到教會的罪過，為這個意向做補贖及受了很多痛苦。她不久去世，享年33歲。她被封為意大利的主保及歐洲的主保，1970年聖加大利納被教宗保祿六世尊為教會聖師。

反省/效法

聖加大利納生活在教會腐敗和分裂的時期，在紛亂中她熱切地祈禱，進入真理，明白基督的聖意，盡最大的努力使教會合一。教宗方濟各讚揚她，他也曾經提醒邪惡使教會内部分裂的危險：「教會的分裂阻礙天國的發展；不允許上主彰顯祂的美善，顯露祂的真面貌。分裂使人彼此敵對、互相攻擊，帶來永不休止的衝突！」（聖瑪爾大之家清晨彌撒，2016年9月12日）。現今教會在面對社會問題時亦有不同的聲音，令信徒十分困擾，願我們亦學習聖加大利納通過祈禱明白天主聖意，並在紛爭中做和平的工具。

祈禱

2010年11月24日教宗本篤十六世在公開接見活動時指出聖加大利納的神修以基督為中心，她亦十分注重聖體聖事。教宗指出：「就像錫耶納的聖徒一樣，每個信徒都感到需要符合基督內心的情感，像基督一樣愛天主和祂的鄰人。透過祈禱、默想天主聖言和聖體來熟悉基督，我們都可以讓自己的心靈得到轉變，學習像祂一樣去愛，最重要的是要經常虔誠地領受聖體。」讓我們也學習聖加大利納以基督為中心，透過聖體聖事與祂契合，轉變自己更肖以祂。

願我們學習聖加大利納，在人生任何階段都承行主旨，並做和平的工具。

聖加大利納‧錫耶納，為我等祈。

(反回本頁頂部)

今周圣人: 圣加大利纳‧锡耶纳

生平

圣加大利纳于1347年生于意大利锡耶纳，她在6岁时看到异象：耶稣坐在荣耀中被圣徒包围，7岁便立志守贞事主。16岁时，她的父母有意要她出嫁，她剪掉头发以示反对，父母本来以待她如同女仆来威迫她，但父亲见她每天劳苦工作后就到小室中喜悦地祈祷，知道无法劝阻，只得随她所愿。加大利纳既不选择出嫁亦不选择弃俗，决定在修道院外过著积极祈祷及敬主爱人的生活。

加大利纳加入了道明第三会，接著三年在家中度著深刻而孤独的祈祷和冥想生活，每天独自在房中祈祷、守斋和补赎，期间不断受到考验。1366年耶稣显现给她并缔结神婚。接著她另一段生涯开始了，她离开房间服务他人，包括照顾病人、赒济穷人及探访囚犯等。耶稣向她显现的次数越来越频密，她常在圣堂内神魂超拔，更有神迹相随，有些人开始追随她，加大利纳教导他们如何修德成圣，她的名声传至国外。1374年，加大利纳经历了一段长时间的出神时间，仿佛死了一样，之后又进入另一个阶段。加大利纳开始扮演各地和教会的和平使者，调停贵族的纠纷，与许多有影响力的人物通信，劝诫甚至斥责他们要改过及保持圣洁，包括当时的教宗。她也写下了《对话集》，叙述她与基督之间的亲密谈话。

教宗额我略十一世因为义大利黑死病肆虐，城邦间又战事连绵，于是避难至法国的亚维农，教务由一群留在罗马但腐败的神职人员处理。圣加大利纳亲自到了亚维农，直率地表示当地沾满罪恶，敦请教宗务必返回罗马，教宗果然迁回。可惜教宗不久过世，教会分裂并出现一段同时两位教宗在位的时期。加大利纳感到教会的罪过，为这个意向做补赎及受了很多痛苦。她不久去世，享年33岁。她被封为意大利的主保及欧洲的主保，1970年圣加大利纳被教宗保禄六世尊为教会圣师。

反省/效法

圣加大利纳生活在教会腐败和分裂的时期，在纷乱中她热切地祈祷，进入真理，明白基督的圣意，尽最大的努力使教会合一。教宗方济各赞扬她，他也曾经提醒邪恶使教会内部分裂的危险：「教会的分裂阻碍天国的发展；不允许上主彰显祂的美善，显露祂的真面貌。分裂使人彼此敌对、互相攻击，带来永不休止的冲突！」（圣玛尔大之家清晨弥撒，2016年9月12日）。现今教会在面对社会问题时亦有不同的声音，令信徒十分困扰，愿我们亦学习圣加大利纳通过祈祷明白天主圣意，并在纷争中做和平的工具。

祈祷

2010年11月24日教宗本笃十六世在公开接见活动时指出圣加大利纳的神修以基督为中心，她亦十分注重圣体圣事。教宗指出：「就像锡耶纳的圣徒一样，每个信徒都感到需要符合基督内心的情感，像基督一样爱天主和祂的邻人。透过祈祷、默想天主圣言和圣体来熟悉基督，我们都可以让自己的心灵得到转变，学习像祂一样去爱，最重要的是要经常虔诚地领受圣体。」让我们也学习圣加大利纳以基督为中心，透过圣体圣事与祂契合，转变自己更肖以祂。

愿我们学习圣加大利纳，在人生任何阶段都承行主旨，并做和平的工具。

圣加大利纳‧锡耶纳，为我等祈。

(反回本页顶部)

Saint of the week: St. Catherine of Siena

Life

St. Catherine was born in Siena, Italy in 1347. When she was 6 years old, she saw a vision: Jesus was sitting in glory surrounded by saints. At the age of 7, she resolved to remain chaste and serve the Lord. When she was 16 years old, her parents wanted her to get married, so she cut off her hair in protest. Her parents originally coerced her by treating her as a maid, but her father saw that she went to the small room to pray joyfully after working hard every day, knowing that he could not dissuade her, he let her have her way. Catherine neither chose to get married nor to abandon secular life; she decided to live a life of active prayer, devotion to the Lord and love of others outside the monastery.

Catherine joined the Third Order of St. Dominic and spent the next three years living a life at home of deep and solitary prayer and meditation; praying, fasting and doing penance alone in her room every day, during which she was constantly tested. In 1366 Jesus appeared to her and they entered into a mystical marriage. Thus another phase of her life began as she left her room to serve others; this included tending to the sick, giving to the poor, and visiting prisoners. Jesus appeared to her more and more frequently. She often appeared in a state of ecstasy in the church, and there were more miracles. Some people began to follow her. Catherine taught them how to practice virtue and become holy, and her reputation spread abroad. In 1374, Catherine experienced a long period of trance, as if dead, and she entered another phase. Catherine began to act as a messenger of peace for various places and the church, mediating disputes among nobles, corresponding with many influential figures, admonishing and even exhorting them to repent and remain holy, including the pope at the time. She also wrote The Dialogue, an account of her intimate conversations with Christ.

Previously, when Pope Gregory XI took refuge in Avignon, France, due to the raging Bubonic plague in Italy and the continuous wars between the city states, he left the administration of church affairs in the hands of a group of corrupt clergy who stayed in Rome. Saint Catherine went to Avignon in person and bluntly stated that the place was full of evil and urged the Pope to return to Rome, which he did. Unfortunately, the Pope passed away, soon after the church was split by the Western Schism, with a period of two Popes reigning at the same time. Catherine felt the sins of the Church and the need for atonement and suffered greatly for this cause. She died soon after at the age of 33. She was named the patron saint of Italy and the patron saint of Europe. In 1970, Saint Catherine was honoured as a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI.

Reflection/Imitation:

St. Catherine lived during a time when the Church was corrupt and divided. She prayed fervently, and entered the Truth, understanding Christ’s will and did her best to unite the Church. Pope Francis praised her, and he also warned of the dangers of evil causing the internal division of the Church. The Pope said: “And the divisions in the Church do not allow the Kingdom to grow; they do not allow the Lord to be seen as He is. Divisions make you see this part, this one against the other. Always against!” (at the morning mass at Casa Santa Marta on September 12, 2016). Nowadays, there are different voices concerning how the Church should respond to social issues, making believes very troubled. May we also learn from Saint Catherine to understand God’s will through prayers, and be an instrument of peace in times of division.

Prayer

During the public audience on November 24, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI pointed out that St. Catherine's spirituality was Christ-centred, and she also attached great importance to the Eucharist. The Pope pointed out that: “Like the Sienese Saint, every believer feels the need to be conformed with the sentiment of the heart of Christ to love God and his neighbour as Christ himself loves. And we can all let our hearts be transformed and learn to love like Christ in a familiarity with him that is nourished by prayer, by meditation on the Word of God and by the sacraments, above all by receiving Holy Communion frequently and with devotion.” Let us also learn from St. Catherine to be Christ-centred, be together with Him through the Eucharist, and transform ourselves to be more like Him.

May we learn from St. Catherine and carry out God’s will at any stage of life, and be instruments of peace.

Saint Catherine of Siena, pray for us.

(back to top of the page)