每週聖人分享 Saints of the week

2024-11-24
	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: 聖安多尼‧帕雕亞

生平

聖安多尼於1195年出生在葡萄牙的里斯本，父母均為望族，15歲時捨棄財物地位加入聖奧斯定修會，但因親友常去探望，阻礙靜修，兩年後他要求前往清幽的哥因白修院，之後九年潛修神學，對聖經甚有研究，期間晉鐸。他在25歲時，五位方濟會士在摩洛哥傳教殉道，他看到他們被送到哥因白的遺體，十分欽佩，希望效法他們得到殉道的榮冠。他於1221年獲准轉到方濟會，被派到非洲傳教，但到達不久就染上重病，纏綿病榻數月後獲召回歸，途中強風把船吹到西西里，他便取道亞西西參與方濟會的大會。謙虛的他並未向人透露自己曾接受長期的神學訓練，會後他被派到一間修院做打掃刷洗的低微工作，他甘之如飴，潛心過祈禱默觀的隱修生活。過了數月，在一個晉鐸聚餐後，省會長建議找人致詞，無人請纓，院長命安多尼負責，他雖無準備但聽命到台上發言，他充滿聖神，內容精闢，慧心妙舌，眾人驚嘆。會長聖方濟得知此事，於是派他到義大利北部宣講福音，並擔任神學講師，教導修士如何向信眾講道，1224－1227年被派到法國，之後再返回意大利。

安多尼生在異端邪說泛濫的年代，很多教友迷失方向。他需要撥亂反正，過程並不容易。相傳他前往異端溫床的里米尼市時，眾人約定拒絕出席聽他講道。聖安多尼無法完成使命，祈禱後走到河邊向魚兒說：既然異教徒拒聽天主聖言，他便向牠們講道。成千上萬條的魚兒果然列隊把頭探出水面，仔細聆聽。鎮上的人看到這個奇蹟便一起跟隨聽道，接著被說服悔改。這個傳說指出縱使聖安多尼舌燦蓮花，沒有天主的助佑，他亦無能為力。安多尼憑深厚的聖經和神學知識、清晰的邏輯和天賜的口才，得主助祐引導無數亡羊回歸正道，因而獲得了「異教徒的鐵鎚」的雅號。因他聖德超卓，講道時字字珠璣，上主更賜他行奇蹟的神恩，故此每到一處都萬人空巷，商鋪都因為人人要去聽道而臨時停業。教宗額我略九世有一次親聞安多尼講道，驚嘆他把聖經背誦如流，稱他為「聖經活櫃」。除了講道外，安多尼關心窮人，常常餵飽飢餓的人，求他代禱的人都以送贈食物給窮人來答謝他，逐漸演變成今天派發「聖安多尼麵包」的傳統。安多尼後來居於帕雕亞，在當地傳道十分成功。1231年病逝，享年三十七歲。教會立他為聖師，並追封他為「福音博士」。相傳一位初學生放棄修道時取走了他一本珍貴的聖詠集，他懇切祈禱望初學生回頭，初學生果然折返並歸還失物，更願意繼續修道，因此聖安多尼被視為尋找失物主保。

反省/效法

聖安多尼一心事主，但他本來的計劃都無法實踐，希望到非洲傳道卻因病回歸，有意入方濟會宣揚福音卻被派去做清潔廚務，雖然一切都未能如願，他卻從未懷疑抱怨，反而放棄自己的想法而承行主旨。讓我們學習謙抑自下的聖安多尼，放棄堅持己見，隨從聖神指引，配合天主的安排和計劃。

祈禱

聖安多尼生於異端邪說泛濫的世代，天主願意他做「異教徒的鐵鎚」，他可以勝任不止因為他有淵博的學識和良好的演說技巧，更重要是他熱愛祈禱默觀，與主有特別的親密關係，講道時充滿聖神，灼熱人心。他曾說過：「心靈的秘密就像一層面紗，必須懸掛在我們和鄰人之間…唯有耶穌是我們的大司祭，所有的心都向他敞開。」讓我們學習聖安多尼向上主敞開心扉，毫無保留。

願我們學習聖安多尼，向上主敞開心扉，毫無保留，並在所有事上放下己見，承行主旨。

聖安多尼‧帕雕亞，為我等祈。

(反回本頁頂部)

今周圣人: 圣安多尼‧帕雕亚

生平

圣安多尼于1195年出生在葡萄牙的里斯本，父母均为望族，15岁时舍弃财物地位加入圣奥斯定修会，但因亲友常去探望，阻碍静修，两年后他要求前往清幽的哥因白修院，之后九年潜修神学，对圣经甚有研究，期间晋铎。他在25岁时，五位方济会士在摩洛哥传教殉道，他看到他们被送到哥因白的遗体，十分钦佩，希望效法他们得到殉道的荣冠。他于1221年获准转到方济会，被派到非洲传教，但到达不久就染上重病，缠绵病榻数月后获召回归，途中强风把船吹到西西里，他便取道亚西西参与方济会的大会。谦虚的他并未向人透露自己曾接受长期的神学训练，会后他被派到一间修院做打扫刷洗的低微工作，他甘之如饴，潜心过祈祷默观的隐修生活。过了数月，在一个晋铎聚餐后，省会长建议找人致词，无人请缨，院长命安多尼负责，他虽无准备但听命到台上发言，他充满圣神，内容精辟，慧心妙舌，众人惊叹。会长圣方济得知此事，于是派他到义大利北部宣讲福音，并担任神学讲师，教导修士如何向信众讲道，1224－1227年被派到法国，之后再返回意大利。

安多尼生在异端邪说泛滥的年代，很多教友迷失方向。他需要拨乱反正，过程并不容易。相传他前往异端温床的里米尼市时，众人约定拒绝出席听他讲道。圣安多尼无法完成使命，祈祷后走到河边向鱼儿说：既然异教徒拒听天主圣言，他便向牠们讲道。成千上万条的鱼儿果然列队把头探出水面，仔细聆听。镇上的人看到这个奇迹便一起跟随听道，接著被说服悔改。这个传说指出纵使圣安多尼舌灿莲花，没有天主的助佑，他亦无能为力。安多尼凭深厚的圣经和神学知识、清晰的逻辑和天赐的口才，得主助祐引导无数亡羊回归正道，因而获得了「异教徒的铁锤」的雅号。因他圣德超卓，讲道时字字珠玑，上主更赐他行奇迹的神恩，故此每到一处都万人空巷，商铺都因为人人要去听道而临时停业。教宗额我略九世有一次亲闻安多尼讲道，惊叹他把圣经背诵如流，称他为「圣经活柜」。除了讲道外，安多尼关心穷人，常常喂饱饥饿的人，求他代祷的人都以送赠食物给穷人来答谢他，逐渐演变成今天派发「圣安多尼面包」的传统。安多尼后来居于帕雕亚，在当地传道十分成功。1231年病逝，享年三十七岁。教会立他为圣师，并追封他为「福音博士」。相传一位初学生放弃修道时取走了他一本珍贵的圣咏集，他恳切祈祷望初学生回头，初学生果然折返并归还失物，更愿意继续修道，因此圣安多尼被视为寻找失物主保。

反省/效法

圣安多尼一心事主，但他本来的计划都无法实践，希望到非洲传道却因病回归，有意入方济会宣扬福音却被派去做清洁厨务，虽然一切都未能如愿，他却从未怀疑抱怨，反而放弃自己的想法而承行主旨。让我们学习谦抑自下的圣安多尼，放弃坚持己见，随从圣神指引，配合天主的安排和计划。

祈祷

圣安多尼生于异端邪说泛滥的世代，天主愿意他做「异教徒的铁锤」，他可以胜任不止因为他有渊博的学识和良好的演说技巧，更重要是他热爱祈祷默观，与主有特别的亲密关系，讲道时充满圣神，灼热人心。他曾说过：「心灵的秘密就像一层面纱，必须悬挂在我们和邻人之间…唯有耶稣是我们的大司祭，所有的心都向他敞开。」让我们学习圣安多尼向上主敞开心扉，毫无保留。

愿我们学习圣安多尼，向上主敞开心扉，毫无保留，并在所有事上放下己见，承行主旨。

圣安多尼‧帕雕亚，为我等祈。

(反回本页顶部)

Saint of the week: St. Anthony of Padua

Life

St. Antony was born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1195. His parents were wealthy nobles. When he was 15 years old, he abandoned everything including his status and joined the St. Augustinian Order, but frequent visits from family and friends obstructed his solitude. After two years, he requested to go to the Coimbra Monastery which was more serene. In the following nine years, he concentrated in studying theology there, and attained in-depth knowledge of the Bible. He was ordained a priest during that time. At the age of 25, five Franciscan friars were martyred in Morocco, and when he saw their bodies returned to Coimbra, he admired them very much and hoped to follow their example of martyrdom. In 1221 he was allowed to be transferred to the Franciscan Order and sent to Africa to preach, but soon he was infected with a serious illness. After a few months on the sick bed, he was called to return home. On the way, strong winds blew the boat to Sicily, so he went on to Assisi to attend a Franciscan conference. He was humble and did not reveal to anyone that he had received long-term training in theology. After the meeting, he was sent to a monastery to perform manual jobs such as cleaning and scrubbing. He humbly accepted it and lived a monastic life of prayer and contemplation. A few months later, after a dinner for ordained priests, the Minister Provincial suggested to find someone to give a speech. No one volunteered, so the superior ordered Anthony to be in charge. Although he was not prepared, he went on the stage. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and delivered an eloquent and moving homily that impressed everyone. When St Francis, the founder of the Franciscan order, learned of this, he sent him to northern Italy to preach the gospel, and serve as the lecturer to teach the seminarians on theology and how to preach to the faithful. From 1224-1227, he was sent to France and after that he returned to Italy.

Heretics abound at that time, and many faithful lost their directions. It was not easy for Anthony to correct the wrong, but according to legend, he went to the city of Rimini, the hotbed of heresy. The townsfolk there decided not to turn up to listened to him. St. Anthony therefore could not complete his mission. After praying, he went near the riverside and began to preach to the fish: since the heretics refused to listen to the Word of God, he would preach to them. Thousands of fish really stuck their heads out of the water and listened. On seeing this miracle, the townsfolk began to listen to his preaching and were persuaded to repent. This legend pointed out that even with the skillful tongue of St. Anthony, without God’s help, he could do nothing. St. Anthony had expert knowledge of the scripture and theology, logical and talented in speech, with the help of the Lord, he guided countless lost sheep to return to the right path, and he won the title of "Hammer of Heretics". Because of his excellent holiness, when he preached, each word was a word of wisdom, the Lord also gave him the grace of miracles. Therefore, everywhere he went, multitudes came from everywhere and even shops suspended their businesses temporarily because everyone wanted to listen to him. Pope Gregory IX heard Anthony’s homily once, and was amazed that Anthony knew the Bible inside out, calling him "The Ark of the Covenant". Besides preaching, Antony cared about the poor and often fed the hungry. The people who prayed for his intercession gave food to the poor to thank him, which gradually evolved to today’s tradition of “St. Anthony's Bread”. Anthony later lived in Padua and was very fruitful in his mission. He died in 1231 at the age of 37. The church proclaimed him a Doctor of the Church with the designation “Doctor of the Gospel.” According to legend, when a novice quit his studies, he took away Anthony’s precious psalter. He earnestly prayed that the student would return the item. The novice not only returned the lost psalter, but rejoined the order as well. Because of this St. Anthony is regarded as the patron of lost articles.

Reflection/Imitation:

St. Anthony served God whole-heartedly, but his original plans could not be accomplished. He hoped to go to Africa to be a martyr but had to go home because of sickness. He joined the Franciscan Order to preach the gospel but was sent to clean and cook. Although nothing was accomplished as he wished, he never doubted or complained, but gave up his own ideals and followed God’s will. Let us learn from St. Anthony who humbled himself, gave up his own ideals, followed the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and acted according to the Holy will of God.

Prayer

St. Anthony was born in the generation of heresy. God is willing for him to be a "Hammer of Heretics". He was fully capable not only because he was knowledgeble and eloquent, the most important is he loved a prayerful and contemplative life, and had a special intimate relationship with the Lord. When preaching, he was filled with the Holy Spirit that set people’s hearts on fire. He once said: "The Secret of the Heart is like a veil that must hang between us and our neighbour ... for Jesus alone is our high priest. All hearts are open to him.“ Let us learn from St. Anthony to open our hearts to God, unreservedly.

May we learn from St. Anthony, open our hearts unreservedly, and let go of our own opinions in everything, and follow God’s will.

St. Anthony of Padua, pray for us.

(back to top of the page)