每週聖人分享 Saints of the week

2024-09-29
	按此詳閲: 今週聖人 按此详阅: 今周圣人 Saint of the week, read more...

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今週聖人: 聖瑪爾定．包瑞斯

生平

聖瑪爾定．包瑞斯在1579年生於秘魯利，母親可能是非洲人或原住民，父親是一位駐利瑪的西班牙公爵，父母沒有結婚，瑪爾定承襲了母親黝黑的膚色與外觀，父親到他8歲才願承認他是兒子，後來離棄了這個家庭，一家便活在貧苦之中。瑪爾定一生都因為他的膚色及私生子的身份被歧視，瑪爾定12歲時跟隨一位同時是理髮師又是外科醫師的人做學徒，懂得抽血及包紮傷口，瑪爾定不久感到聖召，但秘魯法律不許非洲人或原住民的後裔成為修會的成員，他長期祈禱望主指引，15歲時請求利馬的道明玫瑰修道院接受他義務做最卑微的工作，以達成入住修院及穿會衣的願望，期間他以理髮和護理病人維生。然而，修院內不是每個人都接納他，有些直接因他的膚色叫他有侮辱性的稱呼，他都寬恕對方。1603年，長上因他的聖德廢除了基於膚色的規定，讓瑪爾定發願成為道明會修士，之後負責照顧病人。他自己到運載非洲奴隸的船上探望及醫治病人，為他們帶來愛心及希望，後來又創立了孤兒院及為窮人建立了兒童醫院。
瑪爾定最為人稱道是博施仁愛，不論貧富地位、種族國界，只要有需要的話，不論是衣物、祈禱，甚至奇蹟，他都盡力提供。事實上，天主亦賜他特別的恩寵，除了治癒神恩外，又曾使他在祈禱時身體升起，及讓他穿越空間和同時出現在不同的地方。瑪爾定謙和服從但不怯懦，多次為社會公義發聲。例如修士怪責他把自己的床讓給生了瘡疥的露宿者，他答：「我親愛的兄弟，慈悲勝過清潔。」在疫情時長上質問他為何違命把會院外的病人帶回醫治，他說：「請原諒我的錯誤，並請指導我，因為我不知道服從的戒律比愛德更為重要。」他身旁的人都開始因他而改變。
瑪爾定熱心祈禱，過著極端刻苦的生活，從不吃肉。他的愛心不但超越國界，更普及其他生物，他餵食和醫治所有接近他的動物，而牠們也聽從他的命令。據說有一次他聽到修士有意捕殺越來越多的老鼠，他立即要求老鼠退出會院，並答應到後門餵食牠們，會院從此再無鼠蹤。聖瑪爾定於1639年安逝，終年六十歲。他是美洲的第一位黑人聖人，也是種族和諧和社會公義的主保。

反省/效法

當人因瑪爾定的膚色侮辱他，上主卻以奇蹟舉揚他；當人罵瑪爾定為狗，上主卻叫動物聽從他的命令。世上每一個人都是在上主的愛內受創造，基督為愛全人類，無分民族膚色而受難至死，我們應學習聖瑪爾定普施仁愛，並為受歧視的兄弟姊妹發聲及予以援助。

祈禱

當教宗本篤十六世還是樞機主教時，於2002年6月2日的一個主教會議中，指出聖瑪爾定常常徹夜朝拜聖體，接著白天不辭勞苦地照顧及幫助那些被社會排斥和鄙視的人，他不但因為自己的出身而認同他們，更在弱小者身上看見了被侮辱及唾棄的基督。當時的拉青格樞機指出我們要學習聖瑪爾定在聖體中與有需要的人共融：「我們因分享同一麵餅而成為同一身體，當我們與為我們被釘在十字架上的上主相遇並作出徹底的回應，便會服侍受苦者及關心弱小和被遺忘的人。」

願我們學習聖瑪爾定．包瑞斯在聖體中與弱小的兄弟姊妹共融，我們亦為因膚色或出身而被歧視的兄弟姊妹祈禱。

聖瑪爾定．包瑞斯，為我等祈。

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今周圣人: 圣玛尔定．包瑞斯

生平

圣玛尔定．包瑞斯在1579年生于秘鲁利，母亲可能是非洲人或原住民，父亲是一位驻利玛的西班牙公爵，父母没有结婚，玛尔定承袭了母亲黝黑的肤色与外观，父亲到他8岁才愿承认他是儿子，后来离弃了这个家庭，一家便活在贫苦之中。玛尔定一生都因为他的肤色及私生子的身份被歧视，玛尔定12岁时跟随一位同时是理发师又是外科医师的人做学徒，懂得抽血及包扎伤口，玛尔定不久感到圣召，但秘鲁法律不许非洲人或原住民的后裔成为修会的成员，他长期祈祷望主指引，15岁时请求利马的道明玫瑰修道院接受他义务做最卑微的工作，以达成入住修院及穿会衣的愿望，期间他以理发和护理病人维生。然而，修院内不是每个人都接纳他，有些直接因他的肤色叫他有侮辱性的称呼，他都宽恕对方。1603年，长上因他的圣德废除了基于肤色的规定，让玛尔定发愿成为道明会修士，之后负责照顾病人。他自己到运载非洲奴隶的船上探望及医治病人，为他们带来爱心及希望，后来又创立了孤儿院及为穷人建立了儿童医院。
玛尔定最为人称道是博施仁爱，不论贫富地位、种族国界，只要有需要的话，不论是衣物、祈祷，甚至奇迹，他都尽力提供。事实上，天主亦赐他特别的恩宠，除了治愈神恩外，又曾使他在祈祷时身体升起，及让他穿越空间和同时出现在不同的地方。玛尔定谦和服从但不怯懦，多次为社会公义发声。例如修士怪责他把自己的床让给生了疮疥的露宿者，他答：「我亲爱的兄弟，慈悲胜过清洁。」在疫情时长上质问他为何违命把会院外的病人带回医治，他说：「请原谅我的错误，并请指导我，因为我不知道服从的戒律比爱德更为重要。」他身旁的人都开始因他而改变。
玛尔定热心祈祷，过著极端刻苦的生活，从不吃肉。他的爱心不但超越国界，更普及其他生物，他喂食和医治所有接近他的动物，而牠们也听从他的命令。据说有一次他听到修士有意捕杀越来越多的老鼠，他立即要求老鼠退出会院，并答应到后门喂食牠们，会院从此再无鼠踪。圣玛尔定于1639年安逝，终年六十岁。他是美洲的第一位黑人圣人，也是种族和谐和社会公义的主保。

反省/效法

当人因玛尔定的肤色侮辱他，上主却以奇迹举扬他；当人骂玛尔定为狗，上主却叫动物听从他的命令。世上每一个人都是在上主的爱内受创造，基督为爱全人类，无分民族肤色而受难至死，我们应学习圣玛尔定普施仁爱，并为受歧视的兄弟姊妹发声及予以援助。

祈祷

当教宗本笃十六世还是枢机主教时，于2002年6月2日的一个主教会议中，指出圣玛尔定常常彻夜朝拜圣体，接著白天不辞劳苦地照顾及帮助那些被社会排斥和鄙视的人，他不但因为自己的出身而认同他们，更在弱小者身上看见了被侮辱及唾弃的基督。当时的拉青格枢机指出我们要学习圣玛尔定在圣体中与有需要的人共融：「我们因分享同一面饼而成为同一身体，当我们与为我们被钉在十字架上的上主相遇并作出彻底的回应，便会服侍受苦者及关心弱小和被遗忘的人。」

愿我们学习圣玛尔定．包瑞斯在圣体中与弱小的兄弟姊妹共融，我们亦为因肤色或出身而被歧视的兄弟姊妹祈祷。

圣玛尔定．包瑞斯，为我等祈。

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Saint of the week: St. Martin de Porres

Life

St. Martin de Porres was born in Lima, Peru in 1579. His mother might be of African or Native American descent. His father was a Spanish Duke stationed in Lima. His parents were not married. Martin inherited his mother's dark skin and appearance. His father only acknowledged him as his son when he was 8 years old. Later, he abandoned them, and the family lived in poverty. Because of his skin colour and status as an illegitimate child, Martin was discriminated against all his life. When he was 12 years old, Martin apprenticed under a barber-surgeon, and learned how to draw blood and dress wounds. Soon, he received a calling, but in Peru, by law, all descendants of African or Natives were not allowed to become full members of religious orders. He spent long hours in prayer seeking the Lord’s guidance. When he was 15 years old, he asked the Dominicans of Holy Rosary Priory in Lima to accept him as a volunteer to perform insignificant menial tasks, in order to fulfill his desire to live in the seminary and wear a habit. During this period, he made a living as a barber and cared for the sick. However, not everyone in the seminary accepted him, some called him horrible names because of his skin colour, but he forgave them. In 1603, because of his holiness, the superior abolished the rules based on skin colour and let Martin take his vow to become a Dominican lay brother and to take care of the sick. He visited and treated patients on ships carrying African slaves, bringing them love and hope. Later, he founded an orphanage and a children's hospital for the poor.
Martin is most famous for his charity. Regardless of wealth, status, race or nationality, as long as there is a need, whether it is clothing, prayers, or even miracles, he would try his best to provide it. In fact, God also gave him special graces; in addition to the grace of healing, he could levitate during prayer, have aerial flight and bilocation. Martin was humble and obedient but not cowardly, and had often spoken out for social justice. For example, when a friar reproved him for giving up his bed to a homeless man with open sores, he replied: "Compassion, my dear brother, is preferable to cleanliness." When reprimanded during the epidemic why he disobeyed orders and brought patients from outside the hospital for treatment, he said: "Forgive my error, and please instruct me, for I did not know that the precept of obedience took precedence over that of charity”. People around him began to change because of him.
Martin prayed fervently, lived an austere life, and abstained from meat. His love not only transcended national boundaries, but also extended to other living creatures. He fed and healed all animals that came close to him, and they also obeyed his orders. It was said that once he heard that the friars were intending to kill the rats; he immediately asked the rats to leave the monastery and promised to feed them at the back door. From then on, there were no more rats in the monastery. St. Martin died peacefully in 1639 at the age of sixty. He was America's first black saint and the patron saint of racial harmony and social justice.

Reflection/Imitation:

When people insulted Martin because of his skin colour, the Lord lifted him up with miracles. When people called him a dog, the Lord made the animals obey his commands. Everyone in the world was created in the love of God. Christ suffered and died for the love of all mankind, regardless of race or skin colour. We should learn from St. Martin’s works of charity and speak out for the brothers and sisters who are discriminated against and provide assistance to them.

Prayer

When Pope Benedict XVI was still a cardinal, he pointed out in a synod of bishops on June 2, 2002, that St. Martin often stayed up all night in adoration of the Eucharist, and then worked tirelessly during the day to care for and help those who were excluded and despised in society. He could identify with them not only because of his own origin, but he also saw Christ in the weak, the insulted and spurned. At that time, Cardinal Ratzinger pointed out that we must learn from St. Martin to be in communion in the Eucharist with those in need: “The encounter with the Lord, who gives himself to us from the cross, makes all of us members of the one body by means of the one bread, which when responded to fully moves us to serve the suffering, to care for the weak and the forgotten”.

May we learn from St. Martin de Porres to be in communion with the least of our brothers and sisters in the Eucharist. We also pray for our brothers and sisters who are discriminated againstbecause of their origin or skin colour.

St. Martin de Porres, pray for us.

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