每週聖人分享 Saints of the week

2024-07-28
	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: 聖加彌祿∙彌理

生平

聖加彌祿彌理於1550年出生在義大利,母親早喪,父親從軍,對他忽視,加彌祿成長時缺乏關懷教導,13歲已開始跟父親上陣。他身高六呎六吋,17歲正式做僱傭兵至1574年軍隊解散,染上賭博惡習,見方濟各會士仁慈,申請加入修會,但遭拒絕。於是到羅馬醫院一面做工一面治療腿病,但九個月後因常與人爭吵而被辭退,加彌祿重回軍中,賭癮更深,連武器都輸掉。戰事結束後,身無分文的加彌祿為嘉布遣會修士建屋謀生,繼續耽迷賭博,直到嘉布遣會的監護會士向他義正詞嚴地訓話一番,加彌祿驚醒悔改,跪求上主寬恕。他獲准進嘉布遣會修道,可惜不久因無法治癒的腿疾被拒。25歲的加彌祿重回羅馬醫院接受治療,他親身體會到當時的護士不稱職，欠缺工作熱忱。治療暫有成效時,他投身護理工作,因愛德精神及謹慎態度被升為醫院院長,加彌祿回頭後，生活虔誠,有意自組團體服務病人,但面對很多阻力,後接受朋友的建議和神師聖斐理伯內利的指導，開始學習拉丁文,34歲時晉鐸，之後獲准創立修會「靈醫會」,會士除了發通常修會聖願外,加發服務病人的聖願。該會至今廣佈各地,專門建立醫院,對病人以愛相待,特別為病人提供屬靈援助,尤其善終服務。加彌祿自己全身病患，被無法治癒的腿疾困擾了四十多年,暮年足患瘡疽，痛苦不堪。但他不讓會士照顧自己,只派他們去看護別的病人。加彌祿去世前不久全身殘廢。但他仍常在深夜爬起來到每張病床前關心病人需要。他於64歲時安逝,教會立他為病人及護士和醫務機關的主保。

反省/效法

身為僱傭兵可以把藉以保命的武器輸掉,加彌祿應屬病態賭徒,每個成癮的人都有背後的故事,加彌祿生長在一個沒有父母關愛的環境,成長時不見得有人對這一名大個子表達憐惜,無學歷無技能的他,年紀輕輕便以打仗賣命維生,受傷流血甚至面對死亡都是日常之事,更身患不能治好的病症,染上賭癮麻醉心靈空虛亦可理解,他被美善友愛吸引,想加入修會卻被拒,只得重回困境,雖然弄到山窮水盡,其實沒有什麼戒賭的原因和動力,嘉布遣會的監護會士可能是第一個肯花時間教導他的人,加彌祿受到關懷而願意痛改前非,首先祈求上主,接著遠離誘惑的環境,並與對他靈性上有幫助的人如聖斐理伯內利交往,開始推己及人關懷身邊的病人,接著建立團體,投入自己有熱誠的愛德服務。
聖加彌祿的做法與現今一些幫助戒掉成癮的模式相似,如默主哥耶塞納科洛社區便是不靠藥物,透過信仰、祈禱、和愛德工作，幫助年青人戒掉惡習而重新建立以基督為中心的團體。除了去賭場之外,因現在電子賭博方便容易,一些人亦會沈迷,病態賭徒和其他成癮的人一樣,需要身、心、靈支持才可戒掉, 讓我們以愛心關懷這些兄弟姊妹, 並為他們祈禱。

祈禱

聖加彌祿的同伴爲他撰寫傳記，描述他看待病人如同看待基督，甚至請求他們寬恕。聖加彌祿的工作已成為他的祈禱,他在病人身上看見了基督,每個行動每句話語都是和基督的交往。我們亦應學習他那樣關愛身邊患病的兄弟姊妹,兼且在現今醫務人員短缺及過勞的情況下,為他們祈禱。

願我們學習聖加彌祿彌理依賴上主, 去除惡習, 在需要關愛的人身上看見基督。我們特別為病態賭徒、病人及醫務人員祈禱。

聖加彌祿彌理,為我等祈。

(反回本頁頂部)

今周圣人: 圣加弥禄·弥理

生平

圣加弥禄弥理于1550年出生在义大利，母亲早丧，父亲从军，对他忽视，加弥禄成长时缺乏关怀教导，13岁已开始跟父亲上阵。他身高六呎六吋，17岁正式做雇佣兵至1574年军队解散，染上赌博恶习，见方济各会士仁慈，申请加入修会，但遭拒绝。于是到罗马医院一面做工一面治疗腿病，但九个月后因常与人争吵而被辞退，加弥禄重回军中，赌瘾更深，连武器都输掉。战事结束后，身无分文的加弥禄为嘉布遣会修士建屋谋生，继续耽迷赌博，直到嘉布遣会的监护会士向他义正词严地训话一番，加弥禄惊醒悔改，跪求上主宽恕。他获准进嘉布遣会修道，可惜不久因无法治愈的腿疾被拒。25岁的加弥禄重回罗马医院接受治疗，他亲身体会到当时的护士不称职，欠缺工作热忱。治疗暂有成效时，他投身护理工作，因爱德精神及谨慎态度被升为医院院长，加弥禄回头后，生活虔诚，有意自组团体服务病人，但面对很多阻力，后接受朋友的建议和神师圣斐理伯内利的指导，开始学习拉丁文，34岁时晋铎，之后获准创立修会「灵医会」，会士除了发通常修会圣愿外，加发服务病人的圣愿。该会至今广布各地，专门建立医院，对病人以爱相待，特别为病人提供属灵援助，尤其善终服务。加弥禄自己全身病患，被无法治愈的腿疾困扰了四十多年，暮年足患疮疽，痛苦不堪。但他不让会士照顾自己，只派他们去看护别的病人。加弥禄去世前不久全身残废。但他仍常在深夜爬起来到每张病床前关心病人需要。他于64岁时安逝，教会立他为病人及护士和医务机关的主保。

反省/效法

身为雇佣兵可以把借以保命的武器输掉，加弥禄应属病态赌徒，每个成瘾的人都有背后的故事，加弥禄生长在一个没有父母关爱的环境，成长时不见得有人对这一名大个子表达怜惜，无学历无技能的他，年纪轻轻便以打仗卖命维生，受伤流血甚至面对死亡都是日常之事，更身患不能治好的病症，染上赌瘾麻醉心灵空虚亦可理解，他被美善友爱吸引，想加入修会却被拒，只得重回困境，虽然弄到山穷水尽，其实没有什么戒赌的原因和动力，嘉布遣会的监护会士可能是第一个肯花时间教导他的人，加弥禄受到关怀而愿意痛改前非，首先祈求上主，接著远离诱惑的环境，并与对他灵性上有帮助的人如圣斐理伯内利交往，开始推己及人关怀身边的病人，接著建立团体，投入自己有热诚的爱德服务。
圣加弥禄的做法与现今一些帮助戒掉成瘾的模式相似，如默主哥耶塞纳科洛社区便是不靠药物，透过信仰、祈祷、和爱德工作，帮助年青人戒掉恶习而重新建立以基督为中心的团体。除了去赌场之外，因现在电子赌博方便容易，一些人亦会沈迷，病态赌徒和其他成瘾的人一样，需要身、心、灵支持才可戒掉，让我们以爱心关怀这些兄弟姊妹，并为他们祈祷。

祈祷

圣加弥禄的同伴为他撰写传记，描述他看待病人如同看待基督，甚至请求他们宽恕。圣加弥禄的工作已成为他的祈祷，他在病人身上看见了基督，每个行动每句话语都是和基督的交往。我们亦应学习他那样关爱身边患病的兄弟姊妹，兼且在现今医务人员短缺及过劳的情况下，为他们祈祷。

愿我们学习圣加弥禄弥理依赖上主，去除恶习，在需要关爱的人身上看见基督。我们特别为病态赌徒、病人及医务人员祈祷。

圣加弥禄·弥理，为我等祈。

(反回本页顶部)

Saint of the week: St. Camillus de Lellis

Life

St. Camillus de Lellis was born in Italy in 1550. His mother died early, and his father was a soldier. He was being neglected as he grew up and started going to battles with his father at the age of 13. He was six feet six inches tall, and at the age of 17, he worked as a mercenary until 1574 when his regiment was disbanded. He became a gambler. Seeing the kindness of a Franciscan friar, he applied to join the Franciscan Monastery but was not accepted. He went to a hospital in Rome to work as well as treat his leg wound, but was dismissed after nine months because he was always quarrelsome. He rejoined the army and his gambling addiction worsened such that he even lost his own weapon. After the war, Camillus was penniless and made a living by building a house for the Capuchin Friars, but his gambling addiction persisted until the guardian of the convent gave him an exhortation. Camillus was shaken and repented; he knelt and begged the Lord for forgiveness. He was allowed to enter the Capuchin Monastery, but was soon dismissed due to his incurable leg disease.
When Camillus was 25, he returned to the hospital in Rome for treatment. He personally experienced the incompetence of nurses at the time and their lack in enthusiasm for work. When his leg treatment was temporarily effective, he devoted himself to nursing work, and due to his fervour and prudence, he was promoted to the director of the hospital. After his conversion, Camillus led a pious life, and he intended to form a lay order dedicated to the care of the sick, but met with many resistances. After receiving the advice from friends and his spiritual director St. Philip Neri, he began to learn Latin. He was ordained a priest at age 34, and he established the order of “Servants of the Sick”. In addition to the traditional sacred vows, this order added the sacred vow to serve the sick. The order expanded and is now in different countries, establishing hospitals, treating patients with love, and especially providing spiritual assistance for patients and palliative care. Camillus was unwell himself, and his leg wound caused him to suffer for more than forty years. At his later years, he had sores all over his leg, causing him much pain. However he permitted no one to wait on him, and only sent members to serve other patients. Camillus was totally disabled shortly before his death, but he often got up late at night to check on the patients’ needs one by one at their beds. He died at the age of 64, and the church designated him as the patron saint of the sick, nurses and medical organizations.

Reflection/Imitation:

Since he lost the weapons that protected his life as a mercenary to gambling, Camillus should be a pathological gambler. All addicts have a story behind them. Camillus grew up in a neglected environment; no one would be compassionate to this tall strong man. With no academic achievement and no skills, he had to work as a mercenary who fought to earn a living in his youth, facing injury, wounds, and even death on a daily basis. On top of that he had incurable illness. It is understandable that he gambled to numb his heart and soul. Although he lost all his fortune, there was in fact no reason or motivation for him to quit gambling. The guardian of the convent might have been the first person who wanted him to repent and was willing to spend time to teach him. When Camillus felt cared for he was willing to reform himself. He first prayed to the Lord, then stayed away from the temptations in his environment, and associated with people who could help him spiritually, such as St. Philip Neri. He began to put himself in other people’s shoes to care about the sick around him. After that, he formed a community, and engaged himself enthusiastically in work of charity.
St. Camillus’ approach is similar to some models today that help addicts quit their addictions. For example, the Cenacolo Community in Medjugorje does not rely on drugs, but work through faith, prayer, and works of love to help young people quit bad habits and re-establish a community with Jesus Christ as the centre of their lives. Besides going to the casinos, some people are obsessed in gambling because electronic gambling is so convenient and easy these days. Like other addicts, they need physical, mental and spiritual support to quit. Let us care for these brothers and sisters with love and pray for them.

Prayer

St. Camillus’ companion wrote a biography for him, describing that when he looked at patients, he was like looking at Christ, and even asked them for forgiveness. The work of St. Camillus has become his prayer. He saw Christ in the sick, and each of his action and word was communicating with Christ. We should also learn from him to care for the sick around us. Currently we face the shortness and burnt out of medical professions; let us pray for them.

May we learn from St. Camillus de Lellis to rely on the Lord to get rid of bad habits, and see Christ in those who need our care. We especially pray for pathological gamblers, the sick and medical staff.

St. Camillus de Lellis, pray for us.

(back to top of the page)