FLL
Home Page 主頁
生命恩泉
Personal Site
個人綱頁
on Twitter...
FOLLOW
Facebook Profile
Father Anthony's Linked in profile About Fr. Anthony Ho
何庭耀神父簡介
Contact
Fr. Anthony Ho
聯絡何庭耀神父
Fr Anthony Ho's Corner
Home Page
The Latest Series of Articles
最新文章系列
The Latest Article
最新文章
Weekly Article
每週專欄文章
Audio Talks
錄音
Photos
相片

20110704 Soldiers of Christ fought for God and Souls 基督勇兵,為天主、為人靈作戰

St. Ignatius Loyola and St. Francis Xavier are two of the 10 patron saints for this year’s World Youth Day. They were both members of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits).

Reading and reflection

Ignatius, the youngest of 13 children, was born in the castle of Loyola in 1491. He became a soldier of Spain who fought against the French. On May 20, 1521, he was seriously wounded by a cannonball. After surgeries, and during his long recovery, Ignatius asked for books to read. All that could be found was the Life of Christ and a volume of the Lives of the Saints.

Ignatius read the two spiritual books given to him. He started to reflect on the words and deeds of Christ and of the saints, but he also daydreamed about vain and romantic things. However he started to recognize the difference: reflections on holy things left him full of joy and peace, whereas daydreaming about vain and romantic things left him dry and dissatisfied.

It dawned on him that the former ideas were God-sent, whereas the latter were of the world. Now he realized the emptiness of earthly ambition; “For the Greater Glory of God” would be his new motto.

One of the most fruitful works of Ignatius was the book of his Spiritual Exercises, a handbook for self-examination, discernment, and meditation.

Beginning of the society

In 1524 Ignatius devoted himself to study as a means of helping him to work for souls. He combined prayer and penance with study and teaching. While studying at Paris he became good friends with Francis Xavier.

On Aug. 15, 1534, Francis and six companions joined Ignatius to take vows of poverty and chastity and to go to preach the Gospel in Palestine; if they could not go there they would offer themselves to the Pope to be employed in whatever manner he should judge best.

On June 24, 1537, Ignatius and his companions were ordained priests. His companions celebrated their first Masses in September and October, but Ignatius took 18 months to prepare for his first Mass.

Judging it was impossible to go to Palestine, Ignatius and two companions went to Rome to offer themselves to the Pope. Paul III received them favourably and summoned them to work in Rome under his authority.

Eventually Ignatius and his companions formed into a religious order. The vow of obedience was stressed, and a fourth vow added: to go wherever the Pope would send them for the salvation of souls. They devoted themselves to works of charity, especially for children and those who were to be taught the commandments of God.

Counter-Reformation

Ignatius lived in Rome and directed the activities of the newly founded Society of Jesus until his death in 1556.

The Jesuits played important roles in the Counter-Reformation. Cardinal Manning said, “It was exactly what was wanted at the time to counteract the revolt of the 16th century. The revolt was disobedience and disorder in the most aggressive form. The Society was obedience and order in the most solid compactness.”

Winning souls

Francis Xavier was the Society’s first foreign missionary. Though he had no ability for languages and knew nothing of native peoples, he relied solely on God, and for 10 years he traversed the greater part of the Far East.

Francis reached out to visit the people and treated them with love and patience. He won the hearts of the people and converted tens of thousands to the faith. Francis left behind him flourishing churches that have generally endured to the present day.

聖依納爵和聖方濟各.沙勿略,均被尊為今年八月,在西班牙馬德里舉行「世界青年日」十位主保聖人其中兩位;他們都是「耶穌會」會士。

閱讀與反省

聖依納爵生於一四九一年,父母是羅耀拉的望族,十三名兒女中,他排行最小。依納爵曾為西班牙軍人,在一五二一年五月二十日,在對抗法國軍隊時受重傷。手術後休養期間,閱讀「耶穌傳」和「聖人言行」兩本書籍;而這兩本書籍,激發起他細想基督和聖人們的生平。

在比較世俗的追逐和聖人的各項德行,依納爵認識聖德的高超人格,才能帶給他踏實的快樂及平安;相反,世財、名利,只屬虛幻,也不能滿足心靈。最後,「愈顯主靈」成了依納爵的格言,他寫的「依納爵神操」,公認是省察、洞識和默想的好指引。

創辦修會

一五二四年,依納爵進學校讀書以裝備自己為人靈服務的使命。他以學習、教授,融匯祈禱和補贖。他在巴黎進修時,和聖方濟各.沙勿略成了好友。

一五三四年八月十五日,方濟各和其他六位同伴,與依納爵一起發了「神貧」和「貞潔」之願。他們有意到巴勒斯坦傳福音,或任憑教宗的差遣。

一五三七年六月二十四日,依納爵等人晉鐸,分別在九月和十月舉行晉鐸首祭,只是依納爵用了十八個月準備,才舉行他晉鐸後第一台彌撒聖祭!

估計到到巴勒斯坦傳福音的意願無望,依納爵和兩名同伴向教宗保祿三世自薦,教宗欣然把他們留在羅馬,直轄自己的差遣。

依納爵後來與同伴,創辦一個新修會,強調「聽命」聖願,並加發為救人靈,絕對聽從教宗的指派的聖願;他們又專務愛德工作,特別為兒童服務並給人們教授天主的誡命。

對抗革命

依納爵在羅馬居住,主導新創辦的「耶穌會」直至一五五六年逝世。

「耶穌會」在反擊當時所謂『宗教改革』的呼聲,產生極大作用。萬寧樞機評價「耶穌會」的「聽命」和紀律,正好切實地,抗衡和掣衡了十六世紀那極端叛逆和混亂的革命。

嬴取人靈

聖方濟各.沙勿略是「耶穌會」第一位外展的傳教士;他不善於別族方言,也對異族一無所知,但憑依賴天主,十年的傳教生涯,步跡踏遍遠東大部份地方。

方濟各待人以愛和忍耐,嬴取萬眾歸主之心,他播下教會的種子,今天猶在成長。