LETTER XI.

第十一封信

To the General Chapter.

致全体修会 

To the Reverend and much-beloved Brethren, the Minister-General, and others of the Order of Friars Minor, Brother Francis, greeting in the Lord.

致尊敬的、最亲爱的兄弟们，总会长，和小兄弟会的其他兄弟们，方济各兄弟，主内平安。

Since those who are of God hear the words of God, it behoves us, beloved brethren, who have been chosen to fulfill all divine offices, not only to hear and practise what God has commanded, but also to watch most carefully over the sacred vessels, and the holy Office-books in which His words are contained, that we may become penetrated with the greatness of our Creator, and show our submission to Him. Therefore I desire and exhort my brethren to show all possible respect to the Divine Scriptures wherever they see them, and if they should be found in any improper place, or scattered about in a disrespectful manner, let them collect and put them in a becoming place as far as possible, in order to show reverence to the words of the Lord. For many things are sanctified by the Word of God, and the mystery of the Adorable Sacrament of the Altar is accomplished by the power of the words of Jesus Christ.

亲爱的弟兄们，既然属于天主的人会听到天主的话语，那么我们被拣选来履行神职的人，理应不光能听到并践行天主的命令，更要格外仔细地看护圣器，及写有上主圣言的神圣的教会书籍，因着我们造物主的伟大我们会变得鞭辟入里，并对祂谦恭顺从。因此我极渴望并劝诫我的兄弟们，无论你们在哪里看到神圣的圣经，都要尽可能敬重它们，如果圣经被放置在任何一个不太恰当的位置，不敬地散乱安放，将这些圣经收集起来，尽可能换一个适合的地方放置，以便表示对天主圣言的敬畏尊敬。因为很多事情因着天主的圣言而圣化，祭台上崇敬圣事的奥秘，也藉着主耶稣基督圣言的力量而完成。

Moreover, I confess all my sins to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; to the Blessed Mary ever Virgin, to all the saints in heaven and on earth, to the Minister-General of the Order, as my venerable Superior, to all the priests of the Order, and to all my beloved brethren. I have sinned in manifold ways and grievously, especially by not observing the Rule as I promised to God, and by not reciting the Office as that Rule prescribes, either through negligence or on account of my infirmities, or because I am an ignorant, simple man.

 此外，我向天主忏悔我所有的罪，向天主圣父、圣子、及圣神；向充满圣宠的童贞圣母玛利 亚，向天上和地上所有圣人圣女们、向修会总会长，及我尊敬的长上，向修会所有的神父，及我所有亲爱的兄弟们。我在许多方面都犯了严重的罪过，尤其是我没有遵守我对天主的承诺，因为我的软弱和疏忽，我没有按照修会会规规定诵读日课，再或许因为我就是一个愚昧无知，头脑简单的人。 

 I therefore earnestly beseech the Minister-General, my lord, to cause the Rule to be strictly observed by all, and to see that the clerics recite the Office devoutly before God, endeavouring to please Him by the concord of their hearts, and not to soothe the ears of the people by the sweetness of their singing; not attending to the melody of the voice, but to the harmony of the mind, so that their voices may be in unison with their hearts, and their hearts with God. As for myself I promise, by the grace of God, to observe these things faithfully, and I will cause them to be observed by those brethren who are with me, both with regard to the Office, and to other regulations. As for those who will not observe them, I do not look upon them as Catholics, nor my brethren ; I will neither see nor speak with them until they have done penance. I say the same of those who wander to and fro, and make no account of the ordinances and precepts of the Rule; for Our Lord Jesus Christ sacrificed His life rather than disobey His Heavenly Father.

我因此诚挚地恳请总会长、我的上主、严格制定大家都要遵守的规则，务必使神职人员在天主面前虔敬地背诵日课，以他们心灵的合一，竭力取悦于天主，不要以甜美的歌声，安抚人们的耳朵，不要太在意声音的旋律，但要注意内心的和谐，这样他们的声音才会与他们的内心一致，他们的内心才会与天主合一。至于我，蒙天主的恩典，我承诺忠实地遵守这些，并且我也会促使那些与我在一起的兄弟们遵守，不光是日课，还有其它规则。对于那些不遵守的人，我不会把他们当作天主教徒，也不会把他们当作是我的兄弟，我既不会看他们也不会跟他们说话，直到他们悔改。我对那些还在歧路徘徊并将继续如此，以及轻视命令，不遵守会规戒律的人，也是这样，因为我主耶稣基督宁愿牺牲自己的生命，也不愿不服从祂天上圣父的旨意。

I, Brother Francis, a vile man, and unworthy creature of God, command, in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Minister-General, all the Ministers- General who come after him, all the Custodes and Guardians present and to come, to have this writing, to keep it carefully, and to practise what it contains. I implore them to have all that is written therein carefully and diligently observed. May those who are faithful to these things be blessed of the Lord, according to the will of Almighty God, now and in future as long as the world exists. May the Lord be with you for ever. Amen.

我，方济各兄弟，一个卑微的人，不堪当天主的受造物，以我主耶稣基督之名，命令总会长，以及所有在他以后的总会长，所有现任及即将上任的会长和院长，仔细保管这封书信，实践信中包含的内容。我恳请你们认真勤勉地遵守信中所写的所有内容。愿天主降福那些按照全能天主的旨意，忠实遵守这些的人，现在，将来，直到世界末日。愿天主永远与你同在，阿门。