PART IV : THE LORD'S PRAYER
第四部分：天主经
PRAYER
祈祷
Importance Of Instruction On Prayer
关于祈祷重要性的教导
One of the duties of the pastoral office, which is of the highest importance to the spiritual interests of thefaithful, is to instruct them on Christian prayer; the nature and efficacy of which must remain unknown to many,if not taught by the pious and faithful diligence of the pastor. To this, therefore, should the care of the pastor bedirected in a special manner, that his devout hearers may understand how and for what they are to ask God.
牧者对信友精神利益的最重要的职责之一，就是教导他们基督徒的祈祷。如果牧者缺少勤奋的教导，祈祷的本质和效用为许多人是不知道的。因此，牧者应以特别的态度关照这一点，为使他的虔诚听众理解天主对他们是如何和为何要求的。
Whatever is necessary to the performance of the duty of prayer is comprised in that divine formula which Christthe Lord deigned to make known to His Apostles, and through them and their successors to all Christians. Itsthoughts and words should be so deeply impressed on the mind and memory as to be ever in readiness. To assistpastors, however, in teaching the faithful concerning this prayer, we have set down from those writers who areconspicuous for learning and fullness in this matter, whatever appeared to us most suitable, leaving it to pastorsto draw upon the same sources for further information, should they deem it necessary.
实施祈祷责任的必要性，由基督上主授给宗徒们的神圣祷文中体现出来，并由宗徒传给他们的继任者和所有基督徒。它的含义和语言应该深深的印入思想和记忆中，时刻准备的。为了帮助牧者教导信友天主经，我们在这里，把对此主题进行完整和显明阐述的著作中，对我们最适合的摘取出来，留给牧者认为需要时用。
Necessity of Prayer
祈祷的必要性
In the first place the necessity of prayer should be insisted upon. Prayer is a duty not only recommended by wayof counsel, but also commanded by obligatory precept. Christ the Lord declared this when He said: We shouldpray always. This necessity of prayer the Church points out in the prelude, if we may so call it, which sheprefixes to the Lord's Prayer: Admonished by salutary precepts, and taught by divine instruction, we presume tosay, etc.
首先要坚持的就是祈祷的重要性。祈祷不仅是受推荐的职责，也是诫命下达的命令。基督上主宣布说：我们应恒常祈祷。教会在序章中指出了祈祷的必要性，就是在天主经之前的前缀：我们既遵从救主的训示，又承受他的教导，才敢说… …
Therefore, since prayer is necessary to the Christian, the Son of God, yielding to the request of the disciples,Lord, teach us to pray, gave them a prescribed form of prayer, and encouraged them to hope that the objects oftheir petitions would be granted. He Himself was to them a model of prayer; He not only prayed assiduously,but watched whole nights in prayer.
因此，既然祈祷对基督徒而言时必须的，天主子面对宗徒请求教导他们如何祈祷时，给了他们一个规定的格式祷文，鼓励他们，希望他们的请求得到同意。基督祂自己就是祈祷的一个模范；祂不仅勤奋的祈祷，而且被宗徒看到整夜祈祷。
The Apostles, also, did not omit to recommend this duty to those who had been converted to the faith of JesusChrist. St. Peter and St. John are most diligent in their admonitions to the devout; and the Apostle, mindful of itsnature, frequently admonishes Christians of the salutary necessity of prayer.
宗徒们没有忽视对那些改宗到耶稣基督信仰之人推荐祈祷职责。圣伯多禄和圣若望是最勤奋的提醒信友的；宗徒意识到祈祷的本质，经常提醒基督徒有关祈祷的必须之益。
Besides, so various are our temporal and spiritual necessities, that we must have recourse to prayer as the bestmeans for communicating our wants and receiving whatever we need. For since God owes nothing to anyone,we must ask of Him in prayer those things we need, seeing that He has constituted prayer as a necessary meansfor the accomplishment of our desires, particularly since it is clear that there are blessings which we cannothope to obtain otherwise than through prayer. Thus devout prayer has such efficacy that it is a most powerfulmeans of casting out demons; for there is a certain kind of demon which is not cast out but by prayer andfasting.
此外，我们的世俗需求和精神需求是如此的多样性，以至于我们必须依靠祈祷作为最好的办法，来沟通我们想要的，领受我们需要的。因为天主不欠任何人任何东西，我们必须用祈祷求天主我们需要的，因为祂设立了祈祷作为满足我们需要的一个必须的手段，特别是很清楚的，我们除了通过祈祷，就没有希望获得祝福。
Those, therefore, who do not practice assiduous and regular prayer deprive themselves of a powerful means ofobtaining gifts of singular value. To succeed in obtaining the object of your desires, it is not enough that you askthat which is good; your entreaties must also be assiduous. Every one that asketh, says St. Jerome, receiveth, asit is written. If, therefore, it is not given you, this is because you do not ask. Ask, therefore, and you shallreceive.
那些从不勤奋和定期祈祷的人，就失去了获得非凡恩宠的一个有力方法。为了成功的获得你想要的，仅仅有好的意向是不够的，你的恳求也必须是勤奋的。圣热罗尼莫说，任何人求，就能求到。如果没有求到，那是因为你没有求。因此，祈求，你就会得到。
The Fruits of Prayer
祈祷的果实
Moreover, this necessity of prayer is also productive of the greatest delight and usefulness, since it bears mostabundant fruits. When it is necessary to instruct the faithful concerning these fruits, pastors will find amplematter in sacred writers. We have made from these sources a selection which appeared to us to suit the presentpurpose.
祈祷必要性带来最大的快乐和实用性，能结出最丰富的果实。在教导信友这些果实时，牧者能找到大量的神圣著作。我们在这里选择一些最符合当前教导的。
Prayer Honours God
祈祷荣耀天主
The first fruit which we receive is that by praying we honour God, since prayer is a certain act of religion,which is compared in Scripture to a sweet perfume. Let my prayer, says the Prophet, be directed as incense inthy sight. By prayer we confess our subjection to God; we acknowledge and proclaim Him to be the author ofall good, in whom alone we center all our hopes, who alone is our refuge, in all dangers and the bulwark of oursalvation. Of this fruit we are admonished also in these words: Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliverthee, and thou shalt glorify me.
我们收获祈祷的第一个果实，就是荣耀天主。因为祈祷是一种信仰的行为，在圣经中被比喻为甜蜜的馨香。先知说，愿我向你行的祈祷，像馨香上升（圣咏141:2）。借着祈祷，我们宣认对天主的服从，我们承认并宣告祂是一切美善的作者，只有祂是我们的所有希望，只有祂是我们的庇护，在危险中是我们救恩的堡垒。天主如此教导我们祈祷的果实：在困厄的时日，呼号我，我必拯救你，你要光荣我（圣咏50:15）。
Prayer Obtains What We Request
祈祷能获得我们所求
Another most pleasing and invaluable fruit of prayer is that it is heard by God. Prayer is the key of heaven, saysSt. Augustine; prayer ascends, and the mercy of God descends. High as are the heavens, and low as is the earth,God hears the voice of man. Such is the utility, such the efficacy of prayer, that through it we obtain a plenitudeof heavenly gifts. Thus by prayer we secure the guidance and aid of the Holy Spirit, the security andpreservation of the faith, deliverance from punishment, divine protection under temptation, victory over thedevil. In a word, there is in prayer an accumulation of spiritual joy; and hence our Lord said: Ask, and you shallreceive, that your joy may be full.
祈祷的另一个最可喜和不可估量的果实，那就是被天主俯听。圣奥斯丁说，祈祷是天国的钥匙；祈祷上升，天主慈悲降下。天堂很高，尘世很低，天主依然能听到人的声音。这就是祈祷的效果和效用，通过祈祷能获得天堂的丰富礼物。因此，借着祈祷我们确保圣神的指引和帮助，保护保持信仰，远离惩罚，在受诱感时受到来自神的保护，克服邪恶。一句话，在祈祷中有累积的精神欢喜；因此我主说：求罢！必会得到，好使你们的喜乐得以圆满（若望16:24）。
Proof
证据
Nor can we, for a moment, doubt that God in His goodness awaits and is at all times ready to hear our petitions-- a truth to which the Sacred Scriptures bear ample testimony. Since, however, the texts are easy of access, weshall content ourselves with citing as an example the words of Isaias: Then shalt thou call, and the Lord willhear: thou shalt cry, and he will say, "Here I am"; and again, It shall come to pass, that before they call, I willhear: as they are yet speaking, I will hear. With regard to instances of persons, who have obtained from God theobjects of their prayers, they are almost innumerable, and too well known to require special mention.
我们无论在任何时刻，都不能怀疑天主在祂的美善中，时刻准备着俯听我们的请求。这是由圣经大量证据证明的真理。我们引用依撒意亚先知的话做例子：那时，你如呼喊，上主必要俯允；你若哀求，他必答说：「我在这里！」（依58:9），以及：那时，他们还未呼求，我已答应了；他们还在祈祷，我已俯允了（依65:24）。关于通过祈祷获得天主满足请求的例子，实在是不可胜数，太广为人知，不需要特别提起了。
Unwise And Indevout Prayers Unheard
不明智的和不虔诚的祈祷是不被俯听的
Sometimes, indeed, it happens that what we ask of God we do not obtain. But it is then especially that Godlooks to our welfare, either because He bestows on us other gifts of higher value and in greater abundance, orbecause what we ask, far from being necessary or useful, would prove superfluous and injurious. God, says St.Augustine, denies some things in His mercy which He grants in His wrath.
有时的确，我们没有得到我们向天主所求的。但这是天主特别看顾我们的福利，或者因为祂要给我们更高价值和更丰富的礼物，或者因为我们所求的，既不必需也没有用，多余且有害。圣奥斯定说，天主拒绝一些事，是用义怒来赋予仁慈。
Sometimes, also, such is the remissness and negligence with which we pray, that we ourselves do not attend towhat we say. Since prayer is an elevation of the soul to God, if, while we pray, the mind, instead of being fixedupon God, is distracted, and the tongue slurs over the words at random, without attention, without devotion,with what propriety can we give to such empty sounds the name of Christian prayer?
有时，这是由于我们祈祷时的怠慢和疏忽造成，我们自己都没有注意我们说了什么。既然祈祷时灵魂上升到天主，如果当我们祈祷时，思绪没有集中于天主，而是被分心，舌头含糊的念出词语，也不注意，也不虔诚，我们把这种空洞的声音称为基督徒的祈祷，是出于哪种妥当性呢？
We should not, therefore, be at all surprised, if God does not comply with our requests; either because by ournegligence and indifference we almost show that we do not really desire what we ask, or because we ask thosethings, which, if granted, would be prejudicial to our interests.
我们因此不应感到惊讶，如果天主没有俯听我们的祈祷的话。或者由于我们的疏忽和冷淡，我们表现出我们并不真心想要我们所求的，或者由于我们所求的这些事如果被满足，就会伤害到我们的利益。
To Devout Prayer And Dispositions God Grants More Than Is Asked
对于虔诚的祈祷和意向，天主给的比祈求的更多
On the other hand, to those who pray with devout attention, God grants more than they ask. This the Apostledeclares in his Epistle to the Ephesians, and the same truth is unfolded in the parable of the prodigal son, whowould have deemed it a kindness to be admitted into the number of his father's servants.
另一方面，对那些虔诚的专注祈祷的人，天主会给他们更多。这是宗徒在厄佛所书中所说的，以及耶稣讲的奢侈小儿子挥霍财产的寓言，他曾经认为当他父亲的仆人都是一件好事。
Nay, God heaps His favours not only on those who seek them, but also on those who are rightly disposed; andthis, not only with abundance, but also with readiness. This is shown by the words of Scripture: The Lord hathheard the desire of the poor. For God hastens to grant the inner and hidden desires of the needy withoutawaiting their utterance.
不，天主将祂的恩宠给那些祈祷得恩宠的人，也给那些有正确意向的人；不仅大量的赐恩宠，而且时刻准备着。圣经为证：上主，你垂允了谦卑者的心愿，坚固他们的心灵，也侧耳俯听（圣咏10:17）。因为天主迅速的满足那些有需要人的内心深处的渴求，并不需要他们大声说出来。
Prayer Exercises And Increases Faith
祈祷可以锻炼与增长信仰
Another fruit of prayer is, that it exercises and augments the virtues of the soul, particularly the virtue of faith.
祈祷的另一个果实就是，祈祷锻炼并增强了灵魂的美德，特别是信仰的美德。
As they who have not faith in God, cannot pray as they ought, for how can they call on him, whom they havenot believed ? so the faithful, in proportion to the fervour of their prayers, possess a stronger and a more assuredfaith in the protecting providence of God, which requires principally that in all needs we have recourse to Him.
那些不信天主的人是不会祈祷的，虽然这是他们的应该，因为他们怎么称呼他们不信的天主呢？所以信友们有多爱祈祷，在天主圣意的保护中，就同等比例的拥有更强和更确定的信仰，天主圣意要求我们一切的需要都应求助于祂。
Prayer Strengthens Our Hope In God
祈祷强化我们在天主内的希望
God, it is true, might bestow on us all things abundantly, although we did not ask them or even think of them,just as He bestows on the irrational creation all things necessary for the support of life. But our most bountifulFather wishes to be invoked by His children; He wishes that, praying as we ought each day of our lives, we maypray with increased confidence. He wishes that in obtaining our requests we may more and more bear witness toand declare His goodness towards us.
的确，天主愿意赏赐我们丰富的一切，即便我们没有求这些，甚至都没想到这些，就好像祂赏赐给无理性的造物维持生命的一切所需。但是我们最慷慨的天父希望祂的子民们恳求祂；祂希望，我们应该在生命中的每天祈祷，我们应该怀着日益增长的信心祈祷。祂希望，我们的请求得到满足后，我们能把祂对我们的美善，向世界做更多的见证和宣告。
Prayer Increases Charity
祈祷增长爱德
Our charity is also augmented. In recognising God as the author of every blessing and of every good, we are ledto cling to Him with the most devoted love. And as those who cherish a mutual affection become more ardentlyattached by frequent interviews and conversations, so the oftener the soul prays devoutly and implores thedivine mercy, thus holding converse with God, the more exquisite is the sense of delight which she experiencesin each prayer, and the more ardently is she inflamed to love and adore Him.
我们的爱德也被增强了。在认识到天主是一切美善的作者后，我们就会用最虔诚的爱依靠祂。那些珍惜这种天主与人之间互爱关系的，就会变得越来越热情的依恋这种频繁的会面和谈话，因此，灵魂越虔诚越经常的祈求神圣的慈悲，越保持与天主的谈话，她在每次祈祷中所经历的高兴的感觉就会越精妙，并更热情的爱天主和崇拜天主。
Prayer Disposes The Soul For Divine Blessings
祈祷
Furthermore, God wishes us to make use of prayer, in order that burning with the desire of asking what we areanxious to obtain, we may thus by our perseverance and zeal make such advances in spiritual life, as to beworthy to obtain those blessings which the soul could not obtain before because of its dryness and lack ofdevotion.
进一步的，天主希望我们多利用祈祷，是希望我们在急切渴望的燃烧下，能够靠我们的坚持和热情在精神生命中得到进步，能够配的上这些祝福，这祝福是灵魂没有虔诚祈祷的干枯时候无法获得的。
Prayer Makes Us Realise Our Own Needfulness
祈祷使我们意识到自己的必需
Moreover, God wishes us to realise, and always keep in mind, that, unassisted by His heavenly grace, we can ofourselves do nothing, and should therefore apply ourselves to prayer with all the powers of our souls.
此外，天主希望我们意识到，并牢记在心，就是没有祂的天堂般恩宠，我们靠自己什么也做不了，要使我们自己用灵魂的全力进行祈祷。
Prayer Is A Protection Against The Devil
祈祷是一种对抗邪恶的保护
The weapons which prayer supplies are most powerful against our bitterest foes. With the cries of our prayers,says St. Hilary, we must fight against the devil and his armed hosts.
祈祷是我们对抗最凶恶敌人的最强武器。圣希拉里说，我们必须呼喊着祈祷来对抗邪恶和撒殚。
Prayer Promotes A Virtuous Life
祈祷带来德性的生活
From prayer we also derive this important advantage that though we are inclined to evil and to the indulgence ofvarious passions, as a consequence of our natural frailty, God permits us to raise our hearts to Him, in order thatwhile we address Him in prayer, and endeavour to deserve His gifts, we may be inspired with a love ofinnocence, and, by effacing our sins, be purified from every stain of guilt.
从祈祷中，我们也获得了重要的益处，那就是出于我们本性虚弱的后果，我们尽管经常倾向于邪恶并沉溺在各种激情中，但是天主允许我们举心向祂，使我们能够在祈祷中与祂交谈，在祈祷中尽力配得上祂的恩宠，我们会受到无玷之爱的激励，借着擦除我们的罪，我们从一切罪污中得到净化。
Prayer Disarms The Divine Vengeance
祈祷可以卸下神圣的报复
Finally, as St. Jerome observes, prayer disarms the anger of God. Hence, these words of God addressed toMoses: Let me alone, when Moses sought by his prayer to stay the punishments God was about to inflict on Hispeople. Nothing is so efficacious in appeasing God, when His wrath is kindled; nothing so effectually delays oraverts the punishments prepared for the wicked as the prayers of men.
最后，如圣热莫尼罗所说，祈祷能消除天主的怒火。因此，当梅瑟用祈祷求天主不要惩罚祂的子民时，天主对梅瑟说：你且由我向他们发怒（出谷32:10）。当祂的义怒被激起时，没有什么能比祈祷如此有效的平息天主；当为恶人预备的惩罚降临时，没有什么能比祈祷更有效地阻止或者躲避了。
The Parts Of Prayer
祈祷的组成部分
The necessity and advantages of Christian prayer being explained, the faithful should also know how many, andwhat are the parts of which it is composed; for that this pertains to the perfect discharge of this duty, we learnfrom the Apostle. In his Epistle to Timothy, exhorting to pious and holy prayer, he carefully enumerates theparts of which it consists: I desire therefore first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, andthanksgivings be made for all men. Although the shades of distinction between these different parts of prayerare delicate, yet the pastor, should he deem the explanation useful to his people, should consult, among others,St. Hilary and St. Augustine.
已经解释了基督徒祈祷的必要性和好处了，信友也应知祈祷的组成部分有几个，分别是什么；因为这涉及到完美的履行祈祷职责。从宗徒我们了解到，在他给第茂德的书信中，劝诫要虔诚和神圣的祈祷，他仔细的列数了祈祷的组成部分：首先我劝导众人，要为一切人恳求、祈祷、转求和谢恩（第前2:1）。尽管祈祷的这些不同部分的细微差别是微妙的，然而牧者应知，做出解释对他的教友是有用的，他应查阅圣希拉里和圣奥斯定的著作。
The Two Chief Parts Of Prayer Petition And Thanksgiving
祈祷的两个主要部分是恳求和感恩
There are two principal parts of prayer, petition and thanksgiving, and since these are the sources, as it were,from which all the others spring, they appear to us to be of too much importance to be omitted. For we approachGod and offer Him the tribute of our worship, either to obtain some favour, or to return Him thanks for thosewith which His bounty every day enriches and adorns us. God Himself indicated both these most necessaryparts of prayer when He declared by the mouth of David: Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee,and thou shalt glorify me.
祈祷有两个主要部分，恳求和感恩，这两部分是所有的源泉，对我们而言，这两部分太重要以至不能忽略。因为，我们接近天主，献上我们崇拜的贡品，要么是为了获得天主喜爱，要么是感谢祂对我们每天的慷慨恩宠。天主祂自己通过达味之口宣布了这两个必要的组成部分：困厄的时日，呼号我，我必拯救你，你要光荣我（圣咏50:15）。
Who does not perceive how much we stand in need of the goodness and beneficence of God, if he but considerthe extreme destitution and misery of man?
如果能理解人类的极度赤贫和悲惨境地，还有谁理解不了我们是多么的需要天主的美善和慈善？
On the other hand, all that have eyes and understanding know God's loving kindness toward man and the liberalbounty He exercises in our behalf. Wherever we cast our eyes, wherever we turn our thoughts, the admirablelight of the divine goodness and beneficence beams upon us. What have we that is not the gift of His bounty? If,then, all things are the gifts and favours bestowed on us by His goodness, why should not everyone, as much aspossible, celebrate the praises of God, and thank Him for His boundless beneficence.
另一方面，凡是有眼的和理解力的，都知道天主对人的关爱美善和慷慨大方是为了我们好。无论我们把目光投在哪里，把思绪朝向哪里，这神圣的美善和慷慨之光就照在哪里。我们所有的一切，有哪个不是他慷慨的礼物？那么如果，一切的事物都是由天主的美善赠与我们的礼物，那么每个人为什么不尽可能的赞扬称颂天主，为祂无穷的慈善而感谢祂呢。
Degrees Of Petition And Thanksgiving
恳求和感恩的级别
Of these duties of petition and thanksgiving each contains many subordinate degrees. In order, therefore, thatthe faithful may not only pray, but also pray in the best manner, the pastor should propose to them the mostperfect mode of praying, and should exhort them to use it to the best of their ability.
恳求和感恩的职责也细分为许多的级别。为了使信友不仅祈祷，而且以最好的方式祈祷，牧者应该建议他们用最完美的祈祷方式，并劝导他们用最大的能力祈祷。
The Highest Degree Of Prayer: The Prayer Of The Just
祈祷的最高级别：义人的祈祷
What, then, is the best manner and the most exalted degree of prayer? It is that which is made use of by thepious and the just. Resting on the solid foundation of the true faith, they rise successively from one degree ofprayer and virtue to another, until, at length, they reach that height of perfection, whence they can contemplatethe infinite power, goodness, and wisdom of God; where, too, they are animated with the assured hope ofobtaining not only those blessings which they desire in this life, but also those unutterable rewards which Godhas pledged Himself to grant to him who piously and religiously implores His assistance.
那么，什么是祈祷最好的方式和最崇高的级别？那就是虔诚者和义人的祈祷。基于真正信仰的坚固基础，他们逐步的从一个层级的祈祷和美德上升到更高的曾经，直到他们到达了完美的最高处，在那里他们能够默想天主的无穷能力，美善和智慧；在那里，他们不仅被能满足今生祈求的愿望所鼓励，还被天主自己许诺给那些虔诚呼求祂的救助的不可言说的回报所鼓励。
Soaring, as it were, to heaven, on these two wings, the soul approaches, in fervent desire, the Divinity; adoreswith supreme praise and thanksgiving Him from whom she has received such inestimable blessings; and, like anonly child, animated with singular piety and profound veneration, trustfully tells her most beloved Father all herwants.
灵魂靠着恳求和感恩的两翼，在热切的渴望中，飞向天堂，飞向神性；最极度的赞扬和感恩天主，从祂那里，她得到了无可估量的祝福；好比一个孩童，被非凡的虔诚和深远的尊敬所激励，深信不疑的告诉她最可爱的父亲她想要的。
This sort of prayer the Sacred Scriptures express by the words pouring out. In his sight, says the Prophet, I pourout my prayer, but before him I declare my trouble. This means that he who comes to pray should conceal oromit nothing, but pour out all, flying with confidence into the bosom of God, his most loving Father. To this theSacred Scriptures exhort us in these words: Pour out thy heart before him, cast thy care upon the Lord. This isthat degree of prayer to which St. Augustine alludes when he says in that book entitled Enchiridion: What faithbelieves, that hope and charity implore.
圣经中用词语倾吐来表达这种祈祷。先知说：我向他倾吐我的愁苦，我向他陈诉我的忧虑（圣咏142:3）。这就意味着祈祷者不应隐藏和遗漏任何事，倾吐全部，信赖的飞向天主的胸怀，他最亲爱的父亲。圣经是这样劝导我们的：百姓，你们该常向他表示依靠，该在他面前吐露你们的心窍（圣咏62:9）。这种级别的祈祷就是圣奥斯定在他名为“手册”的书里所指的：信德所信的，就是望德与爱德所求的。
The Second Degree Of Prayer: The Prayer Of Sinners
第二级别的祈祷：罪人的祈祷
Another degree of prayer is that of those who are weighed down by the guilt of mortal sin, but who strive, withwhat is called dead faith, to raise themselves from their condition and to ascend to God. But, in consequence oftheir languid state and the extreme weakness of their faith, they cannot raise themselves from the earth.
另一类祈祷来自于那些身负大罪之人，被称为死去的信仰伴随着他们，努力的把自己从当前状态朝向天主提升。但是，由于他们无精打采的状态和信仰极度虚弱，他们无法把自己从尘世中提升。
Recognising their crimes and stung with remorse of conscience, they bow themselves down with humility, and,far as they are removed from God, implore of Him with penitential sorrow, the pardon of their sins and thepeace of reconciliation.
在认识到罪过后，他们良心受到痛悔的刺痛。由于他们是脱离天主的，他们谦卑的低了头，用忏悔的悲痛祈求天主原谅他们的罪过，求被天主重新接纳的和平。
The prayers of such persons are not rejected by God, but are heard by Him. Nay, in His mercy, He generouslyinvites such as these to have recourse to Him, saying: Come to me, all you that labour, and are heavily laden,and I will refresh you, of this class was the publican, who, though he did not dare to raise his eyes towardsheaven, left the Temple, as (our Lord) declares, more justified than the Pharisee.
这种祈祷是不会被天主拒绝的，而是被俯听。在祂的慈悲里，祂慷慨的邀请那些依靠求助祂的，说：凡劳苦和负重担的，你们都到我跟前来，我要使你们安息（玛窦11:28）。路加福音中的税吏就属于这一类人，他在圣殿里举目望天都不敢，然而我主却宣布他比法利赛人还要正义。
The Third Degree Of Prayer: The Prayer Of Unbelievers
第三级别的祈祷：无信者的祈祷
A third degree of prayer is that which is offered by those who have not as yet been illumined with the light offaith; but who, when the divine goodness illumines in their souls the feeble natural light, are strongly moved tothe desire and pursuit of truth and most earnestly pray for a knowledge of it.
第三级别的祈祷来自那些还没有被信仰之光照亮的人，但是神圣的美善照亮了在他们灵魂内的虚弱的自然之光，他们被强烈的感动去渴望和追求真理，并诚恳的祈祷能获得相关的知识。
If they persevere in such dispositions, God, in His mercy, will not neglect their earnest endeavours, as we seeverified by the example of Cornelius the centurion. The doors of the divine mercy are closed against none whosincerely ask for mercy.
如果他们能坚持这个意向，以天主的慈悲，祂绝不会忽视他们诚恳的努力，就像我们看到的科尔乃略的百夫长（大事录10）的例子一样。神圣慈悲之门绝不会为那些真诚恳求慈悲之人关闭。
The Lowest Degree Of Prayer: The Prayer Of The Impenitent
最低级的祈祷：不悔改者的祈祷
The last degree is that of those who not only do not repent of their sins and enormities, but, adding crime tocrime, dare frequently to ask pardon of God for those sins, in which they are resolved to continue. With suchdispositions they would not presume to ask pardon from their fellow-man.
最低级的祈祷时那些不仅不悔改他们的罪和恶，却不停犯罪，并经常求天主原谅这些他们决意还会继续犯的罪。这样的意向下，他们不应认为能够获得原谅。
The prayer of such sinners is not heard by God. It is recorded of Antiochus: Then this wicked man prayed to theLord, of whom he was not to obtain mercy. Whoever lives in this deplorable condition should be vehementlyexhorted to wean himself from all affection to sin, and to return to God in good earnest and from the heart.
这种祈祷是不会被天主俯听的。有安提约古的记录为证：这恶人不住向那不再怜悯他的上主祈祷（玛加伯下9:13）。任何处在这种可悲可怜状态的人应被强烈的说服去戒除所有罪的影响，用诚恳良好的心回归天主。
What We Should Pray For
我们应该为什么而祈祷
Under the head of each Petition we shall point out in its proper place, what is, and what is not a proper object ofprayer. Hence it will suffice here to remind the faithful in a general way that they ought to ask of God suchthings as are just and good, lest, praying for what is not suitable, they may be repelled in these words: Youknow not what you ask. Whatever it is lawful to desire, it is lawful to pray for, as is proved by the Lord's amplepromise: You shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be done unto you, words in which He promises to grantall things.
在每个祈祷的请求开头部分是最合适作为祈祷目的位置。在此，以一般的方式，提醒信友应该求天主那些正义和美善的事物，而不是那些不恰当的，因为那些祈祷可能会被上主以这样的话驳回：你们不知道你们所求的是什么（玛窦20:22）如同天主丰富的许诺所证实的：你们愿意什么，求罢！必给你们成就（若望15:7）。这句话里天主承诺授给我们所有的所求。
Spiritual Good
灵魂的利益
In the first place, then, the standard which should regulate all our wishes is that we desire above all else God,the supreme Good. After God we should most desire those things which unite us most closely to Him; whilethose which would separate us from Him, or occasion that separation, should have no share whatever in ouraffections.
那么首先第一的，规范我们所有愿望的标准原则就是我们首先渴望天主，这最高的美善于其他任何事物。其次，我们应该渴望任何能使我们紧密联系于祂的事物；那些会使我们与祂分开的事物，或造成分开的机会，都不应出现在我们的意向中。
External Goods And Goods Of Body
外在的利益和身体的利益
Taking, then, as our standard the supreme and perfect Good, we can easily infer how we are to desire and askfrom God our Father those other things which are called goods. Goods which are called bodily, such as health,strength, beauty and those which are external, such as riches, honours, glory, often supply the means and giveoccasion for sin; and, therefore, it is not always either pious or salutary to ask for them. We should pray forthese goods of life only in so far as we need them, thus referring all to God. It cannot be deemed unlawful topray for those things for which Jacob and Solomon prayed. If, says Jacob, he shall give me bread to eat andraiment to put on, the Lord shall be my God. Give me, says Solomon, only the necessaries of life.
把至高完美的美善作为我们的标准原则，就可以很容易的推导出我们如何去渴望和向天主请求利益之事。美善分为身体的利益和外在的利益，身体的利益包括健康，强壮，美丽；外在利益包括富有，尊重，光荣等。这些利益经常能给犯罪创造机会和方法，因此，经常祈求这些是不虔诚和有益的。我们祈祷获取这些世俗利益，只能在我们需要它们时祈祷，然后把一切交给天主。像雅各伯和撒落满那样祈求这些东西是合法的。雅各伯说，在我所走的路上护佑我，赐我丰衣足食，上主实在当是我的天主（创世纪28:20）。撒落满说：请只给我生活的必须。
But when we are supplied by the bounty of God with necessaries and comforts, we should not forget theadmonition of the Apostle: Let them that buy, be as if they possessed not, and those that use this world, as ifthey used it not; for the figure of this world passeth away; and again, If riches abound, set not your heart uponthem. God Himself teaches us that only the use and fruit of these things belong to us and that we are obliged toshare them with others. If we are blessed with health, if we abound in other external and corporal goods, weshould recollect that they are given to us in order to enable us to serve God with greater fidelity, and as themeans of lending assistance to others.
我们被天主慷慨赋予我们生活必须和慰藉的时候，也不要忘记宗徒的训导：享用这世界的，要像不享用的，因为这世界的局面正在逝去（格前7:31）。以及，如财宝日增，也不要挂念在心（圣咏62:10）。天主祂自己教导我们，这些利益的使用权是属于我们的，我们有义务与他人分享这些。如果我们在健康上受到了天主祝福，或者我们在其他的外在的身体方面领受了祝福，我们应该反思，天主赐给我们这些是为了使我们能更忠贞的服务祂，并且给我们这些也是给他人提供帮助。
Goods Of The Mind
思想的利益
It is also lawful to pray for the goods and adornments of the mind, such as a knowledge of the arts and sciences,provided our prayers are accompanied with this condition, that they serve to promote the glory of God and ourown salvation.
祈祷为了思想的利益和增长也是合法的，例如为了科学和艺术的知识，但是前提是我们的祈祷要符合一个条件，即这是为了推动天主的光荣和我们自己的救恩。
The only thing which can be absolutely and unconditionally the object of our wishes, our desires and ourprayers, is, as we have already observed, the glory of God, and, next to it, whatever can serve to unite us to thatsupreme Good, such as faith and the fear and love of God, of which we shall treat at length when we come toexplain the Petitions.
在我们的渴望，愿望和祈祷中，只有一件事可以绝对和无条件的祈求，那就是天主的光荣，以及任何能使我们与至高美善所联结的事，例如信仰和对天主的惧怕与爱，这一点我们在接下来解释天主经里详细阐述。
For Whom We Ought to Pray
我们应该为谁祈祷
The objects of prayer being known, the faithful are next to be taught for whom they are to pray. Prayercomprehends petition and thanksgiving. We shall first treat of petition.
祈祷的对象已经解释清楚，接下来教导信友应为谁祈祷。祈祷包含请求和感恩两部分。我们首先来看请求。
The Prayer Of Petition Should Be Offered For All
请求的祈祷应该献给所有人
We are to pray for all mankind, without exception of enemies, nation or religion; for every man, be he enemy,stranger or infidel, is our neighbour, whom God commands us to love, and for whom, therefore, we shoulddischarge a duty of love, which is prayer. To the discharge of this duty the Apostle exhort: when he says: Idesire that prayer be made for all men. In such prayers we should first ask for those things that concern spiritualinterests, and next for what pertains to temporal welfare.
我们要为全人类祈祷，没有敌人，种族或信仰的例外；为所有人，无论他是敌人、陌生人或者异教徒，都是我们的领人。天主命令我们去爱；因此，我们要为他们履行爱的职责，那就是祈祷。宗徒关于履行这职责，训导说：要为一切人恳求、祈祷、转求和谢恩（第前2:1）。在这样的祈祷中，我们首先应请求关于灵性益处的事物，接着是那些属于世俗好处的事物。
Those For Whom We Should Especially Offer Our Petitions: Pastors
我们应该为牧者们特别献上请求
Before all others the pastors of our souls have a right to our prayers, as we learn from the example of theApostle in his Epistle to the Colossians, in which he asks them to pray for him, that God may open unto him adoor of speech, a request which he also makes in his Epistle to the Thessalonians. In the Acts of the Apostleswe also read that prayers were offered in the Church without intermission for Peter. St. Basil, in his work OnMorals, urges to a faithful compliance with this obligation. We must, he says, pray for those who are chargedwith preaching the word of truth.
我们灵魂的牧者有权利优先获得我们的祈祷，比如我们从宗徒给格罗森教会的书信中看出，宗徒请他们为他祈祷，愿天主为他打开演讲之门，宗徒在给得撒洛尼的书信中也做了同样的请求。在宗徒大事录里，我们读到在教会里为伯多禄而献的不停祈祷。圣大巴西略在其著作论道德中，力劝信友满全这个职责。他说，我们必须为那些肩负宣讲真理之言的人而祈祷。
Rulers Of Our Country
为我们国家的统治者
In the next place, as the same Apostle teaches, we should pray for our rulers.
宗徒教导我们说，接下来，我们应为我们的统治者祈祷。
Who does not know what a singular blessing a people enjoy in public officials who are just and upright? Weshould, therefore, beseech God to make them such as they ought to be, fit persons to govern others.
如果政府公务员都是正直正义之人，普通老百姓对此的喜悦有谁会不知道呢？我们因此要请求天主让他们做他们应该做的，选择合适的人统治。
The Just
为义人
To offer up our prayers also for the good and pious is a practice taught by the example of holy men. Even thegood and the pious need the prayers of others. Providence has wisely ordained it so, in order that the just,realising the necessity they are under of being aided by the prayers of those who are inferior to them, may notbe inflated with pride.
为善人和虔信者献上我们的祈祷，这是由圣人榜样教导我们的操作。就算是善人和虔诚者也需要他人的祈祷。天主圣意非常巧妙的如此下命令，目的是让义人们意识到自己被不如自己人的祈祷所帮助，能不骄傲自大。
Enemies And Those Outside The Church
为敌人和在教会之外的人
The Lord has also commanded us, to pray for those that persecute and calumniate us. The practice of prayingfor those who are not within the pale of the Church, is, as we know on the authority of St. Augustine, ofApostolic origin. We pray that the faith may be made known to infidels; that idolaters may be rescued from theerror of their impiety; that the Jews, emerging from the darkness with which they are encompassed, may arriveat the light of truth; that heretics, returning to soundness of mind, may be instructed in the Catholic faith; andthat schismatics may be united in the bond of true charity and may return to the communion of their holymother, the Church, from which they have separated.
上主也命令我们为迫害和诽谤我们的人祈祷。这种为外教人的祈祷习惯，据我们所知是圣奥斯定规定的，起源于宗徒。我们祈祷外教人能了解信仰；拜偶像者能脱离错误；犹太人能从被包围的黑暗中走出来，接受真理之光；异端能回到健全的思想，在天主教信仰内受教导；叛教者能以真正爱德做纽带，回到与他们曾经分离的圣母教会共融。
Many examples prove that prayers for such as these are very efficacious when offered from the heart. Instancesoccur every day in which God rescues individuals of every condition of life from the powers of darkness, andtransfers them into the kingdom of His Beloved Son, from vessels of wrath making them vessels of mercy. Thatthe prayers of the pious have very great influence in bringing about this result no one can reasonably doubt.
许多的例子证明，从内心真诚的为他们祈祷是非常有效的。每天都有这样的例子，天主从生命的各种条件下从黑暗中挽救了很多人，让他们进入祂爱子的王国，把他们从承受义怒变为领受慈悲。虔诚者对转变这些人的祈祷有极大的效用，这是没人能够质疑的。
The Dead
为死者
Prayers for the dead, that they may be liberated from the fire of purgatory, are derived from Apostolic teaching.But on this subject we have said enough when explaining the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
为死者的祈祷，以便他们能从炼狱之火中释放，也是来源于宗徒的教导。但是关于这个主题，我们在解释神圣的弥撒献祭部分已经解释足够了。
Sinners
为罪人祈祷
Those who are said to sin unto death derive little advantage from prayers and supplications. It is, however, thepart of Christian charity to offer up our prayers and tears for them, in order, if possible, to obtain theirreconciliation with God.
那些死于罪的，从祈祷和恳求中几乎无法得到好处。但是，基督徒的爱德要求我们为他们献上祈祷和泪水，为的是他们有可能获得与天主的和好。
With regard to the execrations uttered by holy men against the wicked, it is certain, from the teaching of theFathers, that they are either prophecies of the evils which are to befall sinners or denunciations of the crimes ofwhich they are guilty, that the sinner may be saved, but sin destroyed.
关于圣人对那些邪恶的人的咒骂和谴责，的确，根据教父的教导，他们既是降临在罪人的邪恶先知，也为他们自己的罪行受谴责。但是罪人可以被拯救，而罪恶被摧毁。
The Prayer Of Thanksgiving Should Be Offered For All
感恩的祈祷应为所有人而奉献
In the second part of prayer we render most grateful thanks to God for the divine and immortal blessings whichHe has always bestowed, and still continues to bestow every day on the human race.
在祈祷的第二部分，我们对天主献上最高感谢，为了祂经常赏给我们的神圣而不朽的祝福，以及持续不断每天赏给人类的祝福。
Our Thanksgiving Should Especially Be Offered: For The Saints
我们的感恩也特别要为了圣人而奉献
This duty we discharge especially when we give singular praises to God for the victory and triumph which allthe Saints, aided by His goodness, have achieved over their domestic and external enemies.
为所有圣人借着天主帮助战胜永恒的敌人，为赞美天主而庆祝胜利时，我们特别履行这个职责。
For The Blessed Virgin Mary
为童贞荣福玛利亚
To this sort of prayer belongs the first part of the Angelic Salutation, when used by us as a prayer: Hail Mary,full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women. For in these words we render to God thehighest praise and return Him most gracious thanks, because He has bestowed all His heavenly gifts on the mostholy Virgin; and at the same time we congratulate the Virgin herself on her singular privileges.
天神报喜是本祈祷的第一部分，被我们作为第一部分：万福玛利亚，满背圣宠者，主与尔携焉，女中尔为赞美。在这些话中，我们给天主献上最高的赞美，回报祂最大感谢，因为祂给圣童贞女赏赐了全部的天堂般恩宠；同时我们祝贺童贞女这独有的特权。
To this form of thanksgiving the Church of God has wisely added prayers and an invocation addressed to themost holy Mother of God, by which we piously and humbly fly to her patronage, in order that, by herintercession, she may reconcile God to us sinners and may obtain for us those blessings which we stand in needof in this life and in the life to come. We, therefore, exiled children of Eve, who dwell in this vale of tears,should constantly beseech the Mother of mercy, the advocate of the faithful, to pray for us sinners. In this prayerwe should earnestly implore her help and assistance; for that she possesses exalted merits with God, and thatshe is most desirous to assist us by her prayers, no one can doubt without impiety and wickedness.
天主的教会为感恩天主还对天主圣母增加了几个祈祷和一个祈求。借着这些，我们虔诚的谦逊的飞奔寻求她的庇护，为的是借着她的转求，她能使天主与我们罪人和好，并为我们获得在此生和来生的祝福。我们流浪的厄娃子孙在此尘世，涕泣之谷，应该持续不断的寻求圣母的慈悲，虔诚者的主保，来为我们罪人祈祷。在这祈祷中，我们应该最诚恳的祈求她的帮协；因为在天主那里，她拥有至高的功绩，同时她也是最愿意用她的祈祷来帮助我们，虔诚和良善之人里没有怀疑这一点的人。
To Whom We Should Pray
我们应向谁祈祷
To God
向天主
That God is to be prayed to and His name invoked is the language of the law of nature, inscribed upon thehuman heart. It is also the doctrine of Holy Scripture, in which we hear God commanding: Call upon me in theday of trouble. By the word God, we mean the three Persons (of the adorable Trinity).
向天主祈祷和祈求天主的名，这是自然法的语言，是刻在人类内心的。这也是来自圣经的信理，在经里，我们听到天主命令说：在困厄的时日，呼号我（圣咏50:15）。天主这个词，我们意指圣三的三个位格。
To The Saints
向圣人
We must also have recourse to the intercession of the Saints who are in glory. That the Saints are to be prayedto is a truth so firmly established in the Church of God, that no pious person can experience a shadow of doubton the subject. But as this point was explained in its proper place, under a separate head, we refer the pastor andothers to that place.
我们必须求助那些已经进入光荣的圣人转祷。天主的教会已经确认应该向圣人祈祷是真理，任何虔信者不能对此有一丝的怀疑。关于这一点已经在其他主题下解释过了，我们建议由牧者去参考相应的主题。
God And The Saints Addressed Differently
对天主和对圣人要以不同的方式
To remove, however, the possibility of error on the part of the unlearned it will be found useful to explain to thefaithful the difference between these two kinds of invocation.
为了消除初学者的错误可能性，对信友解释两种不同的祈求是有用的。
We do not address God and the Saints in the same manner, for we implore God to grant us blessings or todeliver us from evils; while we ask the Saints, since they are the friends of God, to take us under their patronageand to obtain for us from God whatever we need. Hence we make use of two different forms of prayer. To God,we properly say: Have mercy on us, Hear us; but to the Saints, Pray for us. Still we may also ask the Saints,though in a different sense, that they have mercy on us, for they are most merciful. Thus we may beseech themthat, touched with the misery of our condition, they would interpose in our behalf their influence andintercession before God.
我们对天主和对圣人祈祷是不一样的，我们祈求天主赐给我们祝福或者救我们于邪恶；而圣人他们是天主的朋友，置我们于他们的庇护下，为我们求天主我们需要的。因此，我们使用两种不同形式的祷文。对天主我们说：请怜悯我们，俯听我们；对圣人，我们说：请为我们祈祷。我们也可以用不同的感情求圣人，请他们怜悯我们，因为他们是最慈悲的。因此我们可以请求他们，在体会到我们的悲惨境地，代表我们在天主面前转祷和代求。
In the performance of this duty, it is strictly incumbent on all not to transfer to any creature the right whichbelongs exclusively to God. For instance, when we say the Our Father before the image of a Saint we shouldbear in mind that we beg of the Saint to pray with us and to obtain for us those favours which we ask of God, inthe Petitions of the Lord's Prayer, -- in a word, that he become our interpreter and intercessor with God. Thatthis is an office which the Saints discharge, St. John the Apostle teaches in the Apocalypse.
在本祈祷职责的执行方面，严格的要求所有人，不能把唯独属于天主的权利转让给任何受造物。例如，在圣人像前祈祷天主经时，我们应该牢记在心，我们求圣人与我们一起祈祷求天主赏我们所要的。经文的第一句，简而言之，圣人成为我们的转祷者和转求者。这是属于圣人的一项职务，是由圣若望在在默示录里教导的。
Preparation for Prayer
祈祷的准备
In Scripture we read: Before prayer, prepare thy soul, and be not as a man that tempteth God. He tempts Godwho prays well but acts badly, and while he converses with God allows his mind to wander.
在圣经中，我们读到：在祈祷以前，你应善自准备，免得你像是一个试探上主的人（德训18:23）。试探上主的人即便祈祷的好，但是行为却坏，因为他与天主对话时，让思绪没有方向。
Since, then, the dispositions with which we pray are of such vital importance, the pastor should teach his pioushearers how to pray.
所以，我们祈祷的意向具有本质的重要性，牧者应教导他的虔信听众如何祈祷。
Humility
谦逊
The first preparation, then, for prayer is an unfeigned humility of soul, an acknowledgment of our sinfulness,and a conviction that, when we approach God in prayer, our sins render us undeserving, not only of receiving apropitious hearing from Him, but even of appearing in His presence.
祈祷的第一个准备就是灵魂真诚的谦逊，对我们罪过的承认，以及认识到，当我们在祈祷中接近天主时，我们的罪使我们不仅不配领受祂和蔼的聆听，甚至不配出现在祂的临在中。
This preparation is frequently mentioned in the Scriptures: He hath had regard to the prayer of the humble, andhe hath not despised their petitions; the prayer of him that humbleth himself shall pierce the clouds. Many otherpassages of the same kind will suggest themselves to learned pastors. Hence we abstain from citing more here.
圣经中频繁的提到过这个准备：他必垂顾谦卑人的祈祷，也决不拒绝他们的哀号（圣咏102:18）。谦卑人的祈祷，穿云而上（德训35:21）。许多其他的类似篇幅建议牧者去学习了解。因此在此，我们就不再过多引用。
Two examples, however, at which we have already glanced in another place, and which are to ourpurpose, we shall not pass over in silence. The publican, who, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up hiseyes toward heaven, and the woman, a sinner, who, moved with sorrow, washed the feet of Christ the Lord,with her tears, illustrate the great efficacy which Christian humility imparts to prayer.
还有两个在别处已经提及的例子，此处非常适合我们的意图。那个远远站立不敢举目望天的税吏，以及满怀悲痛和眼泪给基督我主洗脚的妇人，都非常有效的阐述了基督徒在祈祷时应有的谦卑。
Sorrow For Sin
对罪的悲伤
The next (preparation) is a feeling of sorrow, arising from the recollection of our past sins, or, at least, somesense of regret, that we do not experience that sorrow. If the sinner bring not with him to prayer both, or, at leastone of these dispositions, he cannot hope to obtain pardon.
接下来的准备，是由我们回想起过去所犯罪生出的悲伤感受，或者至少某种程度的悔过，如果我们没有悲伤的话。如果罪人在祈祷时两者都没有，或者至少有其中一个意向，否则他不能指望获得宽恕。
Freedom From Violence, Anger, Hatred And Inhumanity
远离暴力，愤怒，憎恨和冷酷
There are some crimes, such as violence and murder, which are in a special way obstacles to the efficacy of ourprayers, and we must, therefore, preserve our hands unstained by outrage and cruelty. Of such crimes the Lordsays by the mouth of Isaias: When you stretch forth your hands, I will turn away my eyes from you; and whenyou multiply prayer, I will not hear, for your hands are full of blood.
有些罪行，如暴力和谋杀，以一种特殊的方式阻碍了祈祷的有效性，因此我们必须保持我们的双手不被凶残和暴行所玷污。上主用依撒意亚先知的口论这些罪行说：你们伸出手时，我必掩目不看；你们行大祈祷时，我决不俯听，因为你们的手染满了血（依撒意亚1:15）！
Anger and strife we should also avoid, for they have great influence in preventing our prayers from being heard.Concerning them the Apostle says: l will that men pray in every place lifting up pure hands, without anger andcontention.
我们也要避免愤怒与打斗，因为他们对阻止祈祷被俯听有很强的影响。宗徒论愤怒说：我愿意男人们在各地举起圣洁的手祈祷，不应发怒和争吵（第前2:8）。
Implacable hatred of any person on account of injuries received we must guard against; for while we are underthe influence of such feelings,- it is impossible that we should obtain from God the pardon of our sins. Whenyou shall stand to pray, He says, forgive, if you have aught against any man; and, if you will not forgive men,neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your offences.
对伤害我们的不可平息的憎恨，我们必须反对；因为当我们处在这种感情的影响下时，我们不可能从天主那里获得宽恕。我主说：当你们立著祈祷时，若你们有什么怨人的事，就宽恕罢！好叫你们在天之父，也宽恕你们的过犯。（马尔谷11:25）
Hardness and inhumanity to the poor we should also avoid. For concerning men of this kind it was said He thatstoppeth his ear against the cry of the poor, shall also cry himself, and shall not be heard.
我们也要避免对穷苦人的坚硬和冷酷。因为上主论起这种人说：谁对穷人的哀求，充耳不闻，他呼求时，也不会得到应允（箴言21:13）。
Freedom From Pride And Contempt Of God's Word
远离傲慢和对天主之言的蔑视
What shall we say of pride? How much it offends God, we learn from these words: God resisteth the proud, andgiveth grace to the humble. What of the contempt of the divine oracles? He that turneth away his ears, saysSolomon, from hearing the law, his prayer shall be an abomination.
Here, however, we are not to understand that we are forbidden to pray for the forgiveness of the injuries wehave done, of murder, anger, insensibility to the wants of the poor, of pride, contempt of God's word, in fine, ofany other sin.
我们对傲慢说些什么呢？这是多么得罪天主啊，从这些话我们知道：天主拒绝骄傲人，却赏赐恩宠于谦逊人（伯前5:5）。我们对蔑视神圣先知的说些什么呢？撒落满说：对于法律，人若充耳不闻，他的祈祷，也为上主所恶（箴言28:9）。在这里，我们不能理解为我们被禁止求宽恕我们犯的伤害、谋杀、愤怒和对穷人的冷酷、傲慢、对天主圣言的轻视，以及其他各种罪而祈祷。
Faith And Confidence
信仰和信心
Faith is another necessary quality for this preparation of soul. Without faith, we can have no knowledge of theomnipotence or mercy of the supreme Father, which are the sources of our confidence in prayer, as Christ theLord Himself has taught: All things whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive. St.Augustine, speaking of this faith, thus comments on the Lord's words: Without faith prayer is useless.
信仰是灵魂祈祷的另一个必要准备。没有信仰，我们对至高天主的全能和慈悲就不会有任何知识，而这正是我们在祈祷中的信心源泉，如同基督上主祂教导的：不论你们在祈祷时恳求什么，只要信，就必获得（玛窦21:22）。圣奥斯定在论及信仰时，对上主的话做了注释，说：没有信仰，祈祷就没用。
The chief requisite, therefore, of a good prayer is, as we have already said, a firm and unwavering faith. This theApostle shows by an antithesis: How shall they call on him whom they have not believed? Believe, then, wemust, both in order to pray, and that we be not wanting in that faith which renders prayer fruitful. For it is faiththat leads to prayer, and it is prayer that, by removing all doubts, gives strength and firmness to faith. This is themeaning of the exhortation of St. Ignatius to those who would approach God in prayer: Be not of doubtful mindin prayer; blessed is he who hath not doubted. Wherefore, to obtain from God what we ask, faith and an assuredconfidence, are of first importance, according to the admonition of St. James: Let him ask in faith, nothingwavering.
我们已经说过，好的祈祷的首要前提是坚定不动摇的信仰。宗徒用了一个对比来说明：但是，人若不信他，又怎能呼号他呢（罗马10:14）？我们必须首先有信仰，为了能祈祷，也为了我们不缺乏能虔诚祈祷的信仰。因为，信仰能导向祈祷，祈祷能移除所有的怀疑，加强并坚定信仰。这就是圣依那爵劝那些人用祈祷接近天主的意义：在祈祷中不要有怀疑的思想，没有怀疑的人是受祝福的。因此，为了从天主那里获得我们所想的，信仰和信心是第一重要的，根据圣雅各伯的教导，说：祈求时要有信心，决不可怀疑（雅各伯书1:6）。
Motives Of Confidence In Prayer
在祈祷中信心的动机
There is much to inspire us with confidence in prayer. Among these are to be numbered the beneficence andbounty of God, displayed towards us, when He commands us to call Him Father, thus giving us to understandthat we are His children. Again there are the numberless instances of those whose prayers have been heard.
还有许多能激励我们在祈祷中的信心，天主的慷慨和恩惠就是其中之一，当祂命令我们称祂为父亲时，祂使我们理解了我们是祂的儿女。那些祈祷被俯听的人，有数不清的例子。
Further we have as our chief advocate, Christ the Lord, who is ever ready to assist us, as we read in St. John: Ifany man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the just; and he is the propitiation for our sins.'In like manner Paul the Apostle says: Christ Jesus, that died, yea, that is risen also again, who is at the righthand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. To Timothy he writes: For there is one God, and onemediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus; and to the Hebrews he writes: Wherefore, it behoved him in allthings to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high-priest before God.
另外，我们有我们的第一主保，基督上主，祂时刻准备帮助我们，圣若望说：谁若犯了罪，我们在父那里有正义的耶稣基督作护慰者（若望一书2:1）。同样的，保禄宗徒说：那已死或更好说已复活，现今在天主右边，代我们转求的基督耶稣（罗马书8:34）。对第茂德教会，他写道：因为天主只有一个，在天主与人之间的中保也只有一个，就是降生成人的基督耶稣（第前2:5）。对希伯来教会，他写道：因此，他应当在各方面相似弟兄们，好能在关于天主的事上，成为一个仁慈和忠信的大司祭（希伯来书2:17）。
Unworthy, then, as we are, of obtaining our requests, yet considering and resting our claims upon the dignity ofour great Mediator and Intercessor, Jesus Christ, we should hope and trust most confidently, that, through Hismerits, God will grant us all that we ask in the proper way.
由于我们不堪得到我们的请求，但考虑到我们的呼求是由于伟大的中保和调停者耶稣基督的尊贵，我们应该充满信心的希望和信任，借着祂的功绩，天主会以恰当的方式赏给我们所求的。
Finally, the Holy Ghost is the author of our prayers; and under His guiding influence, we cannot fail to beheard. We have received the spirit of adoption of sons, whereby we cry, "Abba, (Father)." This spirit succoursour infirmity and enlightens our ignorance in the discharge of the duty of prayer; nay, even, as the Apostle says,He asketh for us with unspeakable groanings.
最后，圣神是我们祈祷的作者；在祂的导向影响下，天主绝不会不俯听我们。借以我们的哭喊“阿爸，父啊。”，我们就具有了养子的精神。这个精神帮助了我们的软弱，照亮了我们在履行祈祷职责上的无知；甚至，如宗徒所说：圣神却亲自以无可言喻的叹息，代我们转求（罗马8:26）。
Should we, then, at any time waver, not being sufficiently strong in faith, let us say with the Apostles: Lord,increase our faith; and, with the father (of the demoniac): Help my unbelief.
我们无论何时若发生动摇，在信仰上表现得不够强壮，让我们与宗徒一起祈祷：主，请增强我们的信仰。并于附魔孩子的父亲一起说：请帮助我的无信吧（马尔谷9:24）。
Correspondence With God's Will
回应天主的意志
But what most ensures the accomplishment of our desires is the union of faith and hope with that conformity ofall our thoughts, actions, and prayers to God's law and pleasure. If, He says, you abide in me, and my wordsabide in you, you shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be done unto you.
最能保证满足我们的愿望的，就是把信德和望德与我们所有的思想、行为和祈祷联结起来，与天主的法律和喜好保持一致。祂说，你们如果住在我内，而我的话也存在你们内，如此，你们愿意什么，求罢！必给你们成就（若望15:7）。
Fraternal Charity
兄弟般的爱德
In order, however, that our prayers may have this power of obtaining all things from God, we must, as waspreviously served, forget injuries, cherish sentiments of good will, and practice kindness towards our neighbour.
为了让我们的祈祷有能力从天主那里获得一切，我们必须如前所述，忘记伤害，怀有美善的意愿，并且对我们的邻人保持友善。
How to Pray Well
如何进行一个好的祈祷
The manner of praying is also a matter of the highest moment. Though prayer in itself is good and salutary, yetif not performed in a proper manner it is unavailing. Often we do not obtain what we ask, because, in the wordsof St. James, we ask amiss. Pastors, therefore, should instruct the faithful in the best manner of asking well andof making private and public prayer. The rules of Christian prayer have been formed on the teaching of Christthe Lord.
祈祷的方式也具有最高重要性。尽管祈祷本身就是好的和有益的，然而如果没有以恰当的方式进行，就没有用了。我们并非经常获得我们的请求，用圣雅各伯的话说，是因为我们求的不当（雅各伯书4:3）。因此牧者应教导信友，用最好的方式祈祷，无论是私人祈祷还是公共祈祷。基督徒祈祷的规则是基于基督上主的教导而形成的。
We Must Pray In Spirit And In Truth
我们必须在精神中和在真理中祈祷
We must, then pray in spirit and in truth; for the heavenly Father seeks those who adore Him in spirit and intruth. He prays in this manner whose prayer proceeds from an interior and intense ardour of soul.
我们必须在精神中和在真理中祈祷。因为天父认可那些在精神和真理中的人钦崇祂。以这种方式，他的祈祷是从灵魂的内在和强烈的炙热中发出的。
Mental Prayer
心中的祈祷/默祷
This spiritual manner of praying does not exclude the use of vocal prayer. Nevertheless, that prayer which is thevehement outpouring of the soul, deservedly holds the first place; and although not uttered with the lips, it isheard by God to whom the secrets of hearts are open. He heard the silent prayer of Anna, the mother of Samuel,of whom we read, that she prayed, shedding many tears and only moving her lips. Such was also the prayer ofDavid, for he says: My heart hath said to thee, my face hath sought thee. In reading the Bible one will meetmany similar examples.
默祷也可以用有声的祷文。然而，从灵魂热情倾泻而出的祈祷始终应占首位；尽管没有从嘴唇发出声音，天主也能听见内心秘密被打开的祈祷。祂听到了亚纳的默祷，她是撒慕尔的母亲，我们从圣经里读到，她边默祷边痛哭流泪，只有嘴唇微动。类似的还有达味的祈祷，因为他说：论及你，我心中时常在想：「你应该寻求他的仪容。」（圣咏27:8）在阅读圣经时，总会看到许多类似的例子。
Vocal Prayer
有声的祈祷
But vocal prayer has also its advantages and necessity. It quickens the attention of the mind, and kindles thefervour of him who prays. We sometimes, says St. Augustine, in his letter to Proba, animate ourselves tointensify our holy desire by having recourse to words and other signs; filled with vehement ardour and piety, wefind it impossible at times not to express our feelings in words; for while the soul exults with joy, the tongueshould also give utterance to that exultation. And surely it becomes us to make to God this complete sacrifice ofsoul and body, a kind of prayer which the Apostles were accustomed to use, as we learn from many passages ofthe Acts and of the Apostle.
有声的祈祷也有其优势和必要性。能够加快思想的注意，激起祈祷人的热情。圣奥斯定在给Proba的信中说：我们有时依靠某些言语和标记来给与我们自己活力，加强我们对神圣的渴求；充满激情和虔诚时，我们就会发现不可能不用言语来表达我们的感觉；因为当灵魂充满狂喜时，舌头也要大声发出喜悦。确定的，这就成为我们为天主完成的灵魂和身体的祭献，这是宗徒们惯于使用的一种方式，我们从大事记和宗徒的书信中可以得知。
Private And Public Prayer
私人祈祷和公共祈祷
There are two sorts of prayer, private and public. Private prayer is employed in order to assist interior attentionand devotion; whereas in public prayer, which has been instituted to excite the piety of the faithful, and hasbeen prescribed for certain fixed times, the use of words is indispensably required.
有两种祈祷，私人的和公共的。私人祈祷适用于帮助内在的虔诚和关注；设立公共祈祷的目的是激情信友的虔诚，教会指定在固定的时刻，祷文的使用是必须的。
Those Who Do Nor Pray In Spirit
那些没有在精神中的祈祷
This practice of praying in spirit is peculiar to Christians, and is not at all used by infidels. Of these Christ theLord has said: When you pray, speak not much, as the heathens; for they think that in their much speaking theymay be heard. Be not ye, therefore, like to them, for your Father knoweth what is needful for you before youask him.
在精神中祈祷，是基督徒特有的，外教人是不使用的。基督上主论说到：你们祈祷时，不要唠唠叨叨，如同外邦人一样，因为他们以为只要多言，便可获得垂允。你们不要跟他们一样，因为你们的父，在你们求他以前，已知道你们需要什么（玛窦6:7）。
But though (our Lord) prohibits loquacity, He is so far from forbidding continuance in prayer which proceedsfrom the eager and prolonged devotion of the soul that by His own example He exhorts us to such prayer. Notonly did He spend whole nights in prayer, but also prayed the third time, saying the self-same words. Theinference, therefore, to be drawn from the prohibition is that prayers consisting of mere empty sounds are not tobe addressed to God.
但是尽管我主禁止祈祷中多言，祂并不是禁止长久连续的，从灵魂来的渴望和长久祈祷，祂自己的例子就是如此。祂不仅整夜在祈祷，而且三次祈祷，每次都是相同的祷文。因此，从这个禁令得到的推论就是，没有精神注入，只发出空洞的声音的祈祷是不能说给天主的。
Those Who Do Not Pray In Truth
那些不在真理中的祈祷
Neither do the prayers of the hypocrite proceed from the heart; and against the imitation of their example, Christthe Lord warns us in these words: When ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites that love to stand and pray inthe synagogues, and corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Amen I say, to you they have receivedtheir reward. But thou, when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber, and having shut the door, pray to thyFather in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee. Here the word chamber may be understoodto mean the human heart, which we should not only enter, but should also close against every distraction fromwithout that could deprive our prayer of its perfection. For then will our heavenly Father, who sees perfectly ourhearts and secret thoughts, grant our petitions.
那些假善人的祈祷不仅并非从内心而发，而且有害效法他们的榜样，基督上主警告我们说：当你祈祷时，不要如同假善人一样，爱在会堂及十字街头立著祈祷，为显示给人；我实在告诉你们，他们已获得了他们的赏报。至于你，当你祈祷时，要进入你的内室，关上门，向你在暗中之父祈祷；你的父在暗中看见，必要报答你（玛窦6:5）。这里词语，内室，可以被理解为人的内心，这内心之门我们不仅应该进入，且要对任何能够分心损害我们祈祷完美性的事物关闭。因为这样，我们的在天大父，就能完美的看到我们的心和秘密的想法，赏给我们请求。
We Must Pray With Perseverance
我们必须坚持不懈的祈祷
Another necessary condition of prayer is constancy. The great efficacy of perseverance, the Son of Godexemplifies by the conduct of the judge, who, while he feared not God, nor regarded man, yet, overcome by thepersistence and importunity of the widow, yielded to her entreaties." In our prayers to God we should, therefore,be persevering.
祈祷的另一个条件是持续性。坚持不懈能产生巨大效果，天主子举了那个不敬畏天主，也不尊重人的法官例子，由于寡妇的坚持不懈和不断恳求，最终应允了她的诉求（路加18）。在我们对天主的祈祷中，我们也应坚持不懈。
We must not imitate the example of those who become tired of praying, if, after having prayed once or twice,they succeed not in obtaining the object of their prayers. We should never be weary of the duty of prayer, as weare taught by the authority of Christ the Lord and of the Apostle. And should the will at any time fail us, weshould beg of God by prayer the strength to persevere.
我们不能效仿那倦于祈祷的人，他们在祈祷了一两次后，就放弃了他们祈祷的目标。我们应永不疲倦于履行祈祷责任，如同我们被基督上主的权柄和宗徒权柄所教导的。厌倦思想无论何时都不能使我们跌倒，我们应祈祷天主赐给我们坚持的力量。
We Must Pray In The Name Of Jesus Christ
我们必须因耶稣基督之名祈祷
The Son of God would also have us present our prayers to the Father in His name; for, by His merits and theinfluence of His mediation, our prayers acquire such weight that they are heard by our heavenly Father. For HeHimself says in St. John: Amen, Amen, I say unto you, if you ask the Father any thing in my name, he will giveit you. Hitherto you have not asked any thing in my name: ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full;and again: Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, that will I do.
天主子也要求我们要以祂的名给天父献上祈祷。因为，靠祂的功绩和祂中保的影响力，我们的祈祷才获得在天大父垂听的重要性。在圣若望福音中，祂自己说：我实实在在告诉你们：你们因我的名无论向父求什么，他必赐给你们。直到现在，你们没有因我的名求什么；求罢！必会得到，好使你们的喜乐得以圆满。（若望16:24）
We Must Pray With Fervour, Uniting Petition To Thanksgiving
我们必须怀着热情祈祷，并联合感恩的请求
Let us imitate the fervour of the Saints in prayer; and to petition let us unite thanksgiving, imitating the exampleof the Apostles, who, as may be seen in the Epistles of St. Paul, always observed this salutary practice.
让我们效仿如圣人祈祷时的热情；在请求时，让我们联合感恩，效仿宗徒的榜样，如同我们在圣保禄书信中看到的，圣人一直遵守着有益的实践。
Fasting And Almsdeeds Should Be Joined To Prayer
守大斋和救济应该与祈祷一起
To prayer let us unite fasting and almsdeeds. Fasting is most intimately connected with prayer. For the mind ofone who is filled with food and drink is so borne down as not to be able to raise itself to the contemplation ofGod, or even to understand what prayer means.
让我们把守大斋和救济与祈祷连在一起。守大斋与祈祷是最紧密连续的。因为，人的思想充满了吃喝事，是如此沉重，无法把自己提升起来默想天主，甚至无法思考祈祷的意义。
Almsdeeds have also an intimate connection with prayer. For what claim has he to the virtue of charity, who,possessing the means of affording relief to those who depend on the assistance of others, refuses help to hisneighbour and brother ? How can he, whose heart is devoid of charity, demand assistance from God unless,while imploring the pardon of his sins, he at the same time humbly beg of God to grant him the virtue of charity?
施救济也与祈祷紧密联系。因为，那些有办法满足依赖他人帮助才可以生活的人，如果拒绝帮助他的邻人和兄弟，他有什么爱德可以宣称呢？一个心中没有爱德的人，怎么能请求天主的帮助呢？除非他祈求宽恕自己的罪，同时谦逊的求天主赏给他爱德。
This triple remedy was, therefore, appointed by God to aid man in the attainment of salvation. For by sin weoffend God, wrong our neighbour, or injure ourselves. The wrath of God we appease by pious prayer; ouroffences against man we redeem by almsdeeds; the stains of our own lives we wash away by fasting. Each ofthese remedies, it is true, is applicable to every sort of sin; they are, however, peculiarly adapted to those threewhich we have specially mentioned.
这三个补救办法，是天主为了人能获得救恩而特别指定的，要帮助人。因为，我们借着罪，冒犯了天主，得罪了领人，伤害了自己。我们靠虔诚的祈祷消除天主义怒；我们靠施救弥补得罪他人；靠守大斋我们洗去自己生命中的污点。的确，每一种补救办法，都对每一种罪适用；然而，我们特别提到的这三种却是被特别采用的。
