THE SEAL OF THE LORD'S PRAYER
天主经的封缄
"Amen"
阿门
Necessity Of Explaining The Conclusion Of The Lord's Prayer
解释天主经结束句的必要性
St. Jerome in his commentary on St. Matthew rightly calls this word what it really is, the seal of the Lord'sPrayer. As then we have already admonished the faithful with regard to the preparation to be made before thisholy prayer, so we deem it necessary that they should also know why we close our prayers with this word, andwhat it signifies; for devotion in concluding our prayers is not less important than attention in beginning them.
圣热罗尼莫关于玛窦福音的注解中，非常正确的把这个词称为天主经的封缄。如同我们劝诫信友在开始这神圣的祈祷之前需要做的准备一样，我们认为信友有必要了解为什么用这个词来结束祈祷，以及这个词表示什么；因为祈祷的结束重要性一点也不亚于开始祈祷前的收敛心神的重要性。
fruits that Come at the Conclusion of Prayer
在祈祷结束时的果实
Assurance That We Have Been Heard
我们被俯听的保证
The faithful, then, should be taught that the fruits, which we gather from the conclusion of the Lord's Prayer arenumerous and abundant, the greatest and most joyful of them being the attainment of what we ask. On this pointenough has already been said.
应教导信友，这果实，就是我们从天主经结束部分获得的果实是大量丰富的，其中最优秀和最快乐的就是我们祈求的应允。这一点已经说的足够了。
Fervour And Illumination
热情和光明
By this concluding word, not only do we obtain a propitious hearing from God, but also receive other blessingsof a higher order still, the excellence of which surpasses all powers of description.
通过结束词，我们不仅获得了天主悦纳的俯听，还获得了更高级秩序的祝福，这卓越超过了一切描述的能力。
For since, as St. Cyprian remarks, by prayer man converses with God, it happens in a wonderful manner that thedivine Majesty is brought nearer to those who are engaged in prayer than to others, and enriches them withsingular gifts. Those, therefore, who pray devoutly, may not be inaptly compared to persons who approach aglowing fire; if cold, they derive warmth; if warm, they derive heat. Thus, also, those who approach God (inprayer) depart with a warmth proportioned to their faith and fervour; the heart is inflamed with zeal for theglory of God, the mind is illumined after an admirable manner, and they are enriched exceedingly with divinegifts, as it is written: Thou hast prevented him with blessings of sweetness.
因为，就像圣居普良评论的，通过祈祷，人就可以通过一种惊奇的方式与天主对话，神圣的尊威就比其他人更接近了那些祈祷者，并赐予他们独特的礼物。这些虔诚的祈祷者，非常恰当的被比喻为那些接近炙热火源的人；如果冷，他们感受到温暖；如果温暖，他们感受到热。因此，那些在祈祷中接近天主的人，就能得到与他们信仰和热情成比例的温暖；心伴随着天主的荣耀被点燃了，在可羡慕的方式下，思想被照亮了，他们获得了极大的神圣礼物，如同经上说：你已赐给了他超卓的福宠（圣咏21:4）；
An example for all is that great man Moses. By intercourse and converse with God he so shone with thereflected splendours of the Divinity, that the Israelites could not look upon his eyes or countenance.
关于此的一个例子是伟大的梅瑟。通过与天主来往对话，他闪耀着神性的反射的光，以色列人不能看他的眼睛或者面容。
Sweetness
甜蜜
Those who pray with such vehement fervour enjoy in a wonderful manner the goodness and majesty of God. Inthe morning, says the Prophet, I will stand before thee, and will see; because thou art not a God that willestiniquity.
那些激烈的热情祈祷的人，能以惊奇的方式享受到天主的美善和尊威。先知说：你一早便俯听了我的呼声；我清晨向你倾诉我的祷文，你绝不是喜爱罪恶的天主（圣咏5:5）。
The more familiar these truths are to the mind, the more piously do we venerate, and the more fervently do weworship God, and the more delightfully do we taste how sweet is the Lord, and how truly blessed are all whohope in Him.
我们的头脑越熟悉这些真理，我们就越虔诚的尊重，越热情的崇拜天主，我们就能越高兴的尝到天主的甜蜜，那些希求祂的人是多么的有福啊。
Confidence And Gratitude
信任和感激
Encircled by the most clear light from above we also discover our own lowliness and how exalted is the majestyof God, according to the saying of St. Augustine: Give me to know Thee: give me to know myself. Distrustingour own strength, we thus throw ourselves unreservedly upon the goodness of God, not doubting that He, whocherishes us in the bosom of His paternal wondrous love, will afford us in abundance whatever is necessary forlife and salvation. Thus we shall turn to God with the warmest gratitude our hearts can conceive and our lipsexpress. This we read that holy David did, who commenced by praying: Save me from all them that persecuteme, and concluded with these words, I will give glory to the Lord according to his justice, and will sing to thename of the Lord the most High.
我们被来自天上的清晰的光所包围着，我们就发现我们的低下与卑微，以及天主尊威的崇高，圣奥斯定说：请给我认识你的能力，给我认识自己的能力，我们就毫无保留的扑向天主的美善，毫不怀疑祂以父亲的奇异之爱疼爱我们，还会提供给我们丰富的生活必需和救恩必需。因此，我们怀着最温暖的感激，是我们的心能感受的，我们的口能表达的，来转向天主。我们从神圣的达味也可以读到，他以“求你助我逃脱一切追逐我的人”作为祈祷的开始，以“我要称谢上主的公道，歌颂至高上主的名号。”为祈祷的结束（圣咏7:1-18）。
Illustrations From The Psalms
从圣咏来的解释
There are innumerable prayers of the Saints of the same kind, whose beginnings are full of fear, but which endwith hope and joy. This spirit, however, is eminently conspicuous in the prayers of David.When agitated by fear he began his prayer thus: Many are they who rise up against me: many say to my soul,There is no salvation for him in his God; but at length, armed with fortitude and holy joy, he adds: I will notfear thousands of the people surrounding me.
有数不清的圣人的类似祈祷，以充满畏惧开始，以希望和欢乐结尾。然而，这个精神在达味的祈祷中特别的明显。他受到敬畏的扰动，开始他的祈祷：上主，迫害我的人，不可胜数！攻击我的人，成群结队！很多人论及我说：「天主绝不拯救他！」；但是在结尾，充满了感激与神圣的欢乐，他补充道：虽有千万人向我围攻，我一丝一毫也不惊恐（圣咏3）。
In another Psalm, after he had lamented his misery, we see him towards the end, reposing confidence in Godand rejoicing exceedingly in the hope of salvation: In peace in the self-same, I will sleep, and I will rest.
在另一个圣咏中，在他伤痛他的悲惨后，我们看到他在结尾，在天主内充满了信心，在救恩的希望中有极大快乐：在平安中我一躺下即刻入睡，上主，唯有你能使我安居顺遂（圣咏4:9）。
Again, with what fear and trembling must the Prophet not have been agitated when he exclaimed: O Lord,rebuke me not in thy indignation, nor chastise me in thy wrath! Yet, on the other hand, what confidence and joymust not have been his when he added: Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard thevoice of my weeping!
另外，当先知在大声疾呼：上主，求你不要在你的震怒中责罚我，求你不要在你的气愤中惩戒我（圣咏38:1）时，有什么样的恐惧和战栗才不必须使先知激动的疾呼呢。另一方面，有什么样的信心和快乐才不必须使他补充说：作奸犯科的人快快远离我，因为上主听见了我的悲号（圣咏6:8）；
When filled with dread of the wrath and fury of Saul, with what lowliness and humility does he not implore thedivine assistance: Save me, O Lord, by thy name, and Judge me in thy strength! and yet, in the same Psalm headds these words of joy and confidence: Behold, God is my help; and the Lord is the helper of my soul.
当撒乌耳充满了愤怒和复仇的可怕时，有什么样的谦卑和低下才能使他不请求神圣的帮助呢：天主，求你因你的名赐我救援（圣咏54:3）。在同一篇圣咏里，他又说了这些快乐和信任的字句：看，天主必定给我助阵，上主必扶持我生命（圣咏54:6）。
Let him, therefore, who has recourse to holy prayer approach God his Father, fortified by faith and animated byhope, not doubting that he will obtain those blessings of which he stands in need.
因此，让那些依靠神圣祈祷接近天主父的人，受到信德加强，望德的鼓励，毫无疑问他就能获得这些他请求的祝福。
Meaning of the Word "Amen"
词语“阿门”的意义
First Explanation
第一个解释
The word amen, with which the Lord's Prayer concludes, contains, as it were, the germs of many of thesethoughts and reflections which we have just considered. Indeed, so frequent was this Hebrew word in the mouthof the Saviour, that it pleased the Holy Ghost to have it retained in the Church of God. Its meaning may be saidto be: Know that thy prayers are heard. It has the force of a response, as if God answers the suppliant, andgraciously dismisses him, after having favourably heard his prayers.
作为天主经结束的词语，“阿门”照原样的包含了我们以及阐述的许多看法和反思。实际上，在救主的口中，这个希伯来词语如此的频繁，以至于圣神高兴的把这个词保留在了教会中。它的意思是：已知你的祈祷被俯听。它有一个回复的力量，好像天主在热情的俯听了祈祷后，回答了祈求者，并且亲切的打发走祈祷者。
Thisinterpretation has been approved by the constant usage of the Church of God. In the Sacrifice of the Mass,when the Lord's Prayer is said she does not assign the word amen to the server who answers: But deliver usfront evil. She reserves it as appropriate to the priest himself, who, as mediator between God and man, answersAmen, thus intimating that God has heard the prayers of His people.
这种解读已经被天主的教会的常规使用所证明了。在弥撒牺牲的圣事里，当天主经被念时，她并没有指定阿门作为回答主祭的请求，当主祭说，但救我等于凶恶这一句时。她被这一句话恰当的保留给了祭司本人，作为天主和人的中报，回答阿门，就能激励天主的确俯听了祂子民的祈祷。
This practice, however, is not common to all the prayers, but is peculiar to the Lord's Prayer. To the otherprayers the server answers Amen, because in every other this word only expresses assent and desire. In theLord's Prayer it is an answer, intimating that God has heard the petition of His suppliant.
然而这个操作并不于其他的祈祷所相同，而是特殊属于天主经的。在其他祷文中，副祭回答阿门，因为在其他祷文中，这个词仅仅表示认同和渴望。在天主经里，这是一个回答，意味着天主俯听了他的祈求者的祈祷。
Other Explanations Of The Word "Amen"
词语阿门的其他解释
By many, the word amen is differently interpreted. The Septuagint interprets it, So be it; others translate it,Verily: Aquila renders it, Faithfully. Which of these versions we adopt, is a matter of little importance, providedwe understand the word to have the sense already mentioned, namely, that when the priest (pronounces Amen),it signifies the concession of what have been prayed for. This interpretation is supported by St- Paul in his Epistleto the Corinthians, where he says: All the promises of God are in him, "it is"; therefore also by him, amen toGod, unto our glory.
许多人对词语“阿门”有不同的解释。七十子译本的解释是，就如此吧；其他的翻译有，真实的：阿桂拉（译者注：阿桂拉和普黎史拉，是《新约圣经》中记载的第一世纪的犹太基督徒夫妇，在新约圣经中共出现了6次，其中4次妻子阿桂拉的名字放在前面。他们住在厄弗所，以制造帐棚为业，并成为宗徒保禄的助手，在厄弗所宣扬耶稣基督。）给出的是，可信的。这些版本我们都采用，这是很重要的主题，让我们理解了这个词具有我们开始给出的意义，就是说，当祭司说“阿门”时，这表示了已经祈求的允诺。我们的这个解释受到了圣保禄在给格林多教会书信的支持，他说：因为天主的一切恩许，在他内都成了「是」，为此也藉着他，我们才答应「阿们」，使光荣藉我们归于天主（格后1:20）。
Advantages of Terminating our Prayer with this Word
用这个词结束我们祈祷的益处
To us also this word is very appropriate, containing, as it does, some confirmation of the Petitions which wehave already offered up. It also fixes our attention when we are engaged in holy prayer; for it frequentlyhappens that in prayer a variety of distracting thoughts divert the mind to other objects.
对我们而言，这个词也是非常恰当的，它包含了我们已经奉献的祈祷请求的确认。当我们在神圣的祈祷时，它也集中了我们的注意力；因为在祈祷中经常出现思维分心走神到别的目标对象的情况。
Nay, more, by this word we most earnestly beg of God that all our preceding Petitions may be granted; orrather, understanding that they have been all granted, and feeling the divine assistance powerfully present withus, we cry out together with the Prophet: Behold God is my helper; and the Lord is the protector of my soul.
不，还有，借着这个词，我们最诚恳的祈求天主赏赐我们之前的所有请求，或者，在那些请求已经被赏赐的情况下，并感受到神圣的助佑强有力的存在于我们，我们与先知一起大声呼喊着：请看，天主必定给我助阵，上主必扶持我生命（圣咏54:6）。
Nor can anyone doubt that God is moved by the name of His Son, and by a word so often uttered by Him who,as the Apostle says, was always heard for his reverence.
任何人也不能怀疑，祂的圣子之名能打动天主，那么这么一个经常被祂说出的词，如同宗徒所说，也总是能因他的虔敬而获得了俯允（希伯来书5:7）。
THE END OF THE CATECHISM
特伦多教理结束
