CHAPTER VI.
OF THE VIRTUE OF FAITH, AND HOW MOST HOLY MARY PRACTICED IT.
第六章
关于信德，以及至圣玛利亚是如何操练它的。
488. In few words the holy Elizabeth described the greatness of the faith of most holy Mary, when, as reported to us by the evangelist Luke, She exclaimed: “Blessed art thou for having believed, because the words and promises of the Lord shall be fulfilled in Thee”(Luke 1, 45). The faith of this great Lady must be estimated from the greatness of her good fortune and beatitude, and from her ineffable dignity; for her faith inspired Her with so great and so excellent a belief in God, that it merited a place inferior only to God himself.
488. 圣依撒伯尔用寥寥数语描述了至圣玛利亚信德的伟大，正如圣史路加向我们报告的那样，她惊呼：“那信了由上主传于她的话必要完成的，是有福的。”（路加福音 1：45 ）。这位至圣元后的信仰，必须从她的福祉和真福，以及她难以言喻的尊严来估量；她对天主的信仰是多么崇高，成全和伟大，以至于配得仅次于天主的地位。
［经文〈路加福音 1：45〉：那信了由上主传于她的话必要完成的，是有福的。 ］
She believed that Sacrament of all sacraments and mysteries, which was to be fulfilled in her own Self. So great was the prudence and the divine light in Mary our Mistress, in believing this new and unheard of mystery of the Incarnation, that it surpassed all human and angelic understanding, and that it could be properly estimated and understood only in the divine Mind, the workshop of the Most High, where in the power of his right hand all the virtues of this Queen had their origin and completion.
至圣玛利亚相信一切圣事的所有奥秘和奥义都是在她身上完成的。圣母玛利亚的审慎和神圣之光是如此伟大，她相信这个全新和闻所未闻的道成肉身之奥秘，超越所有人类和天使的理解，只有在天主的心中才能正确估量和理解，至高者的工作坊是祂大能的右臂，在那里有天堂元后所有圣德的源起及完成。
I always find myself taken aback and stupefied, whenever I speak of these virtues, and more particularly of the interior ones ; for though great is the light and intelligence, which were given to me concerning them, yet too limited are human terms to describe the concept and acts of faith, which were engendered in the mind and spirit of Her, who was the most faithful of all creatures, or rather, of Her, who was greater in faith than all of them taken together. I will say what I can, acknowledging my inability to say what I desire, and much more, what is due to the reality.
每当我谈到这些美德，尤其是内在美德时，我总是发现自己大吃一惊。因为虽然关于美德给我的亮光和智慧是伟大的，但人类的措辞太有限，无法描述信德的概念和行为，这些概念和行为是在至圣玛利亚的思想和心灵中产生的，她是所有受造物中最忠实的，或者更确切地说，她的信德比所有受造物的信德加起来都要大。我将尽力说我能说的部分，我承认我无法说出我想要说的，以及更多是由于现实我不能说出的。
489. The faith of the most holy Mary was an image of the whole creation and an open prodigy of the divine power, for in Her the virtue of faith existed in the highest and the most perfect degree possible; in a certain manner and to a great extent, it made up for the want of faith in men.
489. 至圣玛利亚的信心是整个受造物的肖像，是全能者在她身上彰显的奇迹，因为在她身上，信德以最高和最完美的程度存在；它以某种方式并在很大程度上弥补了世人信心的缺乏。
The Most High has given this excellent virtue to mortals so that, in spite of the carnal and mortal nature, they might have the knowledge of the Divinity and of his mysteries and admirable works: a knowledge so certain and infallibly secure, that it is like seeing Him face to face, and like the vision of the blessed angels in heaven. The same object and the same truth, which they see openly, we perceive obscured under the veil of faith.
至高者已将这种卓越的美德赋予世人，使他们尽管具有肉体和凡人的本性，但仍可以了解天主及祂的奥秘和祂令人钦佩的作品：这种知识如此确定且准确无误，以至于世人就像面对面地看见天主，就像天堂中神圣天使的神视。天使们公开地看到同一位天主和同样的真理，而我们世人的认知是隐藏在信德的面纱下。
490. One glance at the world will make us understand, how many nations, reigns and provinces, since the beginning of the world, have lost their claims to this great blessing of the faith, so little understood by the thankless mortals: how many have unhappily flung it aside, after the Lord had conferred it on them in his generous mercy, and how many of the faithful, having without their merit received the gift of faith, neglect and despise it, letting it lie idle and unproductive for the last end to which it is to direct and guide them.
490. 看一眼这个世界，我们就会明白，自从世界开始以来，有多少国家、王权和领地已经失去了信仰赋予的伟大祝福之所有权，然而那些不知感恩的世人却知之甚少：在上主以祂慷慨的仁慈将信德赐予他们之后，有多少人不幸地把信德扔到一边，有多少信众在没有功劳的情况下接受了信德的礼物，却忽视它、鄙视它，让它闲置无用直到終了，而这信德是用以指导和引导他们的。
It was befitting therefore, that the divine equity should have some recompense for such lamentable loss, and that such an incomparable benefit should find an adequate and proportionate return, as far as is possible from creatures ; it was befitting that there should be found at least one Creature, in whom the virtue of faith should come to its fullest perfection, as an example and rule for the rest.
因此，天主的公正应该为这种可悲的损失提供一些补偿，这种无与伦比的恩惠应该尽可能地从受造物那里得到适当和相称的回报；应该找到至少一个受造物，信德应该在其中达到最完美的状态，作为其他受造物的榜样和规则，这是适合的。
491. All this was found in the great faith of the most holy Mary and on account of Her and for Her alone, if there had been no other creature in the world, it would have been most proper, that God should contrive and create the excellent virtue of faith ; for according to our way of understanding, Mary by Herself was a sufficient pledge to the divine Providence, that He would find a proper return on the part of man, and that the object of this faith would not be frustrated by the want of correspondence among mortals.
491. 这一切都在至圣玛利亚的伟大信心里，基于她并且只为了她，倘若世上没有别的受造之物，那么，天主设计和创造的卓越的信德，那将是最恰当不过的； 因为按照我们的理解，玛利亚本身就是对天主上智的充分保证:即天主会在人身上找到适当的回报，并且这种信德的目标不会因世人相对的缺乏而受挫。
The faith of this sovereign Queen was to make recompense for their default and She was to copy the divine prototype of this virtue in its highest perfection. All the other faithful can measure and gage themselves by the faith of this Mistress; for they will be more or less faithful, the more or less they approach the perfection of her incomparable faith. There fore She was set as Teacher and example of all the believing, including the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles and Martyrs and all that have believed or will believe in the Christian doctrines to the end of the world.
这位至尊元后的信仰是要补偿世人的过失，她要以最高的完美复制这种圣德的神圣“原始模型”。所有其他忠实的信徒都可以通过这位主母的信仰来衡量和担保自己；因为他们或多或少将是忠诚的，他们或多或少接近她无与伦比的信德的完美。因此，她被树立为所有信徒的圣师和榜样，包括先祖、先知、宗徒和殉道者以及所有已经或即将相信基督教教义的人，直到世界末日。
492. Some one might ask the question : how can it be possible, that the Queen of heaven exercised faith, since She had clear visions of the Divinity many times, and many more times was favored with abstract visions, which likewise make evident that which is perceived by the understanding, as was said above (No. 229, 237) and will be said over and over again later on.
492. 有人可能会问：既然天上的元后多次对天主有清晰的神视，她如何能运用信心，而且更多次被赐予抽象的神视，都同样地被理解且明证如前文（第229、237号）所说，稍后将反复地说明。
On account of its uncertainty, the Apostle says, that faith is the substance of the things that appear not ; by which is meant, that we have no other presence or evidence of the real existence of the things we hope for as the ultimate realization of our happiness, than that which is obscurely and as in a mirror presented to us by faith. It is the force of this infused habit, drawing us to believe what we do not see, and the infallible certitude of what is believed, which present those strong motives for prompting the will to strive after what it desires and hopes.
宗徒说，由于信心的不确定性，因此信德是未见之事的确证实体；这意味着，我们对所希望之事的真实存在，既没有临在现场也没有确证，好让我们的幸福得以最终实现，而只有透过信德去相信如同在镜子前逞显给我们的那些模糊不清的事物。正是这种注入給习性的力量，使我们用信心去相信那些我们没有看到的东西，以及无误地确信我们所相信的，信德给出强烈的动机，促使人们去追求所渴想和所希望的东西。
［经文〈希11：1〉：信德是所希望之事的担保，是未见之事的确证（实体）。Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence (substance) of things not seen. ]
译注：对一件事的相信叫“信心”，同样的事情在多次重复后变成习惯叫“德性”，而因多次相信后变成的习惯信心叫“信德”。
According to this doctrine, it seems, that, if the most holy Virgin had ever enjoyed the vision and possession of God (for these two are one) She was deprived of the obscurity necessary for the existence of faith in the things, which She had seen face to face; especially if her understanding retained the images of what She had seen in the intuitive or open vision of the Divinity.
根据这一教义，看来，如果至圣童贞女曾享受过关于天主的神视和被主得着（因为这两者是同一回事），她就被剥夺了对事物存在的信心所必需的隐诲，因为她已经面对面地看到了天主；特别是如果她的理解保留了她自己直观的天主或公开神视中的天主图像。
493. But this experience was not only no hindrance to the faith of the most holy Mary, but augmented and raised it to its highest excellence. For the Lord wished, that his Mother should be so wonderfully distinguished in this virtue of faith (and likewise in the virtue of hope), that She should therein surpass all that is given to ordinary wayfarers.
493. 但是，这种经历不仅没有阻碍至圣玛利亚的信心，而且还增强并提升了信心的最高卓越性。因为主希望祂的母亲在信德（以及望德）上如此杰出，她应该超越我们普通信徒所被给与的一切德性。
He wished, that her understanding, in order to befit her position as the Mistress and Artist of these great virtues be embellished at one time by the most perfect acts of faith and hope, at another enraptured with the vision and the possession (even if only temporary), of the very End and Object of faith and hope.
天主希望至圣玛利亚理解，为了适合她作为这些伟大圣德的主母和全德的典范，她曾經被最完美的信德和望德的行为所装饰，也曾經在另一个时刻沉浸于神视和被主得着（即使只是暂时的），而神视和被主得着是信德和望德的最终目的。
评注：possession“被主得着”可以理解为：灵魂在渴求所属天主的事物中，强烈情感发展到至极，最终达到与天主的完美结合。是一种物我两忘天人合一的彼此拥有。
Thus She was prepared by her personal experience and fruition to teach the faithful to believe what She had herself seen and enjoyed. To join these two things in the most holy soul of Mary was easy to the power of the Almighty ; it was due to her dignity as his most pure Mother, and so it must be done : no privilege, however great, was unbecoming to Her ; and in Her none must be wanting.
因此，至圣玛利亚以她的亲身经验和全德，准备把她自已从天主那里所看到的和所享受的，传授给信徒。赐给这位童贞女圣宠和圣德，对于全能的天主是很容易的。这是因为至圣玛利亚作为圣子至洁的母亲的尊严，所以必须这样做：任何特权，无论多么大，对至圣玛利亚都是相称的；在她身上一定什么都不缺。
494. It is true that the clear vision of a mystery is incompatible with the obscurity of the faith by which we believe it, and the possession of a thing excludes the hope of it. So most holy Mary, whenever these high mysteries were shown to Her by evident intuition or intellectual abstractions did not exercise the obscure acts or habits of faith; for on those occasions She could make use only of her infused science.
494. 的确，一个奥秘的清晰神视与我们相信的信心的隐诲是不相容的，拥有一件东西就排除了对它的希望。因此，至圣玛利亚，无论何时通过明显的直观或理智的抽象向她展示这些崇高的奥秘，都没有操练信心的隐诲作为或习性；因为在那些时刻她只能利用她被注入的知识。
But the theological virtues of faith and hope did not therefore remain idle all the time of her life; for the Lord, in order to afford Her the possibility of exercising them, suspended the influx and activity of the clear and evident vision, thereby causing a cessation of the effects of infused knowledge, and making room for the obscurity of faith and the Lord hid himself from Her by taking away all clear evidence of Himself from her mind. This happened in the most high mystery of the Incarnation, as I shall relate in its place (Part II, 119, 133).
但是超性三德的信德和望德并没有因此一直闲置在至圣玛利亚的生活中。 因为天主，为了给她操练它信德和望德的可能性，暂停了清晰和明显神视的流入和活动，从而使注入知识的效果停止，并通过从她的脑海中带走所有关于天主自己的明确证据，为信心的隐诲和从她面前隐藏提供了空间。这发生在道成肉身的最高奥秘中，我将在合适的时机叙述（第二部第二册第三卷的119，133号）。
495. It was not proper, that the Mother of God should be deprived of the reward of the infused virtues of faith and hope ; yet in order to gain this reward, it was necessary to merit it; and in order to merit it, She must have practiced these virtues in proportion to the reward. Just as her merits were great beyond comparison, so the faith in each and every one of the acts of this exalted Lady were correspondingly great; for She perceived and accepted explicitly all the truths of the Catholic religion with the deepest and most perfect faith as a wayfarer.
495. 剥夺天主之母注入的信德和望德的赏报是不恰当的； 然而，为了获得这种奖赏，就必须有自己的功德; 为了配得回报，她必须按照回报的比例去实践这些美德。 正如她的功德是无可比拟的，因此,这位天上元后的每一举一动也相对应地伟大。 因为她作为朝圣者，并代表人类，以最深刻、最完美的信仰，清楚地感知和接受了天主教的所有真理。
Manifestly the understanding, as soon as it sees the proper evidence for that which it perceives, does not wait for the consent of the will in order to believe, for before it can receive the command of the will, it has already been compelled to accept the truth by its evidences. Therefore the act of believing what cannot be denied, is not meritorious.
显然，悟性）一旦看到它所认知事的适当证据，就不会等待意志的同意才相信，因为在悟性能够接受意志的命令之前，它已经被迫接受了证据的真相。 因此，相信不可否认之事的行为，不是功德。
［经文〈格前 14:15〉：那么怎样才行呢？我要以神魂祈祷，也要以理智祈祷；我要以神魂歌咏，也要以理智歌咏； ］
When most holy Mary assented to the message of the archangel, She merited an ineffable reward on account of the act of faith necessary to believe such a deep mystery; and the same was true of other acts of faith, whenever the Most High gave Her an opportunity for its exercise by withdrawing the infused knowledge. But even when She applied infused knowledge, She gained great merit, on account of the love with which She utilized it, as I have said in another place (Supra 232, 381,384).
当至圣玛利亚（尔旨承行地）答允总领天使的信息时，由于相信如此深邃的奥秘所必需的信德行为，她堪当不可言喻的赏报；只要至高者通过撤回注入的知识，给她一个操练的机会，其它的信德行为也是如此。但即使当她应用注入的知识时，她也获得了巨大的功德，因为她以爱来运用注入的知识，正如我在另一个地方所说的（见上文 232,381,384）。
496. Just as little did She use the gift of infused science, when She lost the divine Child, at least not in order to find the place where He tarried, though this was possible to Her in many other things. She did not then make use of the clear images of the Divinity ; also not at the foot of the Cross, because the Lord restricted those visions and operations of her most holy soul which would have prevented sorrow.
496. 就像她在丢失圣童耶稣时很少使用注入的知识一样，至少不是为了找到圣童耶稣停留的地方，尽管这在许多其它事情上对她来说是可能的。那时她没有使用天主的清晰图像；也不在十字架脚下使用神视，因为主限制了她最圣洁的灵魂的神视和行动，这些神视和行动本可以防止悲伤。
It was becoming, that She should feel it and be left to the strength of her faith and hope alone. The joy occasioned by any of her visions or intelligences of the Divinity (even if only abstractive), would naturally prevent pain, unless God wrought a new miracle to unite pain with joy. It was not proper that God should work this miracle, since on the sorrows of the Lady depended her merits, and the imitation of her divine Son was to be commensurate with the graces and excellences of the Mother.
她应该感受到这悲伤，并独自让她依靠着信德和望德的力量，显然这已经正在形成。她的任何神视或天主性智力（即使只是抽象的）所带来的快乐，自然会阻止痛苦，除非天主创造了一个新的奇迹，将痛苦与快乐结合起来。天主创造这个奇迹是不恰当的，因为圣母的功德取决于她的痛苦，而效法她的圣子是为了与母亲的恩宠和卓越相称。
Therefore She sought the Child sorrowfully, as She herself says, in faith and lively hope; and the same virtues were also active in witnessing the Passion and Resurrection of her beloved Son. During those times She depended upon Catholic faith, which then became as it were restricted and confined to Her, as its Mistress and Foundress.
因此，正如至圣玛利亚自己所说的那样，她怀着信德和活泼的望德，悲伤地寻找孩童耶稣；同样的圣德也积极地见证了她爱子的受难和复活。在那段时间里，她依靠天主教信仰，这信仰后来被约束和封闭于她内，使她成为这信仰的主母和奠基者。
497. Three qualities or excellences must in particular be mentioned in speaking of the faith of the most holy Mary: its continuity, its intensity and the intelligence with which it was exercised. The faith of Mary as mentioned above, was suspended only during those times, in which She enjoyed the clearness of the intuitive, and the evidence of the abstractive visions of the Divinity.
497. 在谈到至圣玛利亚的信德时，必须特别提到三个品质或卓越之处：信德的持续、强度、和操练它的智慧。如上（494）所述，当她享有清晰的直观天主和抽象神视的天主之确证的那些时候，玛利亚会暂时停止使用她的信德。
Although only the Lord himself, who dispensed them, could know when She put into operation the one or the other kind of acts, yet the most holy Queen, in making use of the different kinds of spiritual activity, never allowed Her understanding to remain idle for one instant of her life, and from the first moment of her Conception She never lost sight of God. For when She suspended faith, it was because She was enjoying the clear vision of God through the highest kind of infused knowledge, and as soon as the Lord interrupted this clear vision, She renewed the memory of his presence by her faith.
从她受孕的第一刻起，她就从未忘记过天主。因为当她有信德的时候那是因为她通过最高的注入知识享有了天主的清晰神视，而上主一旦中断了这个清晰的神视，她就凭信德重新记忆天主的临在。虽然只有施予各种行为的天主自己才能知道至圣玛利亚何时实施一种或另一种行为，但至圣的元后在运用各种不同的超性活动时，在她生命中的每一个瞬间，从未让她的理解力闲置。
The interchange and succession of these acts produced in the mind of the most holy Mary an exquisite harmony, to which the Most High called the attention of the angels, when He said in the eighth chapter of the Canticles: “Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the friends hearken : make me hear thy voice.”
这些行为的交替和连续在至圣玛利亚的脑海中产生了一种美妙的和谐，至高者在雅歌第八章中说的引起天使们的注意：「住在花园里的你，朋友们请听：让我听到你的声音。 」
［经文〈雅歌8：13〉：你这住在果园中的女郎，愿你使我听到你的声音！同伴们都在等候细听。］
498. In regard to the intensity or efficacy of the faith of this sovereign Princess, it is certain, that it exceeded that of the Apostles, Prophets and Saints taken together and reached the highest degree possible in a creature. It not only exceeded the faith of all true believers, but She supplied the faith that was wanting in all those that have not believed and She could by Her faith enrich them all.
498. 关于这位至高公主的信德之强度或功效，可以肯定的是超越了宗徒、先知和圣人一起的总和，并达到了受造物可能达到的最高程度。不仅超出了所有真信徒的信德，而且她提供了所有不相信的人所缺乏的信德，并且她可以通过她的信德丰富他们所有人。
Thus Her faith remained firm, immovable and constant, when the Apostles in the hour of the Passion fell away; and if all the temptations, deceits, errors, and falsehoods of the world were joined together, they could not prevail or disturb the invincible faith of the Queen of believers. She, its Foundress and Instructress, would overcome them all and issue forth victorious and triumphant.
因此，当宗徒们在主受难时刻离去时，至圣玛利亚的信德仍然坚定不移、恒久不变；如果把世上所有的诱惑、欺骗、错误和谎言都加在一起，它们也不能战胜或扰乱信徒的元后的不可战胜的信德。至圣玛利亚是信德的奠基者和指导者，将战胜所有的一切，取得胜利。
499. The intelligent love, with which She explicitly believed all the divine truths, cannot be expressed in words, without misrepresenting its intensity. The most holy Mary knew all that She believed and believed all that She knew ; for the infused theological knowledge of the credibility of faith’s mysteries, and the understanding of this credibility, existed in the wisest Virgin Mother in the highest degree possible in a mere creature. Her knowledge was kept in a constant actuality, and by means of her memory, like that of an angel, She never forgot, that which once She had learnt.
499. 她明确地相信所有神圣真理的智慧之爱，不能用语言来表达，否则就会歪曲真理的强度。至圣玛利亚知道她所相信的一切，相信她所知道的一切；因为信德奥迹的确实性——注入的神学知识，以及对这种确实性的理解，最大程度地存在于最智慧的童贞圣母这个单纯的受造物中。她的知识保持在一个恒定的现实中，通过她的记忆，就像天使一样，她永远不会忘记她曾经学到的知识。
This gift and faculty of the understanding She kept in constant operation in order to exercise her deep faith ; only at times, as already said, God suspended faith by other acts of the mind (No. 492,465). Except that She was not yet a comprehensor, nothing was wanting in regard to her intelligence of the matters of faith and in regard to the clear knowledge of the Divinity. In this regard She held a position far above that of all the wayfarers and She by Herself constituted a class of such high degrees, as cannot be attained by any other wayfarer to heaven.
这种理解的恩赐和能力，至圣玛利亚不断地运用，以操练她深厚的信仰；只是在某些时候，正如已经说过的，天主会通过其它思想行为来暂停信德的操练（No. 492,465）。除了她还不是荣福直观者之外，她对信德智慧和对天主性的清晰认识没有任何不足。在这一点上，她的地位远远超过了所有的朝圣者，她自己就构成了这个如此高的信德等级，是任何其他的朝圣天堂的朝圣者都无法达到的。
500. And if the most holy Mary, while She exercised the acts of faith and hope, was in what might be called her most ordinary and therefore the lowest degree of activity, and if in that state She excelled all the angels and saints in merits by her faith and love, what must we say of the excellence of her acts, her merits and her affections, during the time in which She was exalted by the divine power to the blessed state of highest intuitive vision and clear knowledge of the Divinity?
500. 如果至圣玛利亚在操练信德和望德时，处于可以称为她最平常之时，因此是活动程度最低的状态，如果在那种状态下，至圣玛利亚凭着她的信德和爱德在功德上优于所有天使和圣人，那么在她被天主的权能提升到最高直观神视和对天主真知的真福状态期之时，我们该必须怎样称赞她的行为、功德、和爱情的卓越呢？
If this is beyond the comprehension of the angelic mind, how can an earthly creature ever hope to find words to describe it? I therefore can only express the mere wish, that all mortals might come to a knowledge of the precious value of faith, by learning it from this heavenly Original, in whom faith attained its ultimate perfection and where it completely fulfilled the end for which it was created. Let the infidels, the heretics, the pagans and idolaters approach this Mistress of faith, most holy Mary, in order to be enlightened in their falsehoods and darksome errors and in order to find the sure way toward the last end of their being.
如果这超出了天使心智的理解范围，那么尘世上的受造物又怎么可能希望找到词汇来描述它呢？因此，我只能表达一个愿望，即所有世人都可以通过从这个天上的“原型”那里学习信德，来了解信德的宝贵价值，在那里信德达到了它的终极完美，并在那里信德完全实现了创造它的目的。让不信者、异端、异教徒和拜偶像的人接近这位信德的主母，至圣的玛利亚，以便在他们的谎言和黑暗的错误中得到启发，并找到通往他们生命最终目的的可靠道路。
Let also Catholics approach and learn to understand the copious rewards of this virtue ; let them ask the Lord with the Apostles to increase their faith (Luke 7, 5). Not that they ever can reach the faith of most holy Mary, but let them ask for the desire to imitate Her and follow Her, for by her faith She teaches us, and by her merits She helps us to obtain this virtue.
让天主教徒走近并学会理解信德的丰厚回报；让天主教徒与宗徒们一起求主增加他们的信心（路加福音 17：5）。不是说他们永远不能达到至圣玛利亚信德的程度，而是让他们渴求效法她并跟随她，因为至圣玛利亚以她的信德教导我们，并以她的功德帮助我们获得这种德行。
［经文〈路加福音 17：5〉：宗徒们向主说：“请增加我们的信德罢！ ］
501. Saint Paul calls the patriarch Abraham the father of all the faithful ( Rom. 6, 11), because he first received the promise, hoping against hope (Rom. 4, 18). He wishes to extol the excellence of the Patriarch's faith, because he believed the promise of the Lord, that Sarah, his wife, would bear him a son though she was sterile, and, according to the laws of nature, incapable of conception ; moreover, in offering his son as a sacrifice at God’s command, he relinquished at the same time the prospect of the countless offspring, which the Lord had promised to Him.
501. 圣保禄宗徒称圣祖亚巴郎为所有信德之父（罗马书4：16），因为亚巴郎首先接受了应许，寄希望于望德（罗马书 4：18）。保禄希望颂扬圣祖信德的卓越，因为亚巴郎相信了主的应许，即他的妻子撒拉会为他生一个儿子，尽管撒拉根据自然法则是不育的，无法怀孕；不仅如此，亚巴郎还听从天主的命令献上自己的儿子作为全燔祭，与此同时,亚巴郎也就放弃了天主应许给他的无数后代的希望，这是天主应许给他的。
［经文〈罗马书4：16〉：为此，一切都是由于信德，为的是一切都本着恩宠，使恩许为亚巴郎所有的一切后裔坚定不移，不仅为那属于法律的后裔，而且也为那有亚巴郎信德的后裔，因为他是我们众人的父亲。经文〈罗马书4：18〉：他在绝望中仍怀着希望而相信了，因此便成了万民之父，正如向他所预许的：『你的后裔也要这样多。 』 ]
This all, and many other sayings and promises of the Lord were made impossible of fulfillment according to the laws of nature, yet Abraham believed, that the divine power could execute them in a supernatural manner. Therefore he merited to be called the Father of all the believers and to receive the seal of his faith which justified him, namely circumcision.
这一切，并天主的许多带应许的话，按照自然的规律，都是不能成就的，但亚伯郎相信天主的大能，会以超性方式成就。所以他配得称为信心之父，并接受了使他称义的信仰印记，即割损礼。
502. But our supereminent Lady, Mary, possesses much greater rights and titles to be called the Mother of faith and of all the faithful. In her hand is hoisted the standard and ensign of faith for all the believers in the law of grace. First indeed, according to the order of time, was the Patriarch and consequently he was ordained to be the father and head of the Hebrew people: great was his belief in the promises concerning Christ our Lord, and in the works of the Most High.
502. 但是我们卓越的圣母玛利亚拥有更大的权利和名号，被称为信德之母和所有信众的母亲。在她的手中，高举着所有在恩宠律法下的信徒的信德标准和旗帜。的确，按照时间的顺序，首先是圣祖，因此他被命定为希伯来人的圣祖：他信靠我们主耶稣基督的应许，和至高者的作为。
Nevertheless incomparably more admirable was the faith of Mary in all these regards and She excels him in dignity. Greater difficulty and incongruity was there that a virgin should conceive and bring forth, than that an aged and sterile woman should bear fruit ; and the patriarch Abraham was not so certain of the sacrifice of Isaac, as Mary was of the inevitable sacrifice of her most holy Son.
然而，比这更令人钦佩的是玛利亚在所有这些方面的信德，是无人可比的，她比亚巴郎更尊贵(意思是她是贞女)。一个童贞女怀孕生子，要比年老和不育的妇女生子更难，更不可思议。圣祖亚巴郎对依撒格的献祭，并不像至圣马利亚对她的至圣之子那样，圣母决心牺牲自己的孩子，来拯救苦难深重的世界。
She is the One, who perfectly believed and hoped in all the mysteries, and She shows to the whole Church, how it must believe in the Most High and in the works of his Redemption. Having thus understood the faith of Mary our Queen, we must admit Her to be the Mother of the faithful and the prototype of the Catholic faith and of holy hope.
玛利亚是完美的相信并完美的希望一切奥秘的“那一位”，她向整个教会表明，教会必须如何相信至高者及其救赎的工程。在了解了我们天后玛利亚的信德之后，我们必须承认她是信徒之母，是天主教圣洁的信德和望德的“原始模型”。
And thus on the day of universal accounting this sovereign Mistress and Queen shall in an especial manner assist her most holy Son in the judgment of those, who, in spite of such an example, have not believed during their stay on earth.
因此，在普世审判的日子，这位至尊的主母和元后将以特别的方式协助她至圣的圣子审判那些尽管有这样卓越的信德的榜样，但在尘世逗留期间仍不相信的人。
INSTRUCTION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD, OUR LADY.
天主之母，圣母的教诲。
503. My daughter, the inestimable treasure of the virtue of divine faith is hidden to those mortals who have only carnal and earthly eyes ; for they do not know how to appreciate and esteem a gift and blessing of such incomparable value.
503.我的女儿，神圣信仰美德的无价宝藏在那些只有肉体和尘世之眼的世人面前隐藏；因为他们不知道如何欣赏和尊重如此珍贵的恩赐和祝福。
Consider, my dearest, what the world was without faith and what it would be today if my Son and Lord would not preserve faith. How many men whom the world has celebrated as great, powerful and wise have precipitated themselves, on account of the want of light of faith, from the darkness of their unbelief into most abominable sins, and thence into the eternal darkness of hell !
我最亲爱的，想想看，没有信仰的世界是怎样的，如果我的圣子和上主不保守信仰，今天会是怎样。有多少被世人誉为伟大的、有能力的、有智慧的人，由于缺乏信仰之光，使自己从不信的黑暗中陷入最可憎的罪恶，进而陷入地狱的永恒黑暗！
How many kingdoms and provinces, being blind themselves, follow these still more blind leaders until they together fall into the abyss of eternal pains! And they are followed by the bad Christians, who having received the grace and blessing of faith, live as if they had it not in their hearts.
有多少国家和地方，没有信仰的光照，又跟随这些更加的盲目领袖，直到他们一起堕入永恒的痛苦深渊！更有不好的基督徒跟随他们，这些基督徒接受了信仰的恩宠和祝福，却活得好像他们心里从未有过信仰一样。
504. Do not forget, my dear friend, to be thankful for this precious jewel which the Lord has given thee as a dower and a wedding gift of thy espousal with Him; in order to draw thee to the bridal chamber of his holy Church and afterwards to have intercourse with Him in the eternal beatitude. Continually exercise this virtue of faith, for it places thee near to thy last end, after which thou strivest, and brings thee near to the object of thy desires and thy love.
504. 不要忘记，我亲爱的朋友，感谢主赐给你的这颗珍宝–信德，作为你的嫁妆和你的净配的结婚礼物；为了吸引你到祂的圣教会的新房，然后在永恒的真福中与祂共融。不断地操练这种信德，因为信德使你接近你的最后目标，在你为此而努力后，信德使你接近你的渴望和爱的对象——天主。
Faith teaches the sure way of eternal salvation, faith is the light that shines in the darkness of this mortal life and pilgrimage; it leads men securely to the possession of the fatherland to which they are wayfaring, if they do not allow it to die out by infidelity and sinfulness. Faith enlivens the other virtues and serves as a nourishment of the just man and a support in his labors.
信德教导永恒救恩的确定之路，信德是在尘世今生和朝圣旅途的黑暗中照耀的光；如果他们不让信德因不忠和罪恶而消亡，信德就会使人们安全地到达他们旅行前往的天乡。信德使其它美德充满活力，是义人的滋养，也是他工作的支柱。
Faith confounds and fills with fear the infidels and the lax Christians in their negligence; for it convinces them in this world of their sin and threatens punishment in the life to come. Faith is powerful to do all things, for nothing is impossible to the believer; faith makes all things attainable and possible.
信德使不信者和松懈的基督徒因疏忽而感到困惑和恐惧；因为它使他们明白自己在这个世界上的罪，并对来生的惩罚感受到威胁。信心是有能力做一切事的，因为对有信德的人来说，没有什么是不可能的；信心使一切都成为可能。
Faith illumines and ennobles the understanding of man, since it directs him in the darkness of his natural ignorance, not to stray from the way, and it elevates him above himself so that he sees and understands with infallible certainty what is far above his powers and assures him of it no less than if he saw it clearly before him.
信德照亮并升华了人的理解力，因为它引导人在他天生的无知的黑暗中不偏离正道，信德使人超越自我，使人能够以绝对可靠的方式看到和理解远远超出他的能力的事物，信德并给人保证这不亚于在人面前清楚地看到事物。
He is thus freed from the gross and vile narrow-mindedness of those who will believe only what they can experience by their own limited natural powers, not considering that the soul, as long as it lives in the prison of this corruptible body, is very much circumscribed and limited in its sphere of action by the knowledge drawn from the coarse activity of the senses. Appreciate, therefore, my daughter, this priceless treasure of the Catholic faith given thee by God, watch over it and practice it in great esteem and reverence.
因此，人摆脱了那些粗俗恶劣者的狭隘思想，这些人只相信自己有限的天然力量所能体验到的事物，不考虑灵魂，只要这思想生活在这个可朽坏身体的监狱里，其活动范围就受到从感官粗劣活动中汲取知识的极大限制。因此，我的女儿，感谢天主赐予你天主教信仰的无价之宝，看顾这无价之宝，并以极大的尊重和崇敬之情操练信德。
