Visit of St. Francis de Sales
圣方济各•沙雷氏的造访
Ecstasy of July 9, 1878
1878年7月9日的神魂超拔
St.Francis de Sales (1567-1622) was canonized in 1665. Bishop of Geneva, hestruggled against Protestantism that ravaged France and Switzerland.
圣方济各•沙雷氏(1567-1622)于1665年被册封为圣人。他是日内瓦主教,曾与肆虐法国和瑞士的基督新教斗争。
By his fiery preaching, he brought backmany lost souls to the fold. He was also a great master of the spiritual life.
通过他激昂的布道,他把许多迷失的灵魂带回了羊圈。他也是灵修生活的大师。
With Saint Jane deChantal, of whom he was director, he founded the Order of the Visitation, andfor the Visitines wrote his famous Treatise on the Love of God.
他和圣女方济加•尚塔尔(他是她的灵修导师)一起创立了圣母访亲女修会,并为该修会撰写了《论爱主真谛》的著名论文。
(注:圣母访亲女修会:圣母往见女修会:The Order of the Visitation of HolyMary,简称 V.H.M. 是一个罗马天主教的女修会。该会于1610年由圣方济各·沙雷氏和圣女方济加·尚达尔(St.Jane Frances de Chantal)在法国上萨瓦省阿讷西创立。最初修会的创办者让修女仿效圣母访亲,除初学期外,可以自由地出去轮流探望病人和穷人。后来教廷决定修女应留在修院,不应到处探访。)
Another of hisworks, "Introduction to the Devout Life" had a deep and lastinginfluence.
他的另一部作品《成圣捷径》影响深远。
This great saintwas awarded the title of Confessor of the Church, for his zeal to proclaim andto love the Truth.
这位伟大的圣人被授予教会圣师的称号,因为他热心宣扬和热爱真理。
He also received aPh.D. for the soundness of his doctrine and the wisdom of his teachings.
他还获得了博士学位,以证明他的教义的正确性和智慧。
It seems he cameseveral times "to visit" during the ecstasies, to advise and comfortMarie-Julie, who recognized and welcomed him with great respect.
他似乎在神魂超拔的时候来过几次“造访”,给玛利亚•茱莉建议,安慰她,茱莉认出了他,非常尊敬地欢迎了他。
Itis not always the case with the saints! At first, she is very suspiciousbecause she fears to be deceived by an illusion, which is a credit to her care.
圣人却不总是这样!起初,她很怀疑,因为她害怕被幻觉欺骗,这归功于她的小心谨慎。
Themartyrs who come to prepare (her) for the Holy Novitiate must "show theircredentials," which is sometimes quite touching in her direct simplicity!
来预备她进入圣初学院的殉道者,必须“出示他们的证件”,她的天真直爽,有时令人感动。
This fear of beingthe victim of an illusion, human or diabolical, is the signature of a greatexperience for us and a guarantee (i.e. a safeguard for us).
这种害怕成为幻觉的受害者,无论是人的还是恶魔的,对我们来说,是一次伟大经历的标志,也是一种保证(即对我们的保护)。
(In other words,she could recognise his holiness immediately, and did not have to test him asshe usually did to make sure it was not an apparition of a devil to trick her.Biography provided by the Sanctuary Website.)
(换句话说,她可以马上认出他的圣洁,而不需要像往常那样测试他,以确保他不是魔鬼的邪灵来欺骗她。圣所网站提供的简介。)
“I am St. Francisde Sales.”
我是圣方济各•沙雷氏
Marie-Julie: “Yes,I saw you once, but long ago.”
玛利亚•茱莉:“是的,我见过你一次,但是有很久了。”
Saint Francis:“Ah, good! It is I who have come today on behalf of the Lord.
圣方济各:“啊!太好了!我今日是代表上主而来。
The peace of theLord be with you! I wish the same to all children of God and of His Cross.”
愿上主的平安与你同在。我也希望天主和祂所有十字架的孩子们都能这样。”
Marie-Julie: “Manythanks, good saint.”
玛利亚•茱莉:“非常感谢,善良的圣人。”
Saint Francis:“God created us on earth to love Him, to serve Him, to worship Him and to livein the union of His Holy Presence and His Peace.
圣方济各:“天主创造了我们在地上爱祂,服侍他,朝拜他,并生活于祂的神圣同在和祂的平安的结合共融之中。
Torise in Christian perfection, we need two things: first humility, and second,the Presence of God at every moment.
要达到基督徒的成全,我们需要两样东西:第一是谦卑,第二是时时刻刻与天主同在。
Humility is thesafeguard of all virtues. Without this virtue,we cannot make progress inChristian life, nor in the advancement of Grace.
谦逊是一切美德的保障。没有这种美德,我们就不能在基督徒的生活中进步,也不能在天主圣宠的提升中进步。
God communicatesto us His light. He gives us His blessings because He wants us to return all toHim through these two great virtues.
天主向我们分赐祂的神光。祂给我们赐福,因为祂要我们通过这两大美德来回报祂。
I tasted theHighest of God's love and I was admitted into the depths of His divine light.
我品尝到了天主最高的爱,我被允许进入祂神圣之光的深处。
It is for us tounderstand the heights where God raises us.
我们要明白天主使我们被提升到的崇高境界。
We can onlyunderstand them through the Light of God.
我们只能通过天主之光来理解它们。
As long as our ownlight exists, one should not think of making progress in virtue.
只要我们自己的光存在,就不要去想在美德上取得进步。
(评注:自己的光会阻碍天主之光的照耀。)
This lower lightneeds to be extinguished and God replaces it with one of His divine lights.
这个较低的光需要被扑灭,天主用祂的其中一个神圣之光来代替它。
I kept multiplelights at once that made me discern the pain and joy of many souls that I ledby the Divine Light, from a distance.
我同时保持着多样的光,让我从远处辨别,由神圣之光引导的许多灵魂的痛苦和快乐。
The Light of God,in our minds, brings to our own mind the conditions of pain and joy, which isin each soul.
天主的光,在我们的心思中,给我们自己的心灵带来了痛苦和欢乐的状态,这是在每一个灵魂中的。
Thisdiscernment was not given to all the Fathers of the Church. God does what Hewants.
但这洞察的智慧并没有赐给所有的教父们。天主想做什么就做什么。(注:教父:Fathers of the Church :指教会初期圣德卓越的作家,以正统的教义和圣洁的生活著称,因此受到教会嘉许,而被视为信仰之见证人,其特徵是:年代久远、正统教义、生活圣洁、教会嘉许。)
Christianperfection consists in a true love of God. The Love of God makes rapid progressin us, (i.e in the spiritual life), but do not put any obstacles to that love,if we want to rise in perfection.
基督徒的完美境界在于对天主的真爱。天主的爱使我们进步很快(即在灵性生活中)。但是,如果我们想要变得完美,就不要给这爱设置任何障碍。
I had much tosuffer for this great Treatise on the Love of God; this is so difficult for thehuman mind alone, (to understand by itself) that God must mingle this with Hisglory, that He wants us to develop in His greatness, His love and perfection.
为了这篇《论爱主真谛》的伟大论文,我忍受了许多痛苦;单凭人的心灵,(单凭人心的理解)是很难明了的,天主必须将这与祂的荣耀结合在一起,祂要我们在祂的伟大、祂的爱和完美中成长。
Nothing can beacquired without suffering. I paid for everything and God sold everythingdearly (An odd expression, probably meant all of God's graces came at a highprice =suffering.)
没有受苦就没有收获。我为一切付出了代价,而天主却以高价出售了一切(这是一个奇怪的说法,可能意味着天主所有的恩宠,都要付出高昂的代价=受苦)。
Thereare ways to experience God that men can not define or understand. Why? Becauseour mind is too attached to things of little value.
有些体验天主的方式是人类无法定义或理解的。为什么?因为我们的心太执着于没有价值的东西。
To understand thisbetter:
为了更好地理解这一点:
- First: it isabsolutely necessary that you must have a special gift.
-首先,你必须有一份特别的礼物,这是绝对必要的。
- Second: the mindmust be clear and fully detached from all things.
-第二:头脑必须清晰,完全脱离所有事物。
- Third, theproper light of God is newly recreated in our minds for us to understand, anddelve further into all the great ways to the degree in which they are found.
-第三,天主特有之光在我们的心思中重新被创造出来,让我们去理解,并进一步探索所有伟大的方式,达到我们找寻到它们的程度。(评注:这一段不好翻译,也不易理解,但极具价值。天主按照祂的形象创造了我们,我们内在也就具有了天主之光,这光是重新被造的,这光指引我们开启知识和智慧,我们在探索中发现伟大之路,从未达到一定程度,而天主在那里等着我们。)
It is difficult tolook further into the Divine Ways, but it can be done with the help and powerof God.
要进一步探究天主的道路是困难的,但这可以在天主的帮助和大能下完成。
First I gave mymind, my thoughts, my memory,all to God.
首先,我把我的心灵、思想、记忆全都献给了天主。
I sacrificedeverything to Him and I said, "Lord, for Your own glory and for myhumility, that I can perfectly distinguish the operations of each of yourwonders worked in myself."
我把一切都献给祂,说:“上主啊,为了祢自己的光荣,也为了我的谦卑,我要完全分辨,祢在我身上所行的每一个奇迹的运作。”
I acquired thisgreat grace by penalties as rough as martyrdom, by unbearable suffering(that)without the grace of God ...
我获得这种伟大的恩宠,是靠像殉难那样残酷的惩罚,是靠没有天主恩宠而忍受的难以忍受的苦难……
How that ourbrothers and men of earth can figure not these graces appear fornothing!(Difficult / odd translation, perhaps he means to say, 'How can menfigure that all these graces appear for nothing?')
我们的弟兄和地上之人怎么能不把这些恩宠当作一回事呢!(也许他的意思是说:“人们怎么能认为所有这些恩宠的颁赐都是毫无意义的呢?”)
I know what theycost me and I know what it costs to those who are destined to develop them.
我知道我付出了什么代价,我也知道那些命定要发掘它们的人付出了什么代价。
I have not missedpersecution, or slanders from all sides. But I can say it was a treasure oflight for me because it was only when all these terrible persecutions (came)that I saw the desired light.
我没有错过来自四面八方的迫害或诽谤。但我可以说这是我的光之宝藏,因为只有当所有这些可怕的迫害到来的时候,我才看到了所渴望的光。
See how God testswith all sorts of troubles and tribulations. There came a time when, on theverge of the glory of God, I was everywhere overwhelmed by insults, outrages,to denounce me.
看天主如何用各种各样的困境和苦难来考验我们。有一段时间,在天主的荣耀的边缘,我被侮辱、暴行、谴责所淹没。
I had a joy socomplete, so perfect love, a peace so deep that I thought I already had thedesired light. If we only suffered from ignorant people, it would be verylittle.
我有一种如此彻底的喜乐、如此完美的爱,一种如此深沉的平静,我想我已经得到了我所渴望的光明。如果我们只遭受无知者的迫害,那么功德就很小。
But to suffer fromeducated people, from people of integrity, of light. This is called thepersecution of the enlightened.
但是遭到受过教育的人、正直的人、光明的人的迫害,这才堪称为觉悟者所受的迫害。
This is a meritinfinitely large. All the strength and courage I had I found in the persecutionby the bishops, from major prelates, which I received daily, denunciations ofblack and terrible accusations.
这样才是功德无量!我每天都受到主教们和院长们的邪恶谴责和可怕的指控,我在他们的迫害中获得了所有的力量和勇气。
All this onlyincreased my faith and my love for God.
这一切只会增加我对天主的信心和挚爱。
They stronglyattacked me because I was giving advice to people who were far from me, but itwas only by the light that God gave me.
他们极力攻击我,因为我在单单靠着天主所赐给我的光,给那些在远处的人忠告。
For all mytrouble, I was corresponding with the soul far away from me.
尽管我遇到了许多麻烦,我还是与那在远处的人联络。
I understood andthey understood me. Every pain and every love is shared between all the heartsthat I had under my direction.
我理解他们,他们理解我,每一份痛苦和每一份爱,都在我指导下的所有人的心中分享。
That is what theHoly Spirit reported in a vision of the Holy Novitiate.
这就是圣神在关于圣初学院的神示异象中所披露的。
This is nothingbut a divine power and a direct permission of God. This is the true light, thisis the perfect finger of God.
这只能是一种神圣的力量,是天主的直接许可。是真光,是天主完美的手指。
All the glories ofGod, if they are not pursued by people of both parties, they are not fully ofGod.
天主的一切荣耀,若不为所有迫害和受迫害双方的人所追求,就不是完全属于天主的。
If the persecutionof the works of God are not many, it is a sign that the work will not go long.
如果天主的工作受迫害不多,这就表明这工作不会长久。
I take proof fromthe great and illustrious St.Paul, who was caught up into Heaven.
我从伟大而杰出的圣保禄宗徒那里得到了证明,他被带到了天堂。
If the glory ofGod is not crossed, torn, exposed to all kinds of contradiction, this can notbe purely the work of God.
如果天主的荣耀没有被钉、撕裂、暴露在各种矛盾中,这就不能完全是天主的工作。
If you knew what Isuffered to start the first convent! If we knew it would take courage and bearmed with a boundless confidence.
如果你知道我当初开办第一个女修院时的痛苦!如果我们知道这需要勇气和无限的信心。
As soon as thewalls were started,the man of God who had the right to govern me demolished itand it fell before my eyes.
墙刚一开建,天主派来管理我的人就把它拆毁了,它就倒在我眼前。
I was overwhelmed,insulted, covered with shame, by all the people following the man of power. Ihad to support a terrible struggle for the words I wrote on the Love of God andof Christian perfection.
我被所有追随这位掌权者的人压制、欺凌、羞辱。我不得不为我所写的关于天主之爱和基督徒成圣的文字,进行一场可怕的斗争。(注:应该是指圣人的经典名著:《论爱主真谛》和《成圣捷径》。)
When God wants todo great things, He puts a lot of seals of all kinds. He must also go throughthe Cross, go through the trials of this life before entering the glory thatGod has promised ...
当天主要办大事的时候,祂就盖上许多各种各样的印记。他也必须经过十字架,经历今生的考验,才能进入天主所预许的光荣。
(评注:圣方济各.沙雷氏的这段对话极其价值,尤其是对今日教会的天主儿女,这是何等安慰呢!天主要借着拆毁外面的,来建造里面的。明白祂旨意的,必有盼望。)