CHAPTER XI.
MARY LISTENS TO THE MESSAGE OF THE HOLY ANGEL; THE MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION IS ENACTED BY THE CONCEPTION OF THE ETERNAL WORD IN HER WOMB.
第十一章
至圣玛利亚领受了圣天使的报信;天主圣子降生成人的奥迹是至圣圣言通过她无玷始胎的受孕来实现的。
123. I wish to confess before heaven and earth and its inhabitants, and in the presence of the Creator of the universe and the eternal God, that in setting myself to write of the profound mystery of the Incarnation, my feeble strength deserts me, my tongue is struck mute, my discourse is silenced, my faculties are benumbed, my understanding is eclipsed and overwhelmed by the divine light, which guides and instructs me.
123.我愿在天地和天地的居民面前,在宇宙的创造者和永生天主的面前承认,当我着手书写天主圣子降生成人的深奥奥秘时,我的微弱力量弃我而去,我的舌头哑口无言,我的话语沉默,我的官能麻痹,我的理解力被指引和指导我的神圣之光遮蔽和淹没了。
In it all is perceived without error and without any deviousness; I see my insignificance and I am made aware of the emptiness of words and the insufficiency of human terms for doing justice to my concepts of this sacrament, which comprehends at one and the same time God himself and the greatest and most wonderful work of his Omnipotence.
在它里面,一切都被感知到没有错误,没有任何偏差;我看到了自己的渺小,我意识到了语言的空虚和人类语言表达的匮乏,无法合理地表达我对这件圣事的看法,因为这件圣事既包括天主自己,也包括祂全能的最伟大、最奇妙的工作。
I see in this mystery the divine and admirable harmony of his infinite providence and wisdom, with which from all eternity He has ordained and prearranged it, and by which He directed all creation toward its fulfillment.
我在这个奥迹中看到了祂无限的上智和智慧的神圣和那令人钦佩的和谐,祂从亘古以来就用这种和谐来设定和预先安排了这奥秘,并以此引导万物走向这奥秘的实现。
All his works and all his creatures were only well adjusted means of advancing toward this apex of his aims, the condescension of a God in assuming human nature.
祂所有的工程和祂的一切受造物,都是为了达到祂的目标的顶点,即天主屈尊降卑取了人性。
124. I saw that the eternal Word had awaited and chosen, as the most opportune time and hour for his descent from the bosom of the Father, the midnight of mortal perversion (Wis. 18, 14), when the whole posterity of Adam was buried and absorbed in the sleep of forgetfulness and ignorance of their true God, and when there was no one to open his mouth in confessing and blessing Him, except some chosen souls among his people.
124.我看到永生的圣言已经等待和选择了,作为祂从天父的怀抱中降临的最佳时机,那是人类堕落的午夜(智慧篇18:14-15),当亚当的所有后裔都被埋葬的时候,他们沉浸在对天主的遗忘和无知的沉睡中,除了祂子民中的一些被拣选的灵魂,没有人开口向祂忏悔和祈祷。
[经文〈智慧篇 18:14-15〉:万籁俱寂,黑夜已奔驰一半路程时,你全能的圣言,在天上的王座,如无情的战士,降到这应毁灭的地上, ]
All the rest of the world was lost in silent darkness, having passed a protracted night of five thousand and about two hundred years.
世界上其余的人都迷失在寂静的黑暗中,度过了长达五千年零二百年左右的漫长黑夜。
Age had succeeded age, and generations followed upon generations, each one in the time predestined and decreed by the eternal Wisdom, each also having an opportunity to know and find Him, its Creator; for all had Him so nigh to them, that He gave them life, movement and existence within their own selves (Acts 17, 28).
时代继承了时代,一代人接一代人,每一代人都在永恒的智慧所预定和规定的时间里,每个人都有机会认识和发现天主——他的造物主;因为所有的人都离祂如此之近,祂给了他们生命、行动和存在,都在祂内。(宗徒大事录17章28节)
[经文〈宗徒大事录17章28节〉:因為我們生活、行動、存在,都在他內,正如你們的某些詩人說的:『原來我們也是他的子孫。』]
But as the clear day of his inaccessible light had not arrived, though some of the mortals, like
the blind, came nigh to Him and touched Him in his creatures, yet they did not attain to the Divinity (Rom. 1, 23) and in failing to recognize Him, they cast themselves upon the sensible and most vile things of the earth.
但是,祂那不可接近的光明的晴朗的日子还没有到来,虽然有些世人,像瞎子一样,走近祂,在祂的受造物中触摸祂,但是他们仍然不能提升至神性(罗马书1:23)他们既认不出祂,就把自己投身于世界上可感觉到的最卑劣的东西上。
[经文〈罗马书 1:23〉:将不可朽坏的天主的光荣,改归于可朽坏的人、飞禽、走兽和爬虫形状的偶像。]
125. The day then had arrived in which the Most High, setting aside the long ages of this dark ignorance, resolved to manifest Himself to men and begin the Redemption of the human race by assuming their nature in the womb of most holy Mary, now prepared for this event.
125. 那日已经到来,至高者天主除去长久以来这种黑暗无知的漫长岁月,决定向人们显示自己,并开始救赎人类,透过至圣玛利亚的无玷始胎取了人的本性,现在已经为这一事件做好了准备。
In order to be able to describe what was revealed concerning this event to me, it is necessary to make mention of some hidden sacraments connected with the descent of the Onlybegotten from the bosom of the Father.
为了能够描述关于这件给我的启示,是有必要提及一些与独生子从圣父怀中降临有关的隐藏的圣事。
I assume as firmly established what the holy faith teaches in regard to the divine Persons, that although there is a real personal distinction between the three Persons, yet there is no inequality in wisdom, omnipotence or other attributes, just as little as there is in the divine nature; and just as They are equal in dignity and infinite perfection, so They are also equal in these operations ad extra, which proceed from God himself for the production of some creature or temporal object.
我认为神圣信仰所教导的关于天主三位一体是牢固确立的,虽然这三个位格之间有真正的个体区别,但在智慧、全能或其它属性上没有不平等,就像在天主的本性中一样;正如祂们在尊荣和无限完美上是平等的一样,祂们在由天主自己创造某种受造物或暂存事物的这些向外的行动中也是平等的。
These operations are indivisibly wrought by three divine Persons; for not one Person alone produces them, but all Three in so far as They are one and the same God, possessing one and the same wisdom, one and the same understanding and will.
这些行动是由天主的三个位格不可分割地完成的;因为不是一位单独创造了它们,而是三位共同创造的,因为祂们是同一位天主,拥有同样智慧,同样理解和意志。
Thus what the Son knows and wishes, that also the Father knows and wishes; and so also the Holy Ghost knows and wishes whatever is known and willed by the Father and the Son.
因此,圣子知道和所希望的,圣父也知道和希望;这样,圣父和圣子所知道和所意愿的,圣神也知道和盼望。
126. In this indivisibility of action the three Persons wrought and executed, by one and the same act, the mystery of the Incarnation, although only the person of the Son accepted for Himself the nature of man, uniting it to Himself hypostatically.
126.在这种不可分割的行动中,三个位格以同一种行动,创造和执行了天主圣子降生成人的奥迹,然而只有圣子的位格自己取了人性,并将人性与自己的天主性结合起来。
Therefore we say that the Son was sent by the eternal Father, from whose intelligence He proceeds, and that the Father sent Him by the intervening operations of the Holy Ghost.
所以我们说,圣子是永生之父所差遣来的,祂从圣父那里获得智慧,而圣父又是借着圣神的介入而差遣圣子前来。
As it was the Person of the Son which came to be made man, this same Person before descending from the heavens and the bosom of the Father, in the name of that same humanity to be received by Him, made a conditional request, that, on account of his foreseen merits, his salvation and satisfaction of the divine justice for sins be extended to the whole human race.
因为圣子是真天主亦是真人,同样天主圣子的位格在从天堂和圣父的怀抱中降临之前,以祂所接受的人性的名义,提出了一个有条件的请求,基于祂可预见的功劳,祂的救赎和满全对罪恶的神圣公义的赔补将扩展到全人类。
He desired the fiat or ratification of the most blessed will of the Father, who sent Him, for the acceptance of this Redemption by means of his most holy works and his passion, and through the mysteries, which He was to enact in the new Church and in the law of grace.
因此为了接受这一救赎工程,圣子祈求通过祂神圣的工作和受难,通过祂将在新教会和恩宠法律中施行的奥秘,祂要得到差遣祂来的天父的至圣旨意的许可或认可。
127. The eternal Father accepted this petition and the foreseen merits of the Word; He conceded all that was proposed and asked for the mortals, and He himself confirmed the elect and predestined souls as the inheritance and possession of Christ forever.
127.永生之父接受了这个祈求和圣言可预见的功劳;祂也承认了所有为世人所提出的计划和请求,又亲自确认了那些被拣选和预定的灵魂,作为基督永远的产业和财产。
Hence, Christ himself, our Lord, through saint John says that He has not lost nor has allowed to perish, those whom the Father had given him (John 18, 9).
因此,基督自己,我们的主,通过圣若望说,那些圣父赐给祂的人,祂没有失去,也没有容许他们灭亡。
[经文〈若望福音 18:9〉:「你賜給我的人,其中我沒有喪失一個。」]
In another place it is said: that no one shall snatch his sheep from his hands nor from those of his Father (John 17, 12).
若望福音还有一处说:没有人能从祂或祂父的手里夺走属于祂的羊。(若望福音17章12节)
[经文〈若望福音 17:12〉:保全了你所賜給我的人,護衛了他們,其中除了那喪亡之子,沒有喪亡一個,]
The same would hold good of all those that are born, if they would avail themselves of the Redemption, which, as it is sufficient, should also be efficacious for all and in all; since his divine mercy desired to exclude no one, if only all of them would make themselves capable of receiving its benefits through the Redeemer.
同样的道理也适用于所有生而为人者,如果他们愿意接受救赎的话,救赎对所有人都是足够和有效的;因为祂神圣的慈悲不愿意排斥任何人,惟愿他们都能藉着救主,获得益处。
128. All this, according to our way of understanding, happened in heaven at the throne of the most blessed Trinity as a prelude to the fiat of the most holy Mary, of which I will presently speak.
128.所有这一切,根据我们的理解方式,都发生在天堂,在皇皇圣三的宝座上,作为对至圣玛丽亚的敕令的序曲,我现在将谈论这一点。
At the moment, in which the Onlybegotten of the Father descended to her virginal womb, all the heavens and the creatures were set in commotion.
在天父的独生子降临到至圣童贞女无玷始胎的那一刻,诸天万物都为之一震。
On account of the inseparable union of the divine Persons, the Three of Them descended with the Word, though the Word alone was to become incarnate.
由于天主三位一体不可分割的结合性,虽然只有天主圣言降生成了人,但是皇皇圣三随着天主圣言也一同降临了。
And with the Lord their God, all the hosts of the celestial army, issued from heaven, full of invincible strength and splendor.
天堂上军队的众军,都与上主他们的天主一同从天堂降临,充满了不可战胜的力量和荣耀。
Although it was not necessary to prepare the way, since the Divinity fills the universe, is present in all places and cannot be impeded by anything; nevertheless all the eleven material heavens showed deference to their Creator, and, together with the inferior elements, opened up and parted as it were, for his passage; the stars shone with greater brilliancy, the moon and sun with the planets hastened their course in the service of their Maker, anxious to witness the greatest of his wonderful works.
虽然没有必要预备道路,因为天主充满整个宇宙,处处都在,不会被任何东西阻碍;然而,所有诸天的十一种物质都显示出对它们的创造者的尊敬,并且和低等元素一起,随着圣子的通过而打开和分开;群星更加灿烂了,月亮和太阳以及行星加速了它们为造物主服务的进程,渴望见证祂最伟大的杰作。
129. Mortals did not perceive this commotion and renewal of all the creatures; both because it happened during the night, as well as because the Lord wished it to be known only to the angels.
129.世人没有察觉到所有受造物的这种震动和更新;因为这件事情发生在夜间,也因为尊贵的至高者希望只有天使们知道。
These with new wonder praised Him, knowing these profound and venerable mysteries to be hidden from men. For they knew that men were far removed from understanding these wonderful benefits, so admirable even in the eyes of angelic spirits.
众天使带着新的惊奇赞美至高者天主,因为他们知道这些深奥而可敬的奥秘是向人隐藏的。因为他们知道,人类远远不能理解这些奇妙的恩惠,即使在天使的眼中也是如此令他们钦佩。
To these angelic spirits alone was at that time assigned the duty of giving glory, praise and reverence for these benefits to their Maker.
在当时,只有这些天神被赋予了荣耀、赞美和崇敬造物主的责任。
However, in the hearts of some of the just the Most High infused at that hour a new feeling and affection of extraordinary joy of which they became conscious.
然而,在那个时刻,在一些义人心中,至高的天主注入了一种新的感情和一种特别的喜悦之情,他们意识到了这一点。
They conceived new and grand ideas concerning the Lord; some of them were inspired and began to confer within themselves, whether this new sensation, which they felt, was not the effect of the coming of the Messias in order to redeem the world; but all this remained concealed, for each one thought, that he alone had experienced this renewal of his interior.
他们对上主产生了新的、伟大的想法;他们中的一些人受到了启发,开始在内心思考,他们所感受到的这种新的感觉,是不是默西亚为了救赎世界而到来的结果;但这一切都是隐藏的,因为每个人都认为,只有他自己经历了内在的更新。
130. In the other creatures there was a like renovation and change.
130.其它受造物也有类似的更新和变化。
The birds moved about with new songs and joyousness; the plants and trees gave forth more fruit and fragrance; and in like proportion all the rest of the creatures received and felt some kind of vivifying change.
鸟儿们欢快地唱着新歌飞来飞去;植物和树木结出更多的果实散发出更多的芳香;其他所有的受造物都以同样的比例接受并感受到了某种充满活力的变化。
But among those that received the greatest share, were the Fathers and Saints in limbo, whither the archangel Michael was sent with the glad message, in order to console them and cause in them the fullness of jubilee and praise.
但在那些领受最多的人中,有在阴间(古圣所)的先祖和圣人,总领天使被派到那里,向他们传达了喜讯,以安慰他们,并使他们充满喜乐和赞美。
Only for hell it was a cause of new consternation and grief; for at the descent of the eternal Word from on high, the demons felt an impetuous force of the divine power, which came upon them like the waves of the sea and buried all of them in the deepest caverns of their darkness without leaving them any strength of resistance or recovery.
只是对地狱来说,它又引起了新的恐惧和悲伤;因为当永生的圣言从天上降临的时候,恶魔们感到了一种神圣力量的激荡,就像大海的波浪一样向他们袭来,把他们全部都埋葬在黑暗的最深处,没有给他们留下任何抵抗和恢复的力量。
When by divine permission they were again able to rise, they poured forth upon the world and hastened about to discover what strange happening had thus undone them.
在天主的允许下,它们得以再次起来,涌向世界,急着去发现是什么奇怪的事情使它们如此挫败。
However, although they held several conferences among themselves, they were unable to find the cause.
然而,他们之间虽然开了几次会,却都找不到原因。
The divine Power concealed from them the sacrament of the Incarnation and the manner in which most holy Mary conceived the incarnate Word (No. 326).
天主的大能向它们隐藏了天主圣子降生成人的圣事和至圣玛利亚孕育圣言降生成人的方式。(参见第326段)
Not until the death of Christ on the cross did they arrive at the certainty, that He was God and true man, as we shall there relate.
直到基督死在十字架上,他们才确信,祂是天主亦是真人,正如我们在那里叙述的一样。
131. In order that the mystery of the Most High might be fulfilled, the holy archangel Gabriel, in the shape described in the preceding chapter and accompanied by innumerable angels in visible human forms and resplendent with incomparable beauty, entered into the chamber, where most holy Mary was praying.
131.为了满全至高者天主的奥迹,在前一章所描述的总领天使,在无数人形的光彩夺目、美得无可比拟的天使们陪伴下,走进了圣母玛利亚正在祈祷的那间屋子。
It was on a Thursday at six o’clock in the evening and at the approach of night.
那是在一个周四晚上六点钟,夜幕即将降临的时候。
The great modesty and restraint of the Princess of heaven did not permit Her to look at him more than was necessary to recognize him as an angel of the Lord.
天主圣父的爱女非常谦虚和克制,她不允许自己多看天使一眼,因为她认出他是天主的天使。
Recognizing him as such, She, in her usual humility, wished to do him reverence; the holy prince would not allow it; on the contrary he himself bowed profoundly as before his Queen and Mistress, in whom he adored the heavenly mysteries of his Creator.
她认出总领天使,便以她一贯的谦恭态度,想对他表示尊敬;神圣的王子圣加俾厄尔不会允许这样做;相反,他自己却在他的母后和主母前深深地鞠躬,崇拜造物主天国的奥迹。
At the same time he understood that from that day on the ancient times and the custom of old whereby men should worship angels, as Abraham had done (Gen. 28,2), were changed.
同时他也明白,从那一天起,古代的习俗和人们像亚巴郎那样的崇拜天使的习俗,(创世纪18:2),都改变了。
[经文〈创世纪 18:2〉:他举目一望,见有三人站在对面。他一见就由帐幕门口跑去迎接他们,俯伏在地,]
For as human nature was raised to the dignity of God himself in the person of the Word, men now held the position of adopted children, of companions and brethren of the angels, as the angel said to Evangelist Saint John, when he refused to be worshipped (Apoc. 19, 10).
因为随着人的本性在圣言的位格中被提升到天主自己的尊荣时,正如天使拒绝被敬拜时对圣史若望所说的那样,人现在成为了被收养的孩子,成为了天使的同伴和兄弟。(默示录19:10)。
[经文〈默示录19:10〉:我就俯伏在他腳前要朝拜他;他給我說:「萬不要這樣作,我只是你和你那些為耶穌作見證的弟兄們的同僕,你只該朝拜天主!」因為預言之神就是為耶穌作證。]
132. The holy archangel saluted our and his Queen and said: “Ave gratia plena, Dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus” (Luke 1, 28). Hearing this new salutation of the angel, this most humble of all creatures was disturbed, but not confused in mind (Luke 1, 29).
132.这位神圣的总领天使向我们和他的母后致敬,并说:「万福!满被圣宠者,主与你同在」(路加福音1:28)。听到天使的这一新的问候,这个最谦卑的人感到不安,但内心并不困惑(路加福音1:29)。
[经文〈路加福音 1:29〉:她却因这话惊惶不安,便思虑这样的请安有什么意思。]
This disturbance arose from two causes: first, from her humility, for She thought Herself the lowest of the creatures and thus in her humility, was taken unawares at hearing Herself saluted and called the “Blessed among women;” secondly, when She heard this salute and began to consider within Herself how She should receive it, She was interiorly made to understand by the Lord, that He chose Her for his Mother, and this caused a still greater perturbance, having such an humble opinion of Herself.
这种不安源于两个原因:第一,因为她认为自己是受造物中最卑微的,所以在她的谦卑中,当她听到自己被请安并被称为『在女人中蒙祝福的人』时,她感到意外。第二,当她听到这个请安,并开始在内心思考应该如何接受它时,上主在内心使她明白,祂拣选了她作为祂的母亲,这引起了她更大的不安,因为她看自己是如此的卑微。
On account of this perturbance the angel proceeded to explain to Her the decree of the Lord, saying: “Do not fear, Mary, for thou hast found grace before the Lord (Luke 1, 30) ; behold thou shalt conceive a Son in thy womb, and thou shalt give birth to Him, and thou shalt name Him Jesus; He shall be great, and He shall be called Son of the Most High,” and the rest as recorded of the holy archangel.
由于这种不安,天使继续向她解释上主的命令,说:「玛利亚,不要害怕,因为你在天主前获得了宠幸(路加福音1:30);看哪,你将在你的腹中怀孕生子,你要给祂起名叫耶稣;祂将是伟大的,祂将被称为至高者的儿子。」其余的部分都是关于神圣的总领天使的记录。
133. Our most prudent and humble Queen alone, among all the creatures, was sufficiently intelligent and magnanimous to estimate at its true value such a new and unheard of sacrament; and in proportion as She realized its greatness, so She was also moved with admiration.
133.在一切受造物中,只有我们极智、与极谦逊的母后足够聪明和豁达,能够判断出这种前所未闻的新圣事的真正价值;当她意识到它的伟大时,她也同样感动得赞叹不已。
But She raised her humble heart to the Lord,who could not refuse Her any petition, and in the secret of her spirit She asked new light and assistance by which to govern Herself in such an arduous transaction; for, as we have said in the preceding’ chapter, the Most High, in order to permit Her to act in this mystery solely in faith, hope and charity, left Her in the common state and suspended all other kinds of favors and interior elevations, which She so frequently or continually enjoyed.
但是她向上主举起了谦卑的心,天主无法拒绝她的任何祈求。她在她心灵的深处请求新的光明和帮助,以便在这样艰巨的任务中管理自己。因为,我们在前一章已经说过,至高者天主为了让她只凭信德、望德和爱德,在这奥秘中行事,就把她留在普通的境界里,而把她经常或持续享受的一切其它的恩宠和内在的提升都搁在一边。
In this disposition She replied and said to holy Gabriel, what is written in saint Luke: “How shall this happen, that I conceive and bear; since I know not, nor can know, man ?” At the same time She interiorly represented to the Lord the vow of chastity, which She had made and the espousal, which his Majesty had celebrated with Her.
正如圣路加所写,在这种情况下,她回答说:「我怀孕生子,这事怎能成就?因为我不认识男人?」与此同时,她也向天主表达了她所立的贞洁誓愿和荣耀尊威天主与她一起举行的婚礼。
134. The holy prince Gabriel replied (Luke 1, 24) : “Lady, it is easy for the divine power to make Thee a Mother without the co-operation of man; the Holy Spirit shall remain with Thee by a new presence and the virtue of the Most High shall overshadow Thee, so that the Holy of holies can be born of Thee, who shall himself be called the Son of God.
134.神圣的王子加俾厄尔回答说:「夫人,天主的大能很容易使你在没有男人合作的情况下成为母亲,圣神将以新的面貌临于你,至高者的能力要庇荫你,因此,那要诞生的至圣者,将称为天主的儿子。
And behold, thy cousin Elisabeth has likewise conceived a son in her sterile years and this is the sixth month of her conception; for nothing is impossible with God.
且看,你的亲戚依撒伯尔,她虽在老年,却怀了男胎,本月已六个月了,她原是素称不生育的,因为在天主前没有不能的事。
He that can make her conceive, who was sterile, can bring it about, that Thou, Lady, be his Mother, still preserving thy virginity and enhancing thy purity.
那能使那不能生育者怀孕的,也能使你,夫人,成为祂的母亲,却仍然保持你的童贞,增强你的纯洁。
To the Son whom Thou shalt bear, God will give the throne of his father David and his reign shall be everlasting in the house of Jacob. Thou art not ignorant, O Lady, of the prophecy of Isaias (Is. 7, 16), that a Virgin shall conceive and shall bear a son, whose name shall be Emmanuel, God with us.
你所要生的儿子,上主天主要把他祖先达味的御座赐给他。他要为王统治雅各伯家直到永远。哦,夫人,你知道依撒意亚的预言(依撒意亚7:16),有位贞女要怀孕生子,他的名字叫厄玛奴耳,就是天主与我们同在的意思。
[经文〈依 7:16〉:因此,吾主要亲自给你们一个征兆:看,有位贞女要怀孕生子,给他起名叫厄玛奴耳。]
This prophecy is infallible and it shall be fulfilled in thy person. Thou knowest also of the great mystery of the bush, which Moses saw burning without its being consumed by the fire (Exod. 3, 2).
这预言是绝对正确的,它将在你的身上实现。你也知道关于荆棘的巨大奥秘,梅瑟看见它燃烧却没有被火烧毁。
This signified that the two natures, divine and human, are to be united in such a manner, that the latter is not consumed by the divine, and that the Mother of the Messias shall conceive and give birth without violation of her virginal purity.
这意味着天主两种本性,将以这样一种方式结合在一起,人性不会被天主消耗,默西亚的母亲将在不违背其贞女纯洁的情况下怀孕和生育。
Remember also, Lady, the promise of the eternal God to the Patriarch Abraham, that, after the captivity of his posterity for four generations, they should return to this land; the mysterious signification of which was, that in this, the fourth generation,the incarnate God is to rescue the whole race of Adam through thy co-operation from the oppression of the devil (Gen. 15, 16).
夫人,也请记住永生的天主对圣祖亚巴郎的预许,在他的子孙被掳了四代之后,他们将回到这片土地;它的奥秘含义是,在这第四代中,降生成人的天主将通过你的合作,把亚当整个种族从魔鬼的压迫中拯救出来。
(In the autograph manuscript Mary of Agreda explains this fourth generation as follows:“The mystery of this fourth generation is that there are four generations: 1st, that of Adam without a father or mother; 2nd, that of Eve without a mother; 3rd, of our own, from a father and mother; 4th, that of our Lord Jesus Christ, from a Mother without a father.”)
(英文评注:艾吉达的玛利亚在亲笔手稿中,是这样解释四代的:「这第四代的奥秘之处在于有四代:第一代,是没有父母的亚当;第二代是没有母亲的厄娃;第三代是指我们自己,出自父母;第四代,就是我们主耶稣基督,从无父之母而来。)
And the ladder, which Jacob saw in his sleep (Gen. 28, 12), was an express figure of the royal way, which the eternal Word was to open up and by which the mortals are to ascend to heaven and the angels to descend to earth.
雅各伯在睡梦中见到的梯子(创世纪28:12),是一个王室之路的一个明确形象,永生的圣言要打开这条道路,通过它世人可以升到天堂,天使可以下到人间。
[经文〈创世纪28:12〉:他作了一梦:见一个梯子直立在地上,梯顶与天相接;天主的使者在梯子上,上去下来。]
To this earth the Onlybegotten of the Father shall lower Himself in order to converse with men and communicate to them the treasures of his Divinity, imparting to them his virtues and his immutable and eternal perfections.”
在这个世界上,天父的独生子将屈尊降卑,以便与人交谈,向世人传达祂的神性宝藏,向他们传授祂的美德和祂永恒不变的完美。
135. With these and many other words the ambassador of heaven instructed the most holy Mary, in order that, by the remembrance of the ancient promises and prophecies of holy Writ, by the reliance and trust in them and in the infinite power of the Most High, She might overcome her hesitancy at the heavenly message.
135.天堂的使者用这些话和许多其他话教导至圣玛利亚,使她凭着对《圣经》上古老的应许和预言的记忆,凭着对这些应许和预言的信赖和信任,和藉着至高者天主的无限的能力,她就能克服她对天国信息的犹豫。
But as the Lady herself exceeded the angels in wisdom, prudence and in all sanctity, She withheld her answer, in order to be able to give it in accordance with the divine will and that it might be worthy of the greatest of all the mysteries and sacraments of the divine power.
但是,由于圣母自己在智慧、谨慎和所有的圣洁方面都超过了天使,她保留了自己的回答,以便能够按照上主的意志给出回答,并使其配得上天主大能中最伟大的奥秘和圣事。
She reflected that upon her answer depended the pledge of the most blessed Trinity, the fulfillment of his promises and prophecies, the most pleasing and acceptable of all sacrifices, the opening of the gates of paradise, the victory and triumph over hell, the Redemption of all the human race, the satisfaction of the divine justice, the foundation of the new law of grace, the glorification of men, the rejoicing of the angels, and whatever was connected with the Incarnation of the Onlybegotten of the Father and his assuming the form of servant in her virginal womb (Philip 2, 7).
她思忖着,她的回答取决于至圣天主圣三的承诺:亦即天主的预许和预言的应验,所有牺牲中最蒙悦纳和可接受的,天堂之门的开启,对地狱的得胜和胜利,全人类的救赎,神圣正义的满足,新的恩宠法则的基础,人类的荣耀,天使们的欢喜,以及与天主圣父独生子的降生成人有关的一切,以及祂在童贞女的始孕无玷中以仆人的形式出现。
136. A great wonder, indeed, and worthy of our admiration, that all these mysteries and whatever others they included, should be intrusted by the Almighty to an humble Maiden and made dependent upon her fiat.
136.这确实是一个伟大的奇迹,值得我们钦佩的是,所有这些奥秘,都被全能的天主托付给一个卑微的少女,并取决于她的许可。
But befittingly and securely He left them to the wise and strong decision of this courageous Woman (Prov. 31, 11), since She would consider them with such magnanimity and nobility, that perforce his confidence in Her was not misplaced.
但是,天主适当地、稳妥地把这些承诺交给这位勇敢的妇人,由她作出明智而坚定的决定(箴言31:11),因为她会用如此宽厚大度和高贵的品质来考虑这件事,所以天主对她的信任就不会错了。
[经文〈箴言31:11〉:她的丈夫對她衷心信賴,一切所需要從來不會缺少。]
The operations, which proceed within the divine Essence, depend not on the co-operation of creatures, for they have no part in them and God could not expect such co-operations for executing the works ad intra; but in the works ad extra and such as were contingent, among which that of becoming man was the most exalted, He could not proceed without the co-operation of most holy Mary and without her free consent.
天主在神圣本体内进行的活动,并不需要依赖于受造物的合作,因为受造物没有参与其中,天主也不可能期望这种合作来执行祂内在的工作;但那些外在的、非必然性的工作中,其中最崇高的是成为人的这件事,如果没有至圣玛利亚的合作,没有她自由意志的决定,天主就不能继续进行。
For He wished to reach this acme of all the works outside Himself in Her and through Her and He wished that we should owe this benefit to this Mother of wisdom and our Reparatrix.
因为天主要在至圣玛利亚里面,并借着她,达到天主自己之外的一切工程的顶点,天主希望我们应该把这一个世人得益之事归功于这位智慧之母和我们的补赎之母。(在加尔瓦略山上有两个祭台,一在耶稣身上,一在圣母心上,就是耶稣祭献其身,圣母祭献其心,同献于天主圣父,一同补赎世人的罪过。——圣伯尔纳多 )
137. Therefore this great Lady considered and inspected profoundly this spacious field of the dignity of Mother of God (Prov. 21, 11) in order to purchase it by her fiat; She clothed Herself in fortitude more than human, and She tasted and saw how profitable was this enterprise and commerce with the Divinity.
137.因此,这位伟大的圣母深刻地考虑和检查了天主之母的尊严的广阔领域,以便通过她的许可获得它;她给自己披戴了比人类更多的坚毅,她看到了这项与天主的交易的事业是多么有益于人类。
[经文〈箴言 21:11〉:轻狂人遭受处罚,幼稚者将得明智;智慧人接受教训,更增加自己知识。]
She comprehended the ways of his hidden benevolence and adorned Herself with fortitude and beauty.
And having conferred with Herself and with the heavenly messenger Gabriel about the grandeur of these high and divine sacraments, and finding Herself in excellent condition to receive the message sent to Her, her purest soul was absorbed and elevated in admiration, reverence and highest intensity of divine love.
她与自己和天堂使者加俾额尔就这些崇高神圣圣事的伟大进行了商讨,并发现自己处于良好的状态,能够领受传给她的信息,她至纯的灵魂在敬佩、崇敬和至高的神圣之爱中被吸引和提升。
By the intensity of these movements and supernal affections, her most pure heart, as it were by natural consequence, was contracted and compressed with such force, that it distilled three drops of her most pure blood, and these, finding their way to the natural place for the act of conception, were formed by the power of the divine and holy Spirit, into the body of Christ our Lord.
在这些推动和超凡的情感的强烈作用下,她最纯洁的心,就像自然的结果,被收缩和压缩得如此强烈,以致滴出三滴至纯的血液,这些血液找到了自然受孕的地方,在上主和圣神的力量的作用下,形成了我们的主基督的身体。
Thus the matter, from which the most holy humanity of the Word for our Redemption is composed, was furnished and administered by the most pure heart of Mary and through the sheer force of her true love.
就这样,圣母玛利亚最纯洁的心,凭着她那纯粹的真爱的力量,为我们的救赎提供了由圣神降孕而生的天主圣言最圣洁的人性。
At the same moment, with a humility never sufficiently to be extolled, inclining slightly her head and joining her hands, She pronounced these words, which were the beginning of our salvation: “Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum” (Luke 1:31).
与此同时,她微微低下头,双手合十,以一种永远无法用言语来赞美的至深的谦卑,说出了这些话,这是我们得救的开端:『愿照你的话成就于我罢』(路加福音1:38)。
[经文〈路 1:38〉:玛利亚说:『看!上主的婢女,愿照你的话成就于我罢!』天使便离开她去了。]
138. At the pronouncing of this “fiat,” so sweet to the hearing of God and so fortunate for us, in one instant, four things happened. First, the most holy body of Christ our Lord was formed from the three drops of blood furnished by the heart of most holy Mary.
138.在她说出“尔旨承行”时,在天主听来是如此喜悦,对我们来说是如此幸运。在此刻瞬间,发生了四件事。首先,从至圣玛利亚的圣心流出的三滴血,形成了吾主基督的至圣圣身。
Thirdly, the soul and the body united in order to compose his perfect humanity.
Fourthly, the Divinity united Itself in the Person of the Word with the humanity, which together became one composite being in hypostatical union; and thus was formed Christ true God and Man, our Lord and Redeemer.
第四,天主性在圣言的位格里与人性结合起来,他们一起成为一个在本质上复合的存在;这样,基督就成了真天主和真人,我们的主和救赎主。
This happened in springtime on the twentyfifth of March, at break or dawnifig of the day, in the same hour, in which our first father Adam was made and in the year of the creation of the world 5199, which agrees also with the count of the Roman Church in her Martyrology under the guidance of the Holy Ghost.
这件事发生在春天的三月二十五日,在一天的破晓时分,在我们的始祖亚当诞生的同一时刻,也是在创世5199年,这也与罗马教会在圣神指引下的殉道史的记载相一致。
This reckoning is the true and certain one, as was told me, when I inquired at command of my superiors.
当我询问长上的命令时,他们告诉我,这是真实的和肯定的计算。
Conformable to this the world was created in the month of March, which corresponds to the beginning of creation.
And as the works of the Most High are perfect and complete (Deut. 32, 4), the plants and trees come forth from the hands of his Majesty bearing fruit, and they would have borne them continually without intermission, if sin had not changed the whole nature, as I will expressly relate in another treatise, if it is the will of the Lord; now however I will not detain myself therewith, since it does not pertain to our subject.
正如至高者的工作是完美和完全的(申命纪32:4),植物和树木从荣耀尊威的天主手中结出果实,如果罪没有改变整个自然,他们会不间断地结出果实,正如我将在另一篇论文中明确阐述的那样,如果这是上主的旨意;然而,现在我不想在这事上停留,因为这不属于我们的主题。
[经文〈申命纪 32:4〉:他是磐石,他的作为完美无比;他的行径公平正直,他是忠实无妄的天主,公义而又正直。]
139. In the same instant, in which the Almighty celebrated the nuptials of the hypostatic union in the womb of most holy Mary, the heavenly Lady was elevated to the beatific vision and the Divinity manifested Itself to Her .clearly and intuitively.
139.就在全能的天主庆祝至圣玛利亚子宫里天主性与人性结合的婚礼之同一时刻,圣母被提升到荣福直观,天主清晰而直观地向她显现。
She saw most high sacraments, of wh54ich I will speak in the next chapter.
The mysteries of the inscriptions, with which She was adorned and which the angels exhibited as related in the seventh chapter (No. 82, also Part I, 207, 363-4), were made clear to Her each in particular.
在第七章中(在本卷第82段,同时也在第一部书,第1冊第1卷第207,363-4段),天使们展示了玛利亚身上的神秘铭文,都向她明明白白地说明了。
The divine Child began to grow in the natural manner in the recess of the womb, being nourished by the substance and the blood of its most holy Mother, just as other men; yet it was more free and exempt from the imperfections, to which other children of Adam are subject in that place and period.
圣婴开始在子宫深处以自然的方式成长,受到至圣母亲的实体和血液的滋养,就像其他人一样;而圣婴却更自由,不像亚当的其他子孙在子宫那里在那段时间所受的缺陷。
For from some of these, namely those that are accidental and unnecessary to the substance of the act of generation, being merely effects of sin, the Empress of heaven was free.
因为其中的一些原因,即那些偶然的和不必要的行为的实质,都只是罪的结果,而天堂的元后是免除罪恶的。
She was also free from the superfluities caused by sin, which in other women are common and happen naturally in the formation, sustenance and growth of their children.
她也摆脱了因罪恶而产生的多余的东西,这些东西在其他妇女中很常见,是在她们的孩子的形成、维持和成长中自然发生的。
For the necessary matter, which is proper to the infected nature of the descendants of Eve and which was wanting in Her, was supplied and administered in Her by the exercise of heroic acts of virtue and especially by charity.
对于厄娃后代被感染的天性所特有的,而在她却是沒有的东西,她通过英勇的美德行为,特别是通过爱德来弥补和管理。
By the fervor of her soul and her loving affections the blood and humors of her body were changed and thereby divine Providence provided for the sustenance of the divine Child.
由于她灵魂的热情和她的爱,她身体的血液和体液都发生了变化,因此天主的上智安排为圣婴提供了营养。
Thus in a natural manner the humanity of our Redeemer was nourished, while his Divinity was recreated and pleased with her heroic virtues.
我们救主的人性,以自然的方式得以滋养,与此同时,祂的天主性也因她的超群德性而得以愉悦,得以生动光鲜。
Most holy Mary furnished to the Holy Ghost, for the formation of this body, pure and limpid blood, free from sin and all its tendencies.
为这个身体的形成,至圣玛利亚提供给圣神纯净和清澈的血液,没有罪恶和一切的倾向。
And whatever impure and imperfect matter is supplied by other mothers for the growth of their children was administered by the Queen of heaven most pure and delicate in substance.
其他母亲对自己孩子生育过程中所产生的一些不完美的实质,在母皇生育圣子的怀胎过程中却是完美且可控的。
For it was built up and supplied by the power of her loving affections and her other virtues.
因为所产生的实质是由至圣玛利亚的爱和其它美德的力量来建立和提供的。
In a like manner was purified whatever served as food for the heavenly Queen.
天堂母皇的食物也以同样的方式被净化。
For, as She knew that her nourishment was at the same time to sustain and nourish the Son of God, She partook of it with such heroic acts of virtue, that the angelic spirits wondered how such common human actions could be connected with such supernal heights of merit and perfection in the sight of God.
因为,当至圣玛利亚知道她的供养是在同时维持和滋养天主的圣子,她就将她的供养与如此超群的美德行为结合在一起,天神们对这样普通的人类行为竟能与天主眼中如此崇高的美德和完美联系在一起感到惊奇。
140. The heavenly Lady was thus established in such high privileges in her position as Mother
of God, that those which I have already mentioned and which I shall yet mention, convey not even the smallest idea of her excellence, and my tongue cannot describe it.
140.这位天上的圣母就这样在她作为天主之母的地位上确立了如此高的特权,以至于我已经提到的特权和我将要提到的特权,都无法表达出哪怕是一丁点儿关于她卓越的概念,我的舌头也无法描述它。
For, neither is it possible to conceive it by the understanding, nor can the most learned, nor the most wise of men find adequate terms to express it.
因为,无论是最博学还是最聪明的人,都不能通过理智来理解它,也不能找到适当的词语来表达它。
The humble, who are proficient in the art of divine love, become aware of it by infused light and by the interior taste and feeling, by which such sacraments are perceived.
谦卑的人,精通圣爱的艺术,通过灌注的光照和内在的体验和感觉,来认识圣事。
Not only was most holy Mary become a heaven, a temple and dwelling place of the most holy Trinity, transformed thereto, elevated and made godlike by the special and unheard of operation of the Divinity in her most pure womb; but her humble cottage and her poor little oratory was consecrated by the Divinity as a new sanctuary of God.
至圣玛利亚不仅变成了一个天堂,一个皇皇圣三的圣殿和居所,在她至洁的子宫里,由于天主的特殊而前所未闻的运行,她在那里被转化,被提升,变得神圣;但是她那简陋的小屋和简朴的小圣堂却被上主圣化为天主的新圣殿。
The heavenly spirits, who as witnesses of this marvelous transformation were present to contemplate it, magnified the Almighty with ineffable praise and jubilee; in union with this most happy Mother, they blessed Him in his name and in the name of the human race, which was ignorant of this the greatest of his benefits and mercies.
天神们见证了这一神奇的转变,他们在场目睹了这一切,用难以言喻的赞美和欢欣来赞美全能的天主;他们和这位最幸福的母亲一起,以天主和人类的名义向圣婴赞美,而人类对天主最大的恩惠和慈悲一无所知。
INSTRUCTION OF THE MOST HOLY QUEEN MARY.
至圣元后玛利亚的指示
141. My daughter, thou art filled with astonishment at seeing, by means of new light, the mystery of the humiliation of the Divinity in uniting Himself with the human nature in the womb of a poor maiden such as I was. I wish, however, my dearest, that thou turn thy attention toward thyself and consider, how God humiliated Himself, and came into my womb, not only for myself alone, but for thee as well.
141.我的女儿,当你用新的眼光看到天主在像我这样一个可怜的少女的子宫里把自己与人的本性结合在一起时,所蒙受屈辱的奥秘时,你充满了惊讶。然而,我最亲爱的,我希望你把注意力转向你自己,想想天主是如何屈辱自己,来到我的子宫里,不仅是为了我自己, 也是为了你。
The Lord is infinite in his mercy and his love has no limit, and thus He attends and esteems and assists every soul who receives Him, and He rejoices in it, as if He had created it alone, and as if He had been made man for it alone.
上主的慈悲是无穷的,祂的爱是无限的,因此,祂关心、尊重和帮助每一个接受祂的灵魂,祂为此感到高兴,就好像祂独自创造了这个世界,仿佛祂就是为此而成为人。
Therefore with all the affection of thy soul thou must, as it were, consider thyself as being thyself in person bound to render the full measure of thanks of all the world for his coming; and for his coming to redeem all.
因此,你必须用你灵魂的全部感情,可以说,作为一个人,你必须同全世界一起对祂的到来表示最大程度的感谢;因为祂要来救赎所有的人。
And if, with a lively faith thou art convinced and confessest, that the same God who, infinite in his attributes and eternal in his majesty, lowered Himself to assume human flesh in my womb, seeks also thee, calls thee, rejoices thee, caresses thee, and thinks of thee alone, as if thou wert his only creature (Gal. 2, 20) ; think well and reflect to what his admirable condescension obliges thee.
如果你以一种活泼的信心深信和承认,同一位天主,以其无限的属性和永恒的尊威降卑自己,在我的腹中取了人身,祂也寻找你,召叫你,使你快乐,爱抚你,单单地想你,仿佛你是他唯一的受造物(加拉达书2:20);好好想想,想想祂那令人钦崇的屈尊俯就给了你何等恩惠。
[经文〈迦拉达书 2:20〉:所以,我生活已不是我生活,而是基督在我内生活;我现今在肉身内生活,是生活在对天主子的信仰内;他爱了我,且为我舍弃了自己。]
Convert this admiration into living acts of faith and love; for, that He condescends to come to thee, thou owest entirely to the goodness of the King and Savior, since thou thyself couldst never find Him nor attain Him.
将这种钦崇转化为信德和爱德的活泼的行动;因为,祂屈尊来到你面前,你完全归功于君王和救主的仁慈,因为你自己永远无法找到祂,也无法得到祂。
142. Considering merely that which this Lord can give thee outside of Himself, it will appear to thee grand, even when thou perceivest it only by a mere human intelligence and affection.
142.只要考虑到上主在祂自己之外(玛利亚的“尔旨承行”)给予你的这些承诺,即使你仅凭人的才智和感情来感知它,你也会觉得这些承诺是伟大的。
It is certainly true that any gift from such an eminent and supreme King is worthy of all estimation.
毫无疑问,来自这样一位非凡而至高的君王所赐的任何恩赐都是值得称道的。
But when thou beginst to consider and know by divine light, that this gift is God Himself and that He makes Thee partaker of his Divinity, when thou wilt understand, that without thy God and without his coming, all creation would be as nothing and despicable in thy sight; thou wouldst want to enjoy thyself and find rest only in the consciousness of possessing such a God, so loving, so amiable, so powerful, sweet and affluent; who, being such a great and infinite God, humiliates Himself to thy lowliness in order to raise thee from the dust and enrich thy poverty, performing toward thee the duties of a Shepherd, of a Father, a Spouse and most faithful Friend.
但是,当你开始考虑并借着神圣的光照知道这个恩赐就是天主自己,祂使你分享祂的天主性,你就会明白,如果没有你的天主,没有祂的来临,所有的天地万物在你的眼中都将是虚无的和可鄙的;你会想要享有天主,只在拥有这样一位如此慈爱、可亲、大能、温柔、富足的天主时得到安息;祂是这样一位伟大而无限的天主,为了把你从尘土中提拔出来,使你的贫穷成为富有,对你履行一个牧者、一个父亲、一个净配和最忠实的朋友的职责。
143. Attend, therefore, my daughter, in the secret of thy heart to all the consequences of these truths.
143.因此,我的女儿,在你内心的隐秘处要注意这些真理的所有后果。
Ponder and confer within thyself about this sweetest love of the great King for thee; how faithful He is in his gifts and caresses, in his favors, in the works confided to thee, in the enlightenment of thy interior, instructing thee by divine science in the infinite greatness of his Being, in his admirable works and most hidden mysteries, in universal truth and in the nothingness of visible existence.
在你自己内心默想伟大君王对你最甜蜜的爱;祂是何等信实,祂的恩惠,祂的爱抚,在托付给你的工作中,在祂对你内在的启迪中,祂用神圣的知识教导了你祂存在的无限伟大,在祂令人钦崇的作品中和最隐秘的奥秘中指导你,在普遍的真理和可见的存在的虚无中指导你。
This science is the first beginning and principle, the basis and foundation of the knowledge which I have given thee in order that thou mayest attain to the decorum and magnanimity, with which thou art to treat the favors and benefits of this thy Lord and God, thy true blessedness, thy treasure, thy light and thy Guide.
这个知识是最初的开端和原则,是我给你的知识的根基和基础,是为了让你能够达到端正和慷慨,并以这种端庄和慷慨来回应你的上主天主赐予你的恩惠和益处,祂是你真正的幸福,是你的宝藏,是你的光明和你的向导。
Look upon Him as upon the infinite God, loving, yet terrible. Listen, my dearest, to my words, to my teachings and discipline, for therein are contained the peace and the enlightenment of thy soul.
仰望祂,如同仰望无限的天主,慈爱而可畏。听我说,我最亲爱的,听我的话语,听我的教诲和训导,因为其中包含着你灵魂的平安和启迪。