130.7月1日愛的詠唱－白孟德神父（Fr. Charles Belmonte Lopez）語錄-譯者:林豪

We have been created for greater things, not just to be a number in the world, not just to go for diplomas and degrees, for this work and that work. We have been created in order to love and to be loved.

我們被創造是為了從事更偉大的事情，不只是為了成為世上的一個數字計算而已，也不只是為了獲得文憑和學位，為了這份和那份工作，而我們的受造是為了「愛與被愛」。

Thus, the purpose of our life, the only reason for our existence, is to praise God. The whole of creation is a song of praise to God, and it should be the supreme desire that fills our life on earth and all that we do. For our life to be clean and upright – also a song of love to God – we have to turn to Jesus for help, in the Mass. That is where we offer to God the Father a sweet-smelling sacrifice, a fragrant offering, a pure, immaculate Victim, a perfect hymn of praise and thanksgiving.

因此，我們生活的目的，我們存在的唯一理由，就是讚美天主。整個創造如同讚美天主的詩歌，它應該是充滿我們在世上的生活，以及我們所從事一切事務的最高願望。為了使我們的生活潔淨而正直—也是一首對天主的「愛之歌」—我們必須在彌撒中，轉向主耶穌尋求助佑。這就是我們向天父獻上甘飴的祭獻、芬芳的祭品、純潔無暇的犧牲、讚美和感恩完美的讚美詩。

Our piety is nourished by the Mass, the center of our inner life. And our participation in the liturgical celebration links us effectively to the Holy Sacrifice of the Cross. Our whole being takes part: our understanding, our will, and our body too, through the actions and gestures we perform. The Second Vatican Council teaches that “our union with the Church in heaven is put into effect in its noblest manner especially in the sacred Liturgy, wherein the power of the Holy Spirit acts upon us through sacramental signs.”

我們的虔誠，是由彌撒所滋養的，彌撒是我們內修生活的核心。我們參與禮儀慶典活動，有效地將我們與十字架的聖祭聯結為一。我們的整個存在都參與其中：我們的理解、我們的意志、以及我們的身體，藉由我們所做的動作及手勢等。梵蒂岡第二屆大公會議教導我們說：「我們與天上教會的聯繫，特別在禮儀中，以最崇高的形式實現，因為在禮儀中，聖神的德能藉聖事的標記實施於我們身上。」

St Josemaría wrote: “Have veneration and respect for the Holy Liturgy of the Church and for each of her ceremonies, – Carry them out faithfully. – Don’t you see that, for us poor humans, even the greatest and most noble things must enter through the senses?” In each rite and ceremony, the Church is helping us to learn about and contemplate the supernatural truths.

聖施禮華寫道：「敬仰並尊崇教會的神聖禮儀，及其禮節慶典。忠誠地遵行。難道你不知道，我們可憐的人類，即使對最偉大和最尊貴的事，也都需要透過感官才能汲取的嗎？」(道路，522)在每一個儀式和典禮中，教會都幫助我們學習和思考超性的真理。

In the liturgy we usually sing, to raise up our hearts to God and place ourselves under his protection. Singing expresses the love and joy in our hearts. “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” With the liturgical songs, we express what we have in our heart. It is a need that we feel, because as St Augustine says, “singing comes naturally to people in love, and we are in love.”

在禮儀中，我們通常會唱聖歌，將我們的心提升到天主面前，並將自己置於祂的護佑之下。歌聲表達了我們心中的愛和喜悅。「應常歡樂，不斷祈禱，事事感謝：這就是天主在基督耶穌內對你們所有的旨意。」(得5:16-18)藉由禮儀的歌曲，我們表達了自己內心的感受。這是我們感受到的一種需要，因為正如聖奧斯丁所說的：「歌唱對戀愛中的人而言，最自然不過的，且因為我們在戀愛中。」

“There are some people who are enraged when they die. With the grace of God, I hope I shall die singing.” We sing to our Blessed Mother, who accompany with us on our way: “Our life, our sweetness and our hope … Turn then … thine eyes of mercy towards us… Show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.”

「有些人死後，會感到憤怒。依靠著天主的恩典，我希望，我會在歌唱中死去。」我們向一路陪伴我們的聖母詠唱：「我們的生命，我們的甘飴和我們的希望……求妳回顧…妳憐視我們…使我們得見妳的聖子，萬民稱頌的耶穌。」