20. 3月13日 犧牲－白孟德神父（Fr. Charles Belmonte Lopez）語錄-譯者:林豪

Love for the Will of God brings us joy in sacrifice. When we offer discomfort, tiredness, adversities, and small mortifications for the salvation of souls, they then take on the same significance. They give us gaudium cum pace, peace and joy in the Cross, something characteristic of the saints.

熱愛天主的旨意，會給我們帶來因犧牲而喜樂。當我們為靈魂的救贖奉獻不舒適、疲倦、逆境和小克己時，這些就會具有相同的意義。他們給了我們gaudium cum pace（平安和喜樂），在十字架上的平安和喜樂，這是聖人們的特質。

Yet, there is a kind of fear around, a fear of the Cross, of our Lord’s Cross. What has happened is that people have begun to regard as crosses all the unpleasant things that crop up in life, and they do not know how to take them as God’s children should, with supernatural outlook.

然而，周遭會有一種恐懼，一種對十字架的恐懼，對吾主十字架的恐懼。所發生的事情是，人們開始把生活中出現的所有不愉快的事情，都視為十字架，他們不知道如何像天主的兒女那樣，以超性的眼光面對這些事情。

“We have to accept mortifications – from the small details of punctuality and order in work, to the renunciation of all that is ours – with the same attitude as Jesus Christ.” (St Josemaría). Our Lord is upon the Cross saying, I am suffering so that men, who are my brothers, may be happy, not only in heaven but also – as far as possible – on earth, if they really embrace the most Holy Will of my heavenly Father.

「我們必須接受克己—從工作中的準時和秩序等小細節，到放棄屬於我們的一切—以與主耶穌基督相同的態度處事。」（聖施禮華）。吾主在十字架上說，我受苦，是為了使那些我的兄弟們，不僅在天堂，而且盡可能在世上，如果他們真的接受我天父極神聖的旨意，他們就會獲得喜樂。

You should realize that God wants you to be glad and that, if you do all you can, you will be happy, very, very happy, although you will never be a moment without the Cross. But that Cross is no longer some gallows. It is the throne from which Christ reigns. And at his side is his Mother, our Mother too…and St Joseph. The Blessed Virgin will obtain for you the strength that you need to walk decisively in the footsteps of her Son.

你應該瞭解到，天主希望你喜樂，如果你盡其所能，你會喜樂，非常、非常地喜樂，儘管你永遠不會沒有十字架。但是那個十字架不再是刑架。而是主基督為王的寶座。在祂的身邊，是祂的母親，也是我們的母親……和聖若瑟。聖母將為你爭取所需的力量，讓你果斷地跟隨她兒子的腳步。

Today’s challenge: When a little unpleasant event happens, accept it, saying: You want it, Lord, I also want it.

今天的挑戰：當一件不愉快的事情發生時，接受它，並說：「主，祢要這個嗎？那麼，我也要！」(道路，762)

Illustration: The Presentation in the Temple, icon of Our Lady and St Joseph in Russian imperial regalia.

插圖：聖母和聖若瑟獻主耶穌於聖殿，俄羅斯帝國盛裝的聖母和聖若瑟的圖案。