When you go for an official function in the presence of the king, sultan or some royalty, or if you are attending a function in the presence of a VIP (Very Important Person), quite likely you would observe a certain dress code, certain protocol, and certain customs. Surely you would want to carry yourself well…
All posts tagged Musings
领洗的正确用意（心态）
我观察到不时有人向我询问、有关他们年老及病重的父母，是否可以领洗的问题。虽然任何尚未领洗的人，皆可领洗是对的，但同时也存在了“领洗用意”的问题。这代表对方本身必须表达自己愿意受洗，同时也接受了某些程度的天主教教义。 教会法规，也就是天主教教规，很清楚的写明： 教规第865条 第一节：任何欲领洗的成年人，必须显示其欲领洗的意愿，接受了足够有关此信仰的真相，教友的义务和责任，并且通过了慕道时期有关基督徒生活的考验。该成人同时也必须为本罪感到痛悔。 第二节：在受到死亡威胁时，该成人可以在以下情况受洗：对信仰有基本的认识，曾以任何一种方式表达其愿意受洗，答应遵守基督信仰的条规。 为何我会提出这个事情呢？都是因为人们必须明白可能会出现的两种情况。我到底想说什么呢？简单来说就是两个字：“方便”。 因为一些来找我为他们父母施洗的家庭，主要成员是天主教徒和基督徒，万一父母过世了，他们不知如何处理非教友的葬礼。所以，为了“方便”，他们要求父母受洗。他们甚至可以达到威迫利诱的程度，以使父母受洗。 我们当中可能知道或有所听闻，不同仪式的葬礼，有时候是相当昂贵的。这是因为棺木的成本，葬礼的安排，找宗教领袖来主持礼仪，和其它因素，可导致葬礼开销达到天文数字。曾有家庭成员告诉我：还是基督徒的葬礼便宜得多！ 但这些原因和藉口是不足于成为一个人要领洗的理由。他/她必须自由地、真诚地、喜乐地愿意受洗。就算是对方病重和面临死亡，他不应该，也不允许被强迫受洗，只是为了使家庭成员开心。 “方便”不是领洗的理由。归根到底，我们对那个没有意愿领洗的人，是否有欠公道？却为了某些家庭成员的干涉和威胁，而心有埋怨地同意领洗？ 因为如此，当我们面对这样的问题时，必须有所警惕。愿那些即将受洗的人，是全心全意、开心地、自愿地和喜乐地去领洗，不是为了取悦或方便某些家庭成员。
Baptism With Right Intention
I have observed, from time to time, people coming to me and asking whether their elderly and seriously ill dad or mum could be baptised. While it is true that “Every person not yet baptized and only such a person is capable of baptism,” there is also such a thing as “intention to receive baptism.”…
Hospitality Ministers – Some Observations
An important task of the parish community is to reach out to all people with Christian love and service. Christian hospitality draws people together, opens them to participation, and sets the tone for the liturgy. The hospitality ministry is crucial because it is so visible in the Church. The attitude, conduct and even the appearance…
Family vs Career – Following the Example of the Holy Family
Every year his parents used to go to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up for the feast as usual. When the days of the feast were over and they set off home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without his parents knowing it. They…
Lectoring With Style And Grace
To be an effective lector calls for adequate preparation that includes study, prayer, and practice. A lector is given the task of approaching with reverence that complex body of sacred literature we call the Scriptures, once described by St. Augustine as “of mountainous difficulty and enveloped in mysteries.” St. Isidore of Seville, a doctor of…
Living in Truth or Living in Lies?
Some people just refuse or are reluctant to admit it when they realise they are wrong or they have made a mistake in some matter. They may be so quick to react, even to the point of insulting, belittling, respond in a forceful or negative way, or looking down on others, but they have not…
Guidelines to Become Effective Musicians at Church
Posted on Author padreadminPosted in Becoming, Church, Effective, Guidelines, Musician, MusingsLeave a Reply
Over the years, I have observed different kinds of church musicians who have served in different Mass times or different other liturgical celebrations for different language groups. For some musicians, the musical notation of the west is used. Other musicians use only words and chords. For musicians who play for the Mass in Mandarin, quite…
透过堂区牧灵的经验在圣德中成长
“你当在本身的立场成圣，而我当在天主安置我的立场成圣。 所以成圣并不是非凡的事。成圣也不只是一些人才能享受的。 至圣是你我的简单职务。我们是因它而被造的。” 德肋撒姆姆 我们知道我们是受召成圣。“但要象那召叫你们的圣者一样，在一切生活上是圣的，因为经上记载：‘你们应是圣的，因为我是圣的。’”(伯前1:15-16)。有些人认为 圣就是时常祈祷、虔诚或甚至过着清苦的生活。虽然这些都是圣的表现，但只是外表的工夫。 然而，我欣然面对堂区生活的现实，接受堂区生活中的许多喜乐和痛苦，并学习在各种情况下去爱和服务所有的教友。以上是帮助我透过堂区牧灵的经验在圣德中成长的例子。 以下是以“H-O-L-I-N-E-S-S”的各字母组成我圣德在堂区成长的心声： H = Holy Spirit 圣神 在家庭、基信团、堂区和社会里，在我们的圣德成长中圣神扮演了重要地位。 O = Old Testament 旧约 在旧约中，天主拣选了一个民族不因为他们是圣的而因为他们可透过割损和天主的诫命成圣。 L =Love 爱德 在成圣的过程中，我们以爱主和爱邻人两条并重的诫命去爱所有的人。 I = Internal Holiness 内在圣德 人着重外表，但是天主关怀我们内心的动机，这解释了我们的所作所为。 N = New Testament 新约 诫命是旧约的标记、而十字圣架是新约的标记。身为耶稣门徒，当我们背起十字圣架跟随耶稣时，该努力去聆听并了解天主的旨意。 E = Emptying oneself 空虚自己 在成圣的过程中，他应该兴盛，我却应该衰微。这意识是空虚自己，把一切荣耀归予主。 S = Service 服务 在成圣过程中，我们无条件地为人服务，因为如果要成为在先的，必须要先成为在后的，并成为众人的仆人。 S = Suffering 受苦 受苦是成圣过程中的一部分。我们“是天主的承继者，是基督的同承继者；只要我们与基督一同受苦，也必要与他一同受光荣。” (罗 8：17)
To Say “I Do”
The words “I do” seem easy to say, but there are far-reaching consequences when uttering those words. It is not enough to just say those words, since one should know what one is really saying, and not only know, but also be willing to hold on to those words till death do us part. Far…