欖球比賽的啟示

有一則美國欖球比賽的真實故事，或許你不懂球賽的規則，它卻給了我們不少的啟示與教導：

西元一九一九年元旦，喬治亞理工學院與加州大學在爭奪「玫瑰杯」的年度冠軍賽。在上半場快結束前，加州大學有位球員名叫洛伊．里哥攔截到喬治亞的失誤球。然而，他不知怎麼地，卻慌亂地向著錯誤的方向猛衝65呎。其結果，導致對手球隊得分！

中場休息，球員離場魚貫進入休息室。全體隊員默然坐在板凳上，洛伊．里哥用毛巾蒙著頭像個小孩般痛哭。教練尼布．普萊士一語不發，毫無疑問，他正在考慮如何決定洛伊．里哥的去留。

每個人只沉默無聲地坐在那裡。不久，當計時員宣佈「距離下半場比賽還有三分鐘」。尼布教練注視著球隊，且簡單地說：「小子們！剛才上半場出賽的相同隊員，將開始下半場比賽。」

所有球員都起身準備進場，惟有洛伊．里哥仍坐著不動。教練又催他一次，他還是不動。於是，他走到洛伊．里哥身邊說：「洛伊，你沒聽懂嗎？上半場的原班人馬將繼續出賽。」

洛伊．里哥抬頭看，眼裡帶著淚水說：「教練，我辦不到！我毀了整個球隊！我讓學校丟臉，我也毀了自己，我無法再回到球場面對觀眾！」

尼布教練伸出雙手放在洛伊．里哥的肩膀說：「站起來，走向前去。比賽才進行一半，還有下半場！」

洛伊．里哥驟然醒悟，重新回到球賽現場。

凡觀看過那場馳名比賽的每個人，都難忘那一幕，他如拚命三郎般的奔馳於球場，連連得分，為加州大學贏得「玫瑰杯」冠軍賽。

有些時候，我們也會接到球卻跑錯了方向。

我們跌倒失誤過（破產、孩子悖逆、或入監坐牢），致使我們如此羞愧而不願再去嘗試。

失敗又怎肯離您而去呢？人生尚未走到盡頭，又怎能輕易放棄。人生路途中難免失誤、錯手。然而當上主說：「起來，回到起點。」

那承認並離棄過錯的人，將獲得另一次機會。

而這機會即可能讓您反敗為勝、扭轉乾坤！失去的畢竟已經遠離，何必捨不得拋棄？重新再來的機會不多，當好好把握！

在您的舞台、您的戲碼尚未結束前都有機會扭轉，只怕您先行放棄而退縮。錯並不可怕，可怕的是您不願改過。改過並不困難，困難的是在您的決心，只要在您的舞台尚未結束前，您都還有機會下定決心將錯誤修正改過；只怕您執意而讓舞台的戲在錯誤中結束！

朋友您的上半場表現如何？沒關係，只要好好把握您僅剩的下半場。相信您一定不會繳白卷的！

Liturgical notes on omitting the Pope's name during the Eucharistic Prayer

The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has returned to the Father's house yesterday, 21st April 2025.

Now the Chair of St. Peter is now vacant (aka "Sede Vacante"), let us pray for the eternal repose of the soul of Pope Francis.

During this time of Sede Vacante, the Eucharistic Prayer during the Holy Mass, any mention of the Pope's name will be omitted until the next Pope has been elected.

Eucharistic Prayer I

Be pleased to grant her peace, to guard, unite and govern her through out the whole world, together with N., our Bishop, and all those who...

Eucharistic Prayer II

Remember, Lord, your Church, spread throughtout the world, and bring her to the fullness of charity, together with N., our Bishop and all the clergy...

Eucharistic Prayer III

Be pleased to confirm in faith and charity your pilgrim Church on earth, with N., our Bishop, and all the clergy... 

Evangilizing through daily action...

I had a discussion with my friends few days ago about how to evangilizing someone to let them know about the Catholic faith, many of them had their own ideas, but I want to share my idea which is a very good example about evangilizing people.

I remembered when I was in secondary school while I'm having my lunchbreak, I usually pray the rosary in the playground, then one day one of my classmate saw me praying the rosary, then he come over to me and asking what I'm doing, I told him that I'm praying the rosary, because my classmate is a non-Catholic, he was very interest about the rosary, so I briefly explained to him, after that, he decided to pray the rosary together with me then eventually, he was baptized as Catholic few years ago. Deo Gratias!

Jesus told us to spread the Gospel into the world, we should also know how to evangilize to the people, many people think they didn't know more about the Gospel, it dosen't matter, if you know how to pray, especially the rosary, try to pray either when you in the streets or inside the MTR.

Although some people might look at you what are you doing, but this ok, don't be afrard, just pray for the person who are curious about what are you doing.

Most of all, try your best to evangilize the whole nations through your daily actions!

The boy who plays piano...

At the prodding of my friends, I am writing this story.

My name is Mildred Hondorf. I am a former elementary school music teacher from DeMoines, Iowa. I've always supplemented my income by teaching piano lessons-something I've done for over 30 years. Over the years I found that children have many levels of musical ability. I've never had the pleasure of having a protege though I have taught some talented students. However I've also had my share of what I call musically challenged pupils. One such student was Robby.

Robby was 11 years old when his mother (a single mom) dropped him off for his first piano lesson. I prefer that students (especially boys!) begin at an earlier age, which I explained to Robby. But Robby said that it had always been his mother's dream to hear him play the piano. So I took him as a student. Well, Robby began with his piano lessons and from the beginning I thought it was a hopeless endeavor. As much as Robby tried, he lacked the sense of tone and basic rhythm needed to excel. But he dutifully reviewed his scales and some elementary pieces that I require all my students to learn.

Over the months he tried and tried while I listened and cringed and tried to encourage him. At the end of each weekly lesson he'd always say, My mom's going to hear me play someday. But it seemed hopeless. He just did not have any inborn ability. I only knew his mother from a distance as she dropped Robby off or waited in her aged car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled but never stopped in. Then one day Robby stopped coming to our lessons. I thought about calling him but assumed, because of his lack of ability, that he had decided to pursue something else. I also was glad that he stopped coming. He was a bad advertisement for my teaching!

Several weeks later I mailed to the student's homes a flyer on the upcoming recital. To my surprise Robby (who received a flyer) asked me if he could be in the recital. I told him that the recital was for current pupils and because he had dropped out he really did not qualify. He said that his mom had been sick and unable to take him to piano lessons but he was still practicing. Miss Hondorf...I've just got to play! he insisted. I don't know what led me to allow him to play in the recital. Maybe it was his persistence or maybe it was something inside of me saying that it would be all right.

The night for the recital came. The high school gymnasium was packed with parents, friends and relatives. I put Robby up last in the program before I was to come up and thank all the students and play a finishing piece. I thought that any damage he would do would come at the end of the program and I could always salvage his poor performance through my curtain closer. Well the recital went off without a hitch. The students had been practicing and it showed. Then Robby came up on stage. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair looked like he run an eggbeater through it. Why didn't he dress up like the other students? I thought. Why didn't his mother at least make him comb his hair for this special night?

Robby pulled out the piano bench and he began. I was surprised when he announced that he had chosen Mozart's Concerto #21 in C Major. I was not prepared for what I heard next. His fingers were light on the keys, they even danced nimbly on the ivories. He went from pianissimo to fortissimo...from allegro to virtuoso. His suspended chords that Mozart demands were magnificent! Never had I heard Mozart played so well by people his age. After six and a half minutes he ended in a grand crescendo and everyone was on their feet in wild applause.

Overcome and in tears I ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby in joy. I've never heard you play like that Robby! How'd you do it? Through the microphone Robby explained: Well Miss Hondorf...remember I told you my mom was sick? Well actually she had cancer and passed away this morning. And well...she was born deaf so tonight was the first time she ever heard me play. I wanted to make it special.

There wasn't a dry eye in the house that evening. As the people from Social Services led Robby from the stage to be placed into foster care, I noticed that even their eyes were red and puffy and I thought to myself how much richer my life had been for taking Robby as my pupil. No, I've never had a protege but that night I became a protege...of Robby's. He was the teacher and I was the pupil For it is he that taught me the meaning of perseverance and love and believing in yourself and maybe even taking a chance in someone and you don't know why. This is especially meaningful to me since after serving in Desert Storm Robby was killed in the senseless bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in April of 1995, where he was reportedly...playing the piano.

We can all make a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities a day to help realize God's plan. So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass along a spark of the Divine? Or do we pass up that opportunity, and leave the world a bit colder in the process?

澳門苦難善耶穌聖像出遊

按照天主教澳門教區的傳統，在每一年的四旬期第一主日前夕和正日，均會舉行具有傳統文化特色的苦難善耶穌聖像出遊（葡文：Procissão de Nosso Senhor Bom Jesus dos Passos），在當地的澳門華人教友將此神恭敬禮稱之為「出大耶穌」及「出聖相」。

身為香港教友的筆者曾經在友人的口中得知此富有文化的神恭敬禮，而筆者亦每年都會由香港專程到澳門參加出大耶穌，其後筆者向澳門的教友和神長問及大耶穌聖像和出遊敬禮的來源時，從他們的口中得知有兩個傳說：

傳說一：很久以前的一個寒夜，主教座堂的管堂在半醒半睡中，好像聽到有打門的聲音，心想總沒有教友那麼早就到聖堂來，便加重那半睡的狀態，不去管他甚麼打門聲。打門的不得其門而入，於是走去崗頂聖奧斯定聖堂，原來打門的是主耶穌。於是人們打造了一座苦難耶穌像，供奉在聖堂內，並舉行每年一度的聖像遊行。遊行的路程和今天的一樣到主教座堂，翌日則遊行回到聖奧斯定堂。

傳說二：很久以前，一次颱風後，在南灣海岸浮來了好一些大木櫃，人們打開那些木櫃，見到一件件看來要鑲嵌才能成形的物料，於是大家合作，拼出了今天的苦難善耶穌像來，如此大的聖像就存放在山崗上的聖奧斯定堂內。

很多澳門教區的神長前輩和教友們都相信傳說一是大耶穌聖像和出遊敬禮的來源，而傳說二是一位苦難善耶穌教友善會成員告之的，其實兩項傳說就是傳說，表示存放在聖奧斯定堂內的大耶穌像其來歷到現時為止仍然未能考證。

剛才提到「大耶穌」是澳門華人教友的一個通俗稱謂，原本是葡文為「Bom Jesus dos Passos」，意即「苦難善耶穌」，所以華人教友稱之為「大耶穌」，而苦難善耶穌聖像是中空的木製成品，現存放在聖奧斯定堂正祭台的正後方。苦難善耶穌像形態是一個西方白種男人，身穿紫紅絨線袍，袖子繡上金線的葡萄圖案，他面長而尖，長長的八字鬍子繞著嘴巴，但露出下顎，頭髮長及肩膀而綣曲，頭戴茨冠，臉帶些少傷痕，以左肩承受十字木架的重量，右膝單跪在地上，左手托著十字架的中心點，右手則扳著木架的前方，隻眼平望，神情嚴肅，高約兩公尺。由於比一般的聖像體積大，華人教友可能因而以形態稱之為「大耶穌」。

雖然這座聖像來由不明，可是一些文件對組織苦難善耶穌聖像敬禮和出遊的團體倒有些記錄。一份在1884年6月21日，甲申年五月廿八日出版的《澳門地捫憲報》中刊登了葡國皇帝路易斯一世的法律公告，立法將澳門聖奧斯定堂的管理權交由「苦難善耶穌教友善會」（葡文：Confraria de Nosso Senhor Bom Jesus dos Passos）去管理，而苦難善耶穌教友善會正是負責歷來出大耶穌的組織。這是一個教友組織，其創會日期不詳，但該會至今保有一份1851年6月22日的會議文獻紀錄，記述了該組織安排有關的聖像遊行事宜。故此可知，這個教友善會在十九世紀中，甚至更早便已存在，而苦難善耶穌的敬禮和出遊最少有一百六十多年的歷史。

苦難善耶穌敬禮和出遊是澳門教區的一大盛事，每年都有許多來自香港和外地的教友來參加。半個世紀以前，由內地到澳門參加遊行的人士也不少。

聖像出遊分兩天進行，即每年四旬期第一主日前夕在聖奧斯定堂舉行。下午四時三刻先舉行中文苦路，隨後是主日提前彌撒，五時舉行葡文苦路，之後是以中文講道，主題是耶穌山園祈禱，於七時正舉行聖像出遊，途經東方斜巷，過新馬路，經議事亭前地，上羅結地巷，前往主教座堂；教區主教和主教座堂詠禱司鐸團成員（即紅衣會神父），則在座堂前迎接聖像。聖像由八人合力扛抬，置放在聖堂前，獻香敬禮後，以同樣的主題作葡文講道。

苦難善耶穌像就安奉在座堂內， 讓教友敬禮和禱告。第一天聖像遊行的特色是在沈默中進行；參加者的在靜默中一齊走動，只聽到鞋在地上的磨擦聲，和衣服的撕磨聲，好像表示大家伴同主耶穌前往受審的一種沈重。

翌日是主日，下午四時在座堂以中文講道展開聖像遊行的序幕，主題是耶穌受審判。講道畢，便舉行聖像遊行。這回遊行的路途相當長，須要大約一小時半至二小時，是紀念耶穌被判罪後所走的苦路。

這條苦路是走在澳門市內：由主教座堂出發，經羅結地巷轉到玫瑰聖母堂，經白馬行，在路口轉右經美麗街口，沿公教中心的南灣街段，橫過新馬路及南灣大馬路，經巴掌圍口和舊澳督府，沿上聖老楞佐堂，左轉由街上聖奧斯定堂，最後安奉苦難善耶穌像於原位，並以葡語講道結朿整個敬禮和苦路遊行：最後一場講道的主題是耶穌被釘十字架上，其後教區主教以十字聖木降福一眾參加者作結。

第二天聖像遊行中，在上述的其中的七個地點，一些教友會安放苦路處，當聖像遊行到這些地點時，就會停下來，由一位穿著白衣，扮演聖婦維羅尼加的少女，高聲向著群眾，以拉丁文朗唱哀歌一段：

「你們所有路過的人啊， 請細心觀看，有誰的痛苦像我所受的一樣」(哀歌1:11)

她同時向路人展示手拿印有耶穌臉容的白巾。所有參加遊行的教友均以拉丁文回應唱出：

「上主，請寬恕你的百姓，不要永遠惱恨我們。」

接著由領禱的司鐸誦唸禱文，會眾則以葡文答唱：「主，天主，請你憐恕。」

少女的歌聲清澈嘹亮但悽厲，就算是鐵石心腸，也不會為之不動；群眾的回應歌聲，傳送出誠心懺悔之情。 也許歷年來這些歌詞從不改替，是有其原因的。

筆者在今年的出大耶穌中亦有心刻的經驗，當隊伍橫過南灣大馬路時，筆者向耶穌說：「如果可以的話，我想分擔一下你的痛苦。」

說完這話，筆者的心開始有一點隱隱作痛，可能是輕微的心絞痛，由此可見耶穌真的願意筆者分擔一下祂的痛苦呢！

提外話，在葡萄牙的教區亦同樣在差不多的時間日期均會舉行苦難耶穌的聖像出遊，其中較為著名的包括在葡國里斯本宗主教區舉行的苦難耶穌聖像出遊（葡文：Procissão do Senhor dos Passos da Graça），關於這個苦難耶穌的聖像出遊，筆者容後再作文章介紹。

若視苦難善耶穌敬禮是一種民間習俗，畢竟這項宗教習俗有過百年的歷史，他是有其宗教的感召力，不單令個人在情、意、靈三層面上有所觸動，而且透過長期的集體經歷， 就形成一種身份認同的作用，為澳門教會的教友塑造一個特性，以特有的方式和意念表達基督信仰的一種面貌；這也許是澳門教友特質之一。

如此，苦難善耶穌敬禮就好像澳門教會發展上的一座標誌，帶領在信仰中尋覓滿足感的個人和團體，令尋覓者有能力在各人生層面上繼續整合。

Please don't take my sunshine away!

Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3 year old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. They found out that the new baby was going to be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sang to his sister in Mommy's tunny. He was building a bond of love with his little sister before he even met her.

The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen, an active member of the Panther Creek United Methodist Church in Morristown, Tennessee. In time, the labor pains came. Soon it was every five minutes, every three ...every minute. But serious complications arose during delivery and Karen found herself in hours of labor. Would a C-section be required?

Finally, after a long struggle, Michael's little sister was born. But she was in very serious condition. With a siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushed the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee. The days inched by. The little girl got worse. The pediatrician had to tell the parents, "There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst."

Karen and her husband contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in their house for their new baby but now they were planning for a funeral. Michael, however, kept begging his parents to let him see his sister.

"I want to sing to her," he kept saying. Week two in intensive care looked as if a funeral would come before the week was over. Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. Karen made up her mind, though. She would take Michael whether they liked it or not! If he didn't see his sister right then, he may never see her alive.

She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basket. But the head nurse recognized him as a child and bellowed, "Get that kid out of here now! No children are allowed." The mother rose up strong in Karen, and the usually mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyed right into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line. "He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!"

Karen towed Michael to his sister's bedside. He gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. After a moment, he began to sing. In the pure-hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sang: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray..." Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond. The pulse rate began to calm down and become steady. "Keep on singing, Michael," encouraged Karen with tears in her eyes. "You never know, dear, how much I love you, Please don't take my sunshine away..."

As Michael sang to his sister, the baby's ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten's purr. "Keep on singing, sweetheart!" "The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms..." Michael's little sister began to relax as rest, healing rest, seemed to sweep over her. "Keep on singing, Michael." Tears had now conquered the face of the bossy head nurse.

Karen glowed. "You are my sunshine, my only Sunshine. Please don't, take my sunshine away..." The next, day...the very next day...the little girl was well enough to go home! Woman's Day Magazine called it "The Miracle of a Brother's Song." The medical staff just called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God's love!

Remember, never give up on the people you love. Because love is so incredibly powerful!

Best Mathematical Equation...

For those who loves Mathematics, here's the best math equation that I have ever seen...

1 Cross + 3 Nails = 4 Forgiven

How to grow "LOVE"?

Today is Valentine's Day, so I want to talk about how to grow "Love" in 5 very useful ways.

1. Pick a good heart
2. Plant it in a bucket of trust
3. Water with care and good thoughts
4. Add some romancing occasionally
5. Remove the misunderstanding leaves

Trying some new feature on Instagram…

It has been a while since I updated this blog because I’m currently on my Chinese New Year holiday mood, so I was still enjoying my holiday break and not update this blog.

I was trying some new feature on Instagram which is a “so-called” broadcast channel, according to the introduction by Meta, Instagram broadcast channel is a public channel for IG creators to invite all of their followers into and engaged with their most of their interests.

The reason why I can create a broadcast channel in my Instagram, not just I have about 6,600 followers and I have a verified blue tick, the main reason is my Instagram account is a creator account, so that I can create a broadcast channel.

So I will reshare some interesting posts into my broadcast channel, as well as some quotes from the bible scriptures and my daily life.

So here is the link to my Instagram broadcast channel: https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbaEzFqQmmofDe3O/?igsh=NGs3eGxuaWlmeWZy

Bishop Richard Williamson, RIP

We have lost a true Shepard, a lion of the Catholic Church, and defender of the sacred tradition, Bishop Richard N. Williamson, a worthy successor to Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who has brought countless souls closer to the salvation of the true faith and tradition.

May Bishop Williamson rest in the peace of Christ.

Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into joy of thy Lord.