Saturday, April 26, 2025

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!

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

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... 

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

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!