Sunday, January 6, 2013

Porta Fidei 信德之门


Pope Benedict XVI  inaugurated The Year of Faith on October 11, 2012 .

It was already quarter of a year gone ... and me seemed to be doing nothing at all ..yet !

After the launch, the church welcomed the season of Advent, then Christmas, then New year .... Despite much hoohah, with Year of Faith regularly being quoted and titled on most of the otherwise usual Christmas events, such as Christmas caroling, parties and gatherings, ..... nothing excited my faith.

May be something wrong with me some where, some how, some what !

Must go back to the source to do a check up of myself.

What ? Why ? Where ? How ? is Year of Faith ?

Pope's apostolic letter "Porta Fedei" (Door of Faith, PF) is the most useful document of reference for my enlightenment. 

The letter was released on October 11, 2011 in Vatican which contained Pope's reflection, explanation and reasons of his decision in declaring a Year of Faith commencing from October 11, 2012 and conclude Nov 24, 2013.

He spoke about all believers "the need to rediscover the journey of faith so as to shed ever clearer light on the joy and renewed enthusiasm of the encounter with Christ." (PF No: 2)

A General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops is held to coincide with the launching of the Year of Faith with the theme " The New Evangelisation for the Transmission of the Christian Faith.". This will be a good opportunity to usher the whole church into a time of particular reflection and rediscovery of the faith. (PF No: 4)

Pope invites everyone "to celebrate this Year in a worthy and fruitful manner", and "to arouse in every believer the aspiration to profess the faith in fullness and with renewed conviction with confidence and hope". ( PF No: 8, 9 )

The 9-page letter contains many more information and materials than my shrinking brain can absorb....

I found a phrase that struck me and loved most: "Faith grows when it is lived as an experience of love received and when it is communicated as an experience of grace and joy.." (PF No: 7)

I believed and this is my Faith, and its door has swung open !



教宗本笃十六世在2012年10月11日,宣告『信德年』的开始

三个月已经过去了(1/4年),到目前为止,我好像什么都没有做过!

在宣告开始后,教会迎来了『将临期』,『圣诞节』,过后欢庆新的一年的到来 。。。闹哄哄的,『信德年』常常被提起,很多如往年一般的活动,如圣诞报佳音,集会,派对等,都一概冠上其名而作,但我的信德好像没什么反应。

可能我本身“三点聋”(Something wrong 不对劲) -- 何处?何为?何事?

为了解决这些问题,给个自我领悟,教宗的手谕(公函)【信德之门 Porta Fidei 】是最佳的参考文件了。

这份手谕,在2011年的10月十一日公布,里面包含了教宗要颁布『信德年』的思考,解说,及理由。手谕也宣布『信德年』将在2012年10月11日开始,到2013年11月24日结束。

手谕中他提到信徒们需要“重新发现信德的路程,以便能够更清晰的亮出与基督相遇时的那种喜悦及崭新的热忱。(PF 2项)

一项配合『信德年』的世界主教会议,也在十月召开,其主题为 “ 新福传 -- 为传承基督信仰”。这将是一个好机会,在反省和重新发现信仰的时刻,将教会的整体凝聚起来。(PF 8,9项)

这份九页的手谕,里面还有许多讯息及资料,不是我萎缩中的脑袋可以吸收的。。。

但我却发现了触动了我及最喜欢的一句:“当信德活得像是领受到爱的那种体验,而传播出来的则是恩赐及喜悦的体验时,它便有成长了”。(PF 7项)

我相信,这也是我的信德,它的门已经敞开了!

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