Saturday, August 30, 2014

Venice and Milan 威尼斯与米兰


3-5/8/2014

This is the last segment of our Italian journey.

Venice is beautiful and unique.

The water of the canals is clean ... to my surprise, not a drop or any smell of petrol or diesel used by the boats and water-bus!

The St. Marco square, the main tourist attraction, in the afternoon was like a mad house ... noisy and dirty. ... and hot !

We stayed in a hotel with a small courtyard. It was like a haven to us after a tiring outing to the noisy and crowded streets.

The last leg of our Italian itinerary was Milan. As I mentioned in my earlier posting, Milan is famous for fashions and branded goods, a shoppers paradise. But not for us.

However, the Milano Duomo is beautiful. We spent quite sometime visiting it and the surrounding areas.

1. All pictures of Venice in Facebook 

2. All pictures of Milan in Facebook



3-5/8/2014

这是我们意大利行程的最后一部分。

我们来到了世界著名的威尼斯,它的确是相当的美丽,有着独特的风采。

这里的运河海水非常的清洁,没有船只使用的汽油或油屎流漏的油渍或一丝臭味。

圣玛谷广场是游客必到的地方,在下午时,非常的吵闹、肮脏,而且是非常的炎热。

我们所住的酒店,有一个小空间,让我们可以在外面的喧哗街道游逛之后,有个歇息的避静所,非常的舒服。

我们意大利之行的最后一站是米兰。米兰是世界闻名的时装及名牌之都,购物者的天堂。但对我们来说,却是一个沉闷乏味的地方。

不过,米兰总座堂却是非常的美丽典雅,我们用来相当多的时间到此观赏。

1. 所有的威尼斯照片Facebook 

2. 所以的米兰照片 Facebook 

意大利圣地自由行 -- 亚西西、佛罗伦斯、巴杜亚 Assis,Florence, Padua

Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi  圣方济格亚西西圣殿
After Rome, we went to Assisi.

Assisi is famous because of St. Francis, a great saint of the Catholic church.

We stayed at a hotel just opposite the train station. The hotel owner and staff are very friendly and caring. We have to leave Assisi for Florence the next morning, so the owner prepared a breakfast package for us night before, and reminding us not to forget to bring on to the train.

Basilica of Santa Maria Degli Angeli is just 10 minutes walk from the hotel. It was built over a 9th centuary chapel where Francis heard the voice of God calling him to "rebuilt my church". It is the holiest shrine of Capuchin Franciscan Order.

Basilica of St Francis was built on top of a hill, overlooking the valley. The in-corrupt body of St Francis was laid inside the Basilica. 

The roads on the hilltop town of Assisi are steep and narrow. We have to walk to see all places related to St. Francis, including the Basilica of St. Clare, cooperator of  Francis in his early ministry.

After Assisi, we headed to Florence.

The famous Pisa leaning tower is an hour train ride away.

It was a short stay in Florence. The next day, we left for Venice and making a stopover of 4 hours in Padua to visit the Basilica of St. Anthony.

St. Anthony was a faithful follower of St. Anthony.

(See pictures of Assis in Facebook)

(See pictures of  Pisa and Florence in Facebook)


离开了罗马,下一站是亚西西。

亚西西出了一位圣人,那就是圣方济格(点击参考)。现任教宗就是取名于他。

我们住宿的酒店,就在火车站对面,非常的方便,酒店的老板也很友善。隔天一早,因为我们要乘搭很早的火车离开,没时间吃早餐(包含在住宿费里),他特地准备了每人一个早餐袋,里面有糕饼、果汁及水等,还交待我们别忘记带着上火车。

圣方济格大殿建在山上,远望非常的宏伟,里面放置着圣人的遗体。沿着斜陡的山路,我们参观了山上大部份方济格有关的圣地,包括圣女嘉兰(St. Clare)的遗体及许多遗物等。当天天气炎热,我们除了汗流浃背外,脚的肌肉也吃不消了。在山上逗留了大半天后,我们也回到了酒店。

假如能够在山上看日落的话,应该是非常迷人的景致,但夏天的太阳,在晚上九点过后才落山,那就是要等太久了。

离开亚西西,我们前往弗洛伦斯(Florence )(诗人徐志摩给了它一个非常浪漫的名字 -- 翡冷翠, 意大利原文 Firenze)。到了弗洛伦斯,首先要去观光的,是附近的比萨斜塔。

我们参观了主教座堂圣母百花圣殿,并在里面参加了一台傍晚弥撒,过后享用了著名的弗洛伦斯牛排晚餐。

隔天,我们前往威尼斯途中,在巴杜亚停留了三个小时,参观圣安东尼圣殿及圣人的遗物。

圣安东尼是圣方济格的忠实跟随者。天主教徒都信奉他为失物寻回者。很多时候东西遗失了,都会向圣安东尼祈求相助,而奇迹般的寻获。

Pisa town center 比萨市区


Thursday, August 28, 2014

An outing to Cairngorms Mountain 康拱山区户外游



On 25/8/2014, my wife and I had an outing to the Cairngorms mountain area to visit Highland Wildlife Park and surrounding attractions.

We drove through Cairngorms National Park territory which offered spectacular view of the park.

The journey from Aberdeen to wildlife park took about 3 hours which covered about 160 kms of mostly winding but good and safe country roads.

The Highland Wildlife Park which is management by Royal Zoological Society of UK is a sprawling natural reserve divided into walk-around animal open enclosure and drive around close range animal watching zone.
 
It charged £11 per senior citizen. The main attraction of the park are Polar Bears, Japanese Snow Monkeys, Amur Tigers, Brown Panda and many more. 
 
We put up a night at a guest house in Aviemore, a beautiful and quite small town.

There are many beautiful lakes (loch) which offer good walking paths and picnic spots.

(More pictures in Facebook)



25/8/2014, 我和太太到苏格兰康拱山区的野生动物园及邻近地区游玩。

我们的旅程经过康拱国家公园风景区,景色壮观迷人。

动物园离开阿伯丁大约160公里,需要大约三个小时的车程,经过郊野的山区道路,弯曲、陡峭,但非常良好及安全。

这个有英国皇家动物园协会管理的动物园,坐落在一个广阔的保护区,分成两个部分。第一部分是步行观赏动物区,第二部分是驾车近距离观赏动物区。

动物园收费合理,乐龄人士每人£11(英镑)。主要的动物有北极熊、老虎、日本猕猴、红熊猫等。

我们在一个名为阿维姆尔的小镇住宿一晚。小镇环境清幽,安静怡人。

小镇也是户外活动中心,附近有许多美丽的湖泊,休闲、步行或野餐都非常的适合。

(更多照片Facebook )

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Bullers of Buchan 海之涯洞


Today we went to Bullers of Buchan (Bark-ken), about an hour's car journey from Aberdeen.

It is a collapsed sea cave near a village named Buchan.

A short walk of 10 minutes from car-park will reach the cliff. ( We walked about an hour to see similar rock formation in Hokkaido - Click here to see Hokkaido 2)

The view is great (see pictures)

Later we ventured to a sand dune area at Newburgh, a small town near Bachan, for seal watching.

It is out of the season, so no seal but enjoying the unique view of sand dunes and lake.

(More pictures in Facebook)


今天我们到一个名为 Buchan (读音“巴更”)的小地方,观赏独有的天然景观。它离开阿伯丁大约一个小时的车程

这是一个倒塌的天然海边石洞。

我们只需从停车场步行10分钟就到了目的地。(比起北海道同样的自然景观,我们需步行一个小时才看得到 - 参阅北海道2

过后,我们到附近的另一个小镇,去观看沙丘旁可能出现的海狗。

但是,因为不是它们上岸的季节,所以没看到任何的海狗,但可以观赏到别致的山丘及湖的美丽风景。

(更多照片Facebook)


Thursday, August 21, 2014

意大利圣地自由行 - 罗马



(此文将刊登在《爱之光》九月份

七月十七日晚上,我和太太从吉隆坡飞往荷兰的阿姆斯特丹,然后专机到苏格兰的阿伯丁,探访在那儿工作的小女儿。

抵达阿姆斯特丹,即将降落时,听到机长报告说:“虽然经过很长的更改航道,飞机仍然准时的降落。。”。当时我心里想,为什么改道呢?

登记转机去阿伯丁的时候,职员对我说:“哦,你们很幸运,是从吉隆坡到阿姆斯特丹。。”当时我莫名其妙她在说些什么。

在候机室的时候,把手提电话开了,看到了小女儿的讯息:“抵达后,请快联络我。马航班机在乌克兰上空被击落”。

心里一阵错愕及惊慌。到底发生了什么事?

一个小时多之后,抵达了阿伯丁,才从女儿口中得知马航17号班机,从阿姆斯特丹飞往吉隆坡途中,在乌克兰上空被飞弹击落,机上乘客及机组人员全部罹难。

事件应该是在我们飞机起飞后不久,被公诸于世。孩子们都很担心,彻夜难眠,而我们在14个小时后,飞机降落才得知这消息。

这是个令人悲痛及愤怒的消息。祈愿天主仁慈,赐佑罹难者灵魂安息,护佑家人们坚强及力量,度过这个非常痛苦及悲伤的时期。在各国政府合作下,所有的遗体都能够早日回归家乡,安葬故土。

马来西亚相续的承受了两启空难,期望人民坚强、团结及合一,全国上下,国家领袖及人民,勇敢的面对,相互支持,度过这个前所未有的悲痛时期,勇敢的站起来。

在阿伯丁小住了十天后,我们开始了第二段行程。

七月二十六日,我和太太,拖着三个行李,来到了罗马。

经过了整半年的筹备,订酒店、火车票,飞机票,怀着期待、紧张及一点忧虑的心情,第一次踏足这个举世闻名的古都罗马。

期待、紧张是因为我们将展开十天的意大利自由行。这行程包括梵蒂冈、亚西西、弗洛伦斯、巴杜亚、威尼斯及米兰。这些地方不但是天主教会的圣地,也是著名的旅游胜地。

忧虑的心情,是听闻了许多关于扒手、窃盗的事故。所以,在保管护照及现款方面,费尽了心思,也有点提心吊胆。

太太在抵达阿伯丁的时候,受到发烧细菌感染,躺在床上整个星期,不吃不喝。幸亏在启程前往罗马前得到痊愈,但身体仍然虚弱。这是我的令一个担心。

因为是第一次来到罗马,我们也担心语言上的沟通问题,这包括问路及买车票会出现的困难。

幸好在出发前,向一些到过罗马的朋友及神职人员征询及寻找资料。

来自山打根,目前在星加坡工作的许俊文兄弟(Raymond Hui),是我第一个联络求助者。他是位经验丰富的背包客,足迹遍布欧、亚及南美地区,他曾多次参加天主教会世界青年日,包括巴西及西班牙的盛会。

他给我许多关于行程安排、酒店地点选择、旅游安全、与人沟通的经验之谈。他还在脸书上,给有一些即时的提示。

另一位是吉隆坡候任廖总主教(Archbishop-elect  Julian Leow)。他曾在罗马读书三年,所以对罗马了如指掌。第一件事情,他介绍我们住宿在一间修院里,安全、方便及收费合理。一个大问题解决了。

除了提供罗马及梵蒂冈的适用资讯,他还给了我一袋子的罗马各圣地的书籍及刊物,对我们的行程及观光景点更进一步有所帮助。

在威尼斯进修的主徒会余金忠神父,也是我追问的对象。不巧的是,行程到了威尼斯的那天,他是放暑假,回到了马来西亚。不过,出发前我有机会在马六甲见到了他,亲身索取了非常珍贵的资料。威尼斯是我最担心的景点之一,因为那里是以船为交通工具。如何买船票,如何乘搭水上巴士到我要去的地方,都毫无头绪。余神父不止给我威尼斯的资料,还告诉我其他城市的重点。经他指点后,信心马上饱满了。

到了罗马,第一个参观之地就是梵蒂冈。

梵蒂冈是世界最小之国,但却是全世界超过一亿多天主教徒的精神之首都。每天来到这里的朝圣者及游客,大约有三万人。

身为天主教徒,我们要参观的,当然是教堂,圣迹和圣物。

在罗马,我们去了四大主要圣殿,梵蒂冈博物院,西斯丁小圣堂,圣保禄大殿地下的“死亡之城”(Necropolis),地下坟墓(Catacombe),及数间其他的小规模教堂。

圣伯铎大圣殿是世界最大的教堂,全世界天主教徒的母亲堂,“巨大”“宏伟”“壮观”“历史性”及“美丽”是我我对它的印象。

圣殿里里外外,游人如过江之鲫,对我来说,就是一个观光景点。虽然有几个小教堂,特地为要祈祷的人而开设,但需要非常的专注,才能够用心祈祷。刚巧参观期间,我们参加了一台意大利语弥撒,也算是件乐事。

通常进入圣伯铎大殿,需要排长龙,经过安全检查(犹如机场般),才能够进入。我们在傍晚五点过后,抵达梵蒂冈,当时人潮稀少,大约五分钟,就进入大殿。(夏天开放到傍晚七点)

圣伯铎大殿,梵蒂冈博物馆及西斯丁小堂充满珍贵的历史圣物、画像、壁画、塑像及人物历史,假如没有人指引,会有些雾里看花的感觉(就如我们第一天进入大殿时的感觉)。

一生难得一次到来,渴望、慕名已久,所以我们决定在第二天,参加付费导览,让专业导览员向我们讲解这些教会的历史宝藏。

圣伯铎大殿地下“死亡之城 Necropolis”是需要预定及付费的导览带领之游(每人13欧元)。这是梵蒂冈考古部设立的大殿地下考古地区参观活动。

我们进入圣保禄大殿的地下,沿着考古通道,参观了大殿还没建立时原址地基及许多家庭墓。这里非常的潮湿及闷热。我们看到了圣伯铎的坟墓原址及一些遗髑。

离开了罗马,下一站是亚西西。



Our Italian holiday - Rome

Rome was our first stop. 

After more than 6 months of preparation, with much excitement and anxiety, my wife and I landed in Rome Campinion Airport on 26/7/2014 at about 11:00 local time.

It was a free & easy self-planned holiday which will bring us to Rome, Assisi, Florence, Padua, Venice and Milan in Italy.

I have consulted many people on my itinerary including hotel and train tickets bookings.

I wished that our German friend Gerd would be our captain to free me from all the head-scratching preparations. He is a meticulous planner. Indeed he offered to plan for us using Berlin as base. However,  due to time constraint, we were not able to add Berlin as our destination on this European trip. (See old posting Good times in Germany)

Raymond Hooi, a seasoned back-pack traveler, helped me tremendously by giving many useful tips and information based on his own experiences.

For Rome accommodation, Fr. Julian Leow (now Archbishop-elect) so kindly recommended a religious Convent which offered simple but comfortable room with good rate. Besides giving me a lot of useful tips, he also lent me many books and magazines on Rome, Vatican and other places of pilgrimage.

Fr. Simon Ee, CDD priest who is studying in Venice was also my Samaritan, furnishing me with important information on Venice and other Italian cities.

This was our first time to Rome. We had heard so much about pick-pockets, robberies and scams happening to tourists in Rome and other cities.

Language barrier also a great concern to us.

However, to our surprise, Italians are friendly and helpful people. Even with little understanding of English, when asked, they would response to your questions courteously and assist you in whatever they can. No one would wave you off or shake his head to turn you away.

The first place we visited was The Vatican -  the spiritual heart of the Catholic Church.

The 3 major places must visit in Vatican are St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. We have also pre-booked to see the Necropolis, the underground archelogical excavation site under the Basilica St. Peter, where St. Peter's tomb was found.

Vatican Museum has a collection second only to the Louvre. It has 53 galleries stretching almost 10 kms route. In 2013, about 5.5 millions people visited the Museum.

We decided to join a guided tour with professional guide in order to know and appreciate the history and great treasure of the Catholic church. The tour covered Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. 

The best to describe St. Peter's Basilica is : GRAND, HUGH, BEAUTIFUL and HISTORICAL.

We also visited 3 other major Basilica outside the Vatican -  Basilica St. Paul, Basilica St. John Lateran and Basilica Mary Major.

I found Basilica Mary Major is the most conducive and solemn for personal prayer and reflection.

We have visited many other churches and tourist attractions in Rome. Regretfully, the Trevi Fountain was closed for renovation, and the Spanish Steps was cordoned off at the road level for some function.

From Rome, we traveled to Assisi by train.

(See Rome 1 pictures in Facebook)

(See Rome 2 pictures in Facebook)

(See Rome 3 pictures in Facebook)

Story and pictures continues ... by part.  


Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Last 2 days in Lourdes 露德最后的两天




圣母在露德显现给圣女伯尔纳德,传达讯息的中心:祈祷,悔改,罪人的皈依。

百多年后的今天,每年百万计的天主教信徒,为自己的心灵革新及病痛的治愈,而到此朝圣。

通常朝圣者会做的三件事:1。祈祷(包括诵念玫瑰经),2。领受和好圣事(告解)及圣体圣事,3。露德圣水浴及拜苦路。

露德还有着很多特点,其中:

1  1. 圣母显现的确实山洞存在。
2      2. 圣母吩咐伯尔纳德挖掘的泉水,今天还在不断的流淌。它为整个朝圣地提供饮用水及沐浴
      的水,从不乾固。很多信徒还把它以罐或塑胶桶装载回去(露德圣水)。

   朝圣者可以藉着山洞及泉水,回顾圣母显现的情景,感受到天主的临在。

3   3. 这里环境清幽,规划及管理良好,朝圣者身处于一个平安、和谐的气氛中,可以很投入的作祈祷及默想。

到了露德,每天都可以参加弥撒,各语言组的神父,在固定的时间里,欢迎朝圣者办告解(和好圣事)。

我最喜欢的是可以仿效伯尔纳德,在圣母山洞前诵念玫瑰经。

圣母山洞对面河岸,可以坐在舒服的板凳上,遥望圣母,淌淌河水,凉风习习,心旷神怡的诵念玫瑰经。三、五个小时,悄然而逝也不察觉。

在露德五天四夜里,我们总共参加了三晚的玫瑰经游行,情景严肃壮观,令我们毕生难忘。

法国圣母军在朝圣地附近有一间圣母军公所(Legion House),有团员驻守。它主要的目的是透过参于朝圣地各种活动如圣体降福病人游行,晚上玫瑰经烛光游行等,为圣母军作宣传。

我在那儿遇见了来自香港,刚到露德服务的陈瑞娟。她是受爱尔兰总部委任为“外展工作团员”,在2013年,到爱尔兰总部及荷兰服务半年。今年的五月,再次受委任,到爱尔兰都柏林及法国露德服务,机缘巧合之下,我们碰面了。

八月七日,在我到露德的前一天,她来到露德,作短暂的接触外展工作,两个星期后,再到回爱尔兰,然后在九月,陪同总部两位职员,回到香港,庆祝创军65周年。

露德是一个令人改变及皈依的地方。圣母透过圣女伯尔纳德传播的讯息,一定会感动人心。

我的生活也一定有所改变。

(更多照片Facebook)



The central message of the Apparition of Mary in Lourdes to St. Bernadette is : Prayer, repentance, conversion of sinners.

More than 150 years later, about 8 millions pilgrims annually came to Lourdes to pray for spiritual renewal and physical healing.

There are 3 things pilgrims would do: Prayer (including Rosary), Receiving Sacraments of Reconciliation (confession) and Holy Communion, Bath in Lourdes water and the Way of the Cross.

Besides,Lourdes has many unique characteristics, such as:

1. The cave of Mary's apparition still exists
2. Stream dug by St. Bernadette still flows and providing drinking and bathing water to the pilgrims in visiting the Sanctuary. Many brought home in containers Lourdes water believing in its healing power.
3. The sanctuary is a beautiful place, due to good management and planning, providing a peaceful and harmonious environment for the pilgrims to pray and meditate.

Everyday, one can attend Mass throughout the day. Priests of various languages ready to hear confession at fixed hours.

I liked most was to recite the Rosary at the Grotto as St. Bernadette did.

Across the river, directly opposite the Grotto, reciting Rosary on the wooden bench, with cool wind blowing and flowing waters, hours just passing through without one's notice.

During our 5 day-4 nights stay in Lourdes, we participated 3 nights of Rosary procession. It was a great and awesome experience.

French Legion of Mary manged a Legion House just outside the Sanctuary. we met a Hong Kong fellow Legionary Sally Chan who is an appointed Extension Worker by the Concilium (Legion HQ in Dublin).

She was sent to serve in Dublin and Holland for 6 months in 2013. This year, she was again called to Dublin and Lourdes, where we have the opportunity to meet her.

Lourdes is a place that changes life. The message conveyed by St. Bernadette sure to touch every heart.

My life is sure to change.

(More pictures in Facebook)


Monday, August 18, 2014

Resting in London 伦敦休息

For the last five days, we were resting in London.

After more than 3 weeks on the road, we arrived in London on 12/8.

We were staying in an apartment without wifi.

We are rather happy to be rested, without Facebook, Blogs and practically incommunicado in this age of internet.

On 17/8 afternoon, we flew back to Aberdeen for a two weeks stay before starting our 3 part of holidays.

Connected through airport wifi, I saw some friends already sent out "distress" call: "where are you? no news at all.."

Thanks you my friends.

More story follow later. 

(Facebook pictures 脸书照片)


过去的五天,我们在伦敦休息。

超过三个星期的路上奔波,我们在12/8 傍晚抵达伦敦。

我们进住在一间没有无线上网的公寓里。

我们也相当的高兴,可以休息,没有脸书,没有部落格,在现代网罗网际的时代,可以说是断绝音讯。

在机场上网的时候,看到一些关心的朋友,已经送出“紧急”讯息:你们在哪里?没有消息!

谢谢你们的关心。

17/8 下午,我们飞回阿伯丁,逗留两个星期,然后继续我第三段的假期行程。

容后详谈。

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Leaving Lourds 离开露德

We will be leaving Lourdes tomorrow by train for Paris by 6:00 am train. (Local time)

From Paris, we will take a connecting Eurostar to London. (Two hours)

Expected to travel on the whole day.

Mother Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us a safe and pleasant journey.

(Posting later)

(See Facebook照片

我们明天一早,就乘搭早上六点的火车,前往巴黎。

从巴黎,我们再转乘欧洲之星火车,前往伦敦。(两个小时)

明天一整天就在火车上。

圣母玛利亚,玫瑰之后,请为我们旅途安全祈求。

(贴文较后)

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Lourdes 露德


8/8/2014

After more than 6 hours of train ride, we arrived at Lourdes to a bright and hot afternoon at about 3 pm.

I was told it rained for the past days.

After checking into hotel which is near the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, we wasted no time to go out for our exploration of the most famous Marian shrine.

The Sanctuary is an area surrounding the site of Mary's Apparition to St. Bernadette in February 11, 1858. It consists of Grotto (the actual Apparition cave), Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Basilica of St. Pius X (under-ground), many chapels, Lourdes drinking water dispensing and bathing facilities, medical center and devotional facilities.

It is a world-wide Catholic pilgrimage destination.

In french, Lourdes is pronounced as Lu De, exactly like in Mandarin 露德。

It was our first time to Lourdes, knowing nothing much of where is what and what is where. After entering the sanctuary, we followed the crowd which led us to the Grotto, where Mary appeared to Bernadette took place.

The Grotto is duplicated and can be found in Catholic parishes throughout the world.

We recited Rosary ... that was what Bernadette did when she first saw Mary.

Later, we joined in the Eucharistic procession which was led by 2 bishops and many clergy. To our surprise, we saw a few members of Legion of Mary were also in the procession.

Procession ended with a Benediction at the underground Basilica of St. Pius X.

It was about 6:30 pm when dark clouds gathered. Heavy rain was imminent.

Crowd was dispersing fast, the sky looked menacing.

We did the same as the crowd --- run for home (hotel) .

The heavy rain came shortly. We were not able to attend the schduled Rosary procession at 9:00 pm.

On the second day, we continued our pilgrimage to the shrine.

We attended an Italian Mass celebrated by a group of Italian priests at the Grotto. 

After Rosary, we ventured out of the sanctuary to nearby shopping area. Shops after shops are selling religious articles, statues, Rosary ......

We went out of the beaten track, wondering into local market. We bought some fruits.

Attended our first English Sunset Mass at 6:15 pm.

Later in the evening, after dinner, we went back to the Sanctuary to participate in the Marian procession starts at 9:00 pm.

It was a beautiful candle lights procession with hymns and Rosary.

The night ended at about 10:15 pm.

(More pics in Facebook- Lourdes 1)

(More pics in Facebook- Lourdes 2) 

 


8/8/2014

经过六个多小时,火车终于抵达目的地 -  露德。

天气晴朗,非常的炎热。听说早几天,常常下雨。

进住了酒店,我们马上的前往我们向往已久的圣母玛利亚显现圣地,它离开酒店大约十分钟步行而已。

 露德圣母显现圣地(Sanctuary)占地非常的广,里面有三间大圣殿(Basilica)-- 第一间是圣母无染原罪圣殿,第二间的在它前方的玫瑰圣殿,过后因为朝圣者增加,就多建了一间地下的圣碧岳二世大殿。在大殿旁边,就是圣母显现原址山洞。其他还有圣水饮用及沐浴设备,好多间的小圣堂,医疗所等。

1858年2月11日,圣母在这里的山洞显现给一位小姑娘,名为伯尔纳德。圣母总共显现了十八次给伯尔纳德。

圣母显现的景观,被复制到全世界每个教堂里。

露德圣母显现圣地是世界著名的天主教徒朝圣地。

我们进入了朝圣地,第一件事情就是诵念玫瑰经,这也是伯尔纳德第一次见到圣母时即时所做的事。

过后,我们参加了为病人、伤残者所举行的圣体降福游戏。我很惊奇的发现圣母军也有代表参加这个游行,所以就加入了队伍。

这个有两位主教及多位神父领导的游行队伍,进入了地下的圣碧岳十世圣殿,并降福了全体在场者。

傍晚六点半,突然间天空黑云满布,看来大雨即将到来,所有的人都争先恐后的离开,我们也照样的往酒店回程跑。很快的大雨就倾盆而下。

我们不能参加晚上的烛光玫瑰经游行了。

第二天一早,我们来到了圣母山洞,参加了一台由多位来自意大利的神父主持的弥撒。

稍后,念完玫瑰经,我们就往外观光。我们自己慢慢的在市区溜达,到本地人的一个菜市场,买了一些本地水果 - 桃及蜜瓜。

傍晚六时十五份,参加了第一次英文弥撒。

晚餐后,我们回到朝圣地,参加晚上九时举行的圣母玫瑰经烛光游行。

玫瑰经与歌咏,伴着大约五千人的游行,非常的庄严与壮观。

游行在十点十五份左右结束。

 (照片Facebook 露德第 1 天)

(照片Facebook 露德第 2 天)