【慈幼通訊社
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2015
年
12
月
09
日梵蒂岡訊】
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本年12月8日，聖母無玷始胎瞻禮，教宗方濟各以簡樸及歷史性的的姿態，開啟聖伯多祿大殿的聖門。教宗在較早前主持的彌撒講道中，表示「我們必須把慈悲置於審判之先，古往今來，天主總是按祂的慈悲施行審判。」
by Gian Francesco Romano
早上11時過後不久，教宗以及參與共祭的神職人員，離開聖伯多祿廣場的聖堂庭院，並去到聖門前。教宗在推開兩扇聖門之前，根據禮節說：「這是上主的門。請給我敞開正義之門。」接著，他跨越門檻後說：「請給我敞開啟正義之門。因你的悲慈，我要進入你的居所。」
跟隨著教宗方濟各的，有榮休教宗本篤十六世，以及一眾在場的樞機、主教及宗教管理人員。禧年朝聖之旅就此展開，並在當日繼續下去，直至2016年11月20日基督君王節。
較早前的聖母無玷始胎瞻禮，參禮者估計約有70,000人，並透過電視轉播世界各地。大禮彌撒莊嚴肅穆，以教宗方濟各一貫的風格進行。
教宗在講道中，帶出很多與當天有關事件的思想：首先，當天是聖母的瞻禮，她全然向恩寵開放，能「成就大事，改變人類的歷史」。當天也是梵蒂岡第二次大公會議結束50周年，因此教宗也提及這大公會議給我們留下的瑰寶。教宗說：「我們紀念這個重要日子，不僅只著眼於其發表的豐富文件，直至今天這些文件提供標準驗證我們信仰上所作出的巨大進步；但這大公會議主要是一個會面，是教會與我們時代的人一個真實的接觸。」
然而，教宗的反省仍聚焦於天主的慈悲，這是當天的重點，別無其他。教宗解釋聖年是恩寵的施予，進入聖門表示「發現天主的慈悲何等深厚，祂接納每一個人，親自與每個人相會。」
天主的慈悲置於審判之先，而禧年讓人們感受到祂的愛與溫良的奧秘。教宗的信息是：「讓我們放下一切恐慌畏懼，因為這與天主所愛的人是不相合的。反之，恩寵能轉化一切，讓我們在這份恩寵的喜樂中生活。」
Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy: "Mercy before Judgment"
(ANS - Vatican –Vatican, 09 December 2015) – Yesterday, 8 December, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, in a gesture both simple and historic, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. "We must put Mercy before judgment, and in any case, God's judgment will always be in the light of his mercy," the Pope said in the homily of the Mass celebrated earlier.
by Gian Francesco Romano
It was just after 11.00 a.m. when the Pontiff, last of all the concelebrants of the Mass, left the churchyard of St. Peter's Square and went in front of the Holy Door. "This is the gate of the Lord. Open to me the gates of righteousness," the Pope said, according to the rite, before throwing open the double doors. Then, after crossing the threshold, he added: "Open to me the gates of righteousness. Through your mercy, I will come into your house. "
After Pope Francis came the Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI followed by the cardinals, bishops and religious authorities present. This is how the Jubilee pilgrimage started. It continued throughout the day yesterday and will continue until 20 November 2016, Feast of Christ the King.
Previously, the Liturgy of the Eucharist for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception had been celebrated before an estimated crowd of about 70,000 faithful, and before the TV cameras of the world. The celebration was sober and recollected, in keeping with the style of Pope Francis.
Many ideas emerged in the homily, in view of the multiple occurrences of the day: first, the reference to Mary, the one who was fully open to Grace, and was "capable of accomplishing an act so great as to change the history of mankind". There was also reference to the legacy of the Second Vatican Council - yesterday was the 50th anniversary of its conclusion. "This deadline should not be remembered only for the wealth of the documents produced, which to this day provide a check on the great progress accomplished in the faith,” the Pope said. “The Council was first of all a meeting, a real encounter between the Church and the people of our time."
However, the mercy of God was the focus of the papal reflection, and it could not have been otherwise, given the day. The Pope explained that the Holy Year is a gift of grace, and that entering the Holy Door means "discovering the depth of the mercy of God that welcomes all and goes to meet each one in person."
The mercy of God comes before judgement and the Jubilee serves to enable humanity to perceive this mystery of love and tenderness. The Pope’s message was: "Let us abandon all forms of fear and dread, because they do not befit one who is loved. Rather, let us live in the joy of the grace that transforms everything."