為教會祈禱

最近幾週，我們的教宗本篤十六世，正經歷著不尋常的考驗。

他在三月十七日，出訪非洲的航機途中，曾接受記者的採訪。而最受大眾注意的，則是以下這段關於控制愛滋病蔓延問題上的談話：

Father Lombardi:

And now, we again give the word to a French voice: It is our colleague Philippe Visseyrias of France 2.

Visseyrias:

Holiness, among the many evils that scourge Africa, there is also and in particular that of the spread of AIDS. The position of the Catholic Church on the way to fight against this is often regarded as unrealistic and ineffective. Will you address this topic during the trip? Very Holy Father, would it be possible for you to answer this question in French?

Benedict XVI:

I would say the contrary. I think that the most efficient reality, the most present at the front of the struggle against AIDS, is precisely the Catholic Church, with her movements, with her various organizations. I am thinking of the Sant'Egidio Community that does so much, visibly and also invisibly, for the struggle against AIDS, of the Camilliani, of all the sisters who are at the disposition of the sick.

I would say that this problem of AIDS can't be overcome only with publicity slogans. If there is not the soul, if the Africans are not helped, the scourge can't be resolved with the distribution of condoms: on the contrary, there is a risk of increasing the problem. The solution can only be found in a double commitment: first, a humanization of sexuality, that is, a spiritual and human renewal that brings with it a new way of behaving with one another; and second, a true friendship, also and above all for those who suffer, the willingness -- even with sacrifice and self-denial -- to be with the suffering. And these are the factors that help and that lead to visible progress.

Because of this, I would say that this, our double effort to renew man interiorly, to give spiritual and human strength for correct behavior with regard to one's body and that of another, and this capacity to suffer with those who suffer, to remain present in situations of trial. It seems to me that this is the correct answer, and the Church does this and thus offers a very great and important contribution. We thank all those who do this.

教宗自己的說話，其實是十分中肯和有道理的。他所指出的是，愛滋病給非洲所帶來的困擾和問題，不可單就「肉體」和「物質」的幅度和層面上，獲得有效解決。我們都知道，性接觸是愛滋病傳播的主要途徑－－但人類的性行為不只是「動物」行為，而是自決進行的活動。所謂「安全」的安全套，相較染病所帶來的風險，其實亦並不怎麼安全。正有如俗語有云：「上得山多終遇虎」。

將安全套視為社會預防愛滋病的主要辦法，骨子裡其實就是肯定民眾缺乏「自制」的能力。當人們力竭聲嘶地，對教宗的言詞盡情唾罵時，實際上亦同時是否認著人類自己，能夠認真、負責任和忠信地看待和處理自己的「性慾」。再沒有比這更大的對人性的侮辱了。真是吊詭得很呢！

話說回來，最近幾天小弟翻看禮儀改革前後的聖週禮儀，赫然發現原來在「古老」版本中，以前人們是這樣為教會祈禱的：

Orémus, dilectíssimi nobis, pro Ecclésia sancta Dei: ut eam Deus et Dóminus noster pacificáre, adunáre, et custodíre dignétur toto orbe terrárum: subjíciens ei principátus, et potestátes: detque nobis quiétam et tranquíllam vitam degéntibus, glorificáre Deum Patrem omnipoténtem.

直譯：

親愛的諸位，願我們為天主的聖教會祈禱－－願我們的主、天主使她得享太平、團結合一、並在全球各地守護她，又使身處高位和有權勢者順從她。求主亦賜我們能安度平靜的生活，以光榮全能的天主父。

當中「subjíciens ei principátus, et potestátes」一語，最為觸動我的心靈。

這句禱文所求的，其實是包括政府、政治和經濟制度、甚至傳媒生態和社會風氣，都能皈依救主的福音，並服膺於慈母聖教會的牧養和教導。