奉父、及子、及圣灵之名。 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
阿们。 Amen.
这是关于圣事系列讲道的第四部分。为此，我将继续 概述法兰克·希德的内容，今天的主题是坚振圣事。 This is the fourth part of a series of sermons on the sacraments, and to do this, I will be continuing to outline Frank Sheed, and today's subject is the Sacrament of Confirmation.
简要回顾上次内容：成义之恩是今生最重要的事，因为它对得救来说是绝对必要的。 A short review from the last time: Sanctifying grace is the single most important thing in this life because it is absolutely necessary for salvation.
没有成义之恩，我们无法过属灵的生活，也无法进入天堂，更不用说在那里生活了。 Without sanctifying grace, we cannot live a supernatural life, and we cannot get to heaven, let alone live there.
那么我们这周就从圣文生·费雷尔关于末世的一段话开始。他说：在世界末日 之前，革命与战争的荒凉之后将有一段和平时期，在那时，基督徒在信仰上将 变得极其松懈，以至于他们会拒绝坚振圣事，说这是一项不必要的圣事。 So let's begin this week with a quote from St. Vincent Ferrer concerning the end times, and he says the following: In the days of peace that are to come after the desolation of revolutions and wars before the end of the world, Christians will become so lax in their religion that they will refuse the Sacrament of Confirmation, saying that it is an unnecessary sacrament.
当假先知，也就是敌基督的先驱出现时，所有没有领受坚振的人都会 背教，而那些领受坚振的人将坚定信仰，只有极少数人会否认基督。 And when the false prophet, the precursor of the Antichrist, comes, all who are not confirmed will apostatize, while those who are confirmed will stand fast in their faith, and only a few will renounce Christ.
坚振圣事到底有多重要，竟让圣文生·费雷尔说，在末世，所有没有领受坚 振的人都会背教，而领受了的人将坚定信仰，只有极少数人会否认基督？ What is so important about Confirmation that made St. Vincent Ferrer say that at the end of time all who are not confirmed will apostatize while those who are confirmed will stand fast in their faith, but only a few will renounce Christ?
答案很简单：坚振圣事加强我们灵魂中的成义之恩，而在末世，情况将糟 糕到一个地步，我们若想得救，就必须拥有比单靠洗礼更强的属灵力量。 The answer is simple: Confirmation strengthens sanctifying grace in our soul, and at the end of time, things will be so bad that it will be necessary for us to have a stronger spiritual strength than just baptism if we wish to be saved.
这虽然令人恐惧，但对那些已经领受坚振的人来说也是一种安慰。 Now, this is frightening, but it is also comforting for those who have been confirmed.
记住我们在谈论什么：这是关于得救所绝对必要之物——成义之恩 的力量，而坚振圣事所做的正是加强我们在成义之恩中的力量。 Remember what we were talking about: Here is the strength of something that is absolutely necessary for salvation, which is sanctifying grace, and that's what Confirmation does; it strengthens us in sanctifying grace.
那么，这项圣事有哪些效果，使它在末世如此关键？ So what are the effects of this sacrament that make it so critical in the end times?
我们谈到了坚振圣事的加强力量，它通过以下几方面实现：它增加我们在洗礼 中所领受的成义之恩；它增强我们对神与邻人的爱；它启迪我们的理解力并坚 固我们的意志；它加强我们在恩赐与德行中的成长，使我们更蒙神悦纳。 We talked about the strengthening power of Confirmation, and that is what it does by doing the following things: It increases the sanctifying grace in us that we receive at baptism; it increases charity towards God and neighbor; it enlightens our understanding and strengthens our will; and it strengthens us in the gifts and the virtues and makes us more pleasing to God.
第一点：增加我们在洗礼中所领受的成义之恩。 The first: Increasing the sanctifying grace that we received at baptism.
洗礼带来灵魂的生命，而坚振圣事则加强灵魂，使我们成为战士，成为兵士。 Baptism brings life to the soul, but Confirmation strengthens the soul to make us warriors, to make us soldiers.
它帮助我们抵抗世俗之灵，而今天这股世俗之风如此 猖獗，以至于我们每天都难以不被其轰炸所影响。 It helps us to fight against the spirit of worldliness, which is so in our face today that it is hard to live from day to day without the daily bombardment.
如今，坚振圣事赐给我们力量去对抗这个日益强大 的敌人，战胜那试图败坏我们灵魂的世俗之灵。 Now, Confirmation gives us the strength to fight this growing enemy and defeat the spirit of the world that tries to corrupt our souls.
第二点，坚振圣事增强我们对神和邻人的爱。 Now, the second thing that Confirmation does is it increases charity towards God and our neighbors.
我们愿意彼此行善，是因为我们更渴望他人灵魂的得救，这也会使我们在待人接物上 更加温和与谦卑，因为我们关注的是他人灵魂的益处，而不是别人如何对待我们。 We wish to be of true and good to one another because we have a greater desire for the salvation of other souls, and this will make us more meek and humble in dealing with others because we are looking to the good of their souls and others rather than how we are being treated by others.
第三点，坚振圣事启迪我们的理解力，使我们更能认识信仰，理解现实。 The third thing that Confirmation does is it enlightens our understanding so that we can better know our faith and understand reality.
我们的信仰必须扎根于理解之中。 Our faith has to be entrenched in our understanding.
我们必须相信它，才能实践它，而这就引出下一点 ：坚振圣事坚固我们的意志，使我们能捍卫信仰。 We have to believe it so that we can practice it, and that gets to the next point: The Sacrament of Confirmation strengthens our will so that we can defend our faith.
我哥哥有个朋友，是海军陆战队的飞行员，他的绰号叫T-Bags，我来告诉你为什么。 There was a friend of my brother's one time who was a pilot in the Marine Corps, and his nickname was T-Bags, and I'll tell you why.
他常戴着棕色的圣衣牌，其他人看到后就开始嘲笑他，因为他所 在的飞行中队大多数是新教徒，他们不明白他为什么戴那个。 He used to wear his brown scapular, and the guys would see it, and they'd start to mock it because most of the people in his air wing were Protestant, and they didn't understand why he wore it.
他会向他们解释，但他们还是会嘲笑他，也嘲笑他的信仰。 But he'd explain it to them, but again they would mock him, and they would mock his faith.
有一天，他们在军队食堂——我们军中称为chow hall——站着时，他们开始嘲笑我们的蒙福圣母。 Now, one day they were standing in the chow hall—in the cafeteria, what we call the cafeteria in the military; it's called the chow hall—and they started mocking our Blessed Mother.
于是这位飞行员，这位陆战队员，忍无可忍了。 So this pilot, this Marine, had had enough.
他站到食堂的一张椅子上，说：「我要开始告诉你们关于我们的蒙 福圣母的事」，然后他开始给他们所有人讲解关于圣母的教义。 So he stood up on a chair in the chow hall and said, I will begin to tell you guys about our Blessed Mother, and he began to give all of them a lecture about our Blessed Mother.
他们明白了他的意思。 They got the message.
这就是坚振圣事的作用：它坚固我们的意志，使我们在 这种情境中能为信仰而战，站出来捍卫全能神的权利。 This is what Confirmation does: It strengthens our will so that when we are in these situations, we can fight for our faith, and we can stand up and do what is necessary to defend the rights of Almighty God.
但坚振圣事也加强我们在恩赐与德行中的成长，使我们更蒙神悦纳。 But Confirmation also strengthens us in the gifts and the virtues and makes us more pleasing to God.
它加强我们在圣灵的七恩中：虔诚、劝诫、刚毅、敬畏神、知识、智慧与聪明。 It strengthens us in the gifts of the Holy Spirit: piety, counsel, fortitude, fear of the Lord, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.
它也加强我们在德行中：信、望、爱三超德，以及明智、刚毅、公义、节制四枢德。 It also strengthens us in the virtues: the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity, and the cardinal virtues of prudence, fortitude, justice, and temperance.
这些灵魂的力量对我们得救至关重要，尤其是在我们今天所面临的道德危机中。 These powers of the soul are critical for us to save our souls, especially in this moral crisis which we are facing today.
但可惜的是，许多公教徒已经向我们周围的新异教世 界妥协，在言语、穿着与行为上都屈服于世俗之灵。 But unfortunately, many Catholics have surrendered to the neo-pagan world which surrounds us and have given in to the spirit of worldliness by ways of speaking, dressing, and acting.
这就是为什么圣文生·费雷尔会说，在末世，坚振圣事将成为我们得救所必需的。 This is why St. Vincent Ferrer said what he did about how Confirmation would become necessary for our salvation in the end times.
除此之外，我们也有义务领受坚振圣事。 Besides all of this, there is an obligation for us to be confirmed.
坚振圣事所赐的成义之恩是如此强大，以至于一个基督徒若 故意忽视如此重要的成义之恩的渠道，几乎无法免于罪责。 The sanctifying grace that Confirmation gives us is so powerful that the Christian who deliberately neglects so important a channel of sanctifying grace can hardly be excused from sin.
像其他圣事一样，坚振圣事本身是由我们的主所设立的。 Like every other sacrament, Confirmation itself was instituted by our Lord.
圣托马斯告诉我们，基督设立这项圣事，是根据圣约翰所记的应许 ：「我若不去，保惠师就不到你们这里来；我若去，就差他来。」 Now, St. Thomas tells us that Christ instituted this sacrament by promising it according to St. John when he said, For if I do not go, the Holy Ghost will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
所以我们的主必须离开这个世界，升到父那里，好差遣圣灵来。 So our Lord had to leave this world to ascend to the Father so that he could send the Holy Ghost.
那么，圣灵是什么时候被差遣的呢？ So when was the Holy Ghost sent?
在五旬节，圣灵降临在使徒们身上。 On Pentecost, the Holy Ghost came down upon the apostles.
我们现在可以看到这些使徒身上的变化。 Now we can see the effects on these apostles.
在五旬节之前，他们害怕，躲藏在楼房里。 Before Pentecost, they were afraid, and they were hiding in the upper room.
但之后，他们出来传道，最终都为信仰殉道，当然除 了圣约翰，他被投入沸油中却奇迹般地未被烧伤。 Then afterwards, they came out preaching and all going to their deaths through martyrdom, except of course St. John, who was thrown into boiling oil but was miraculously preserved.
那么，坚振圣事的 matter 和 form 是什么？ Now, what is the matter and form of the Sacrament of Confirmation?
正如我们之前所见，每个圣事都有 matter 和 form：mat ter 是圣事的物质或材料，form 是表达圣事中所发生的真实。 Now, as we have seen before, every sacrament has matter and form: matter, which is the material or the stuff of the sacrament, and the form, which expresses the reality of what is taking place in the sacrament.
首先，坚振圣事的 matter：材料是圣香油，以及主教所行的按手礼。 Now first, the matter of Confirmation: the material or the stuff is chrism oil along with the laying on of hands that the bishop does.
这圣香油是由橄榄油与香脂调制而成，香脂赋予其香气。 Now, this chrism oil is made of olive oil with balsam, which gives it fragrance.
圣托马斯告诉我们，圣香油象征良知的光辉，而香脂象征美名的馨香。 St. Thomas tells us that the chrism is the brightness of conscience, and the balsam is the odor of a good name.
至于坚振圣事的 form，即表达真实的部分 ，是按手、涂油与划十字圣号时所说的话语。 Now for the form of Confirmation, the expression of reality is the words along with the laying on of hands and oil and the sign of the cross.
然后主教说：「我以十字圣号给你画印，并以救恩 的圣香油坚振你，奉父、及子、及圣灵之名。」 And then the bishop says the words: I sign you with the sign of the cross, and I confirm you with the chrism of salvation in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
「我以十字圣号给你画印。」 I sign you with the sign of the cross.
十字架是救恩的标记。 The cross is the sign of salvation.
事实上，当君士坦丁出征时，我们的主在天上向他显现 十字架，并在十字架下写着：「靠此圣号，得胜。」 In fact, Constantine, when he was going off to war, our Lord showed him the cross in the sky, and under the cross were written the words, With this sign, conquer.
那么，谁是这项圣事的合法施行者？ Now, who is the proper minister of the sacrament?
坚振圣事的通常施行者唯有主教。 The ordinary minister of the Sacrament of Confirmation is the bishop alone.
《使徒行传》的见证告诉我们，只有主教施行坚振，这就是为什么只有主教是合法施行者。 Now, the testimony from the Acts of the Apostles tells us that only the bishops gave it out, and this is why the bishop is the only minister.
而非常施行者是由主教委派的祭司；也就是说，他被 主教赋予完全的权力，代表主教并拥有坚振的权柄。 Now, the extraordinary minister is the priest who is delegated by the bishop; that is, he has full power given to him by the bishop to represent him and the authority to confirm.
但在紧急情况下，祭司也可以施行坚振圣事。 But a priest can also do this in case of emergency.
但平信徒不能施行坚振圣事。 But the faithful cannot do the Sacrament of Confirmation.
在洗礼中，我们看到在紧急或严重需要的情况下，任何 人都可以成为施行者，但在坚振圣事中却不是这样。 In baptism, we saw that anyone could be a minister in the case of emergency or grave necessity, but this is not the case with Confirmation.
为什么？ Why?
因为洗礼对得救是绝对必要的，而坚振圣事并不是绝对必要的。 Because baptism is absolutely necessary for salvation, and Confirmation is not absolutely necessary for salvation.
那么，谁可以领受这项圣事？ Now, who can receive the sacrament?
任何尚未领受坚振的受洗者都可以领受这项圣事。 Any baptized person who has not been confirmed yet can receive the sacrament.
坚振圣事也像洗礼一样，在灵魂上印上一个印记。 Now, Confirmation also imprints a character just like baptism.
这是一个无人能抹去的不可磨灭的印记，因此它不能重复施行。 It is an indelible mark on the soul that no one can erase, and this is why it cannot be repeated.
任何人若明知而重复领受这项圣事，就是亵渎圣事的罪。 It is a sin of sacrilege for anyone to knowingly repeat the sacrament.
这个印记在永恒中永不消失。 Now, this mark will never be erased for all of eternity.
如果我们得以进入天堂，这印记将增加我们的喜乐，也增加神的荣耀。 So if we make it to heaven, it will add to our happiness, and it will add to the glory of God.
但如果我们没有得救，永远被定罪，那么这印记将成为我们的羞辱，魔 鬼也会因此嘲笑我们，因为我们被标记为属神的人，却没有与他同在。 But if we don't make it and we are eternally damned, then it will be the cause of our shame, and the devils will mock us because we are marked as one of God's, for we didn't end up with him.
我们来快速复习一下：成义之恩是今生最重要的必要之物。 So let's do a quick review: Sanctifying grace is the single most important thing necessary in this life.
成义之恩对得救是绝对必要的，因为没有它，我们无法进入天堂，甚至无法在那里生活。 Sanctifying grace is absolutely necessary for salvation because without it, we cannot get into heaven, or we cannot even live there.
坚振圣事通过增加我们灵魂中的成义之恩来加强我们，使我们成为基督的战士。 Confirmation strengthens us by increasing the sanctifying grace in our soul, and it makes us warriors for Christ.
坚振圣事增强我们对神与邻人的爱，启迪我们的理智，坚固我们的 意志，并加强我们在恩赐与德行中的成长，使我们更蒙神悦纳。 Confirmation increases charity towards God and neighbor, enlightens our intellect, strengthens our will, and it strengthens us in the gifts and the virtues and makes us more pleasing to God.
坚振圣事在我们灵魂上印上不可磨灭的十字圣号 ，这印记永不消失，靠此圣号，我们将得胜。 Confirmation imprints the indelible mark of the cross on our souls, which will never be erased, and by this sign, we shall conquer.
我们以一个关于坚振的简短故事作结。 So let's close with a short story about Confirmation.
背教者皇帝朱利安为了公开表示他已经背弃信仰、成为 异教徒，便下令在异教神庙中向偶像举行隆重的献祭。 The Emperor Julian the Apostate wanted to show publicly that he had renounced his faith and he was now a pagan, so he gave orders that a solemn sacrifice should be offered up to the heathen gods in a pagan temple.
他自己也身披荣耀、满带仪式地前往神庙。 Now he himself went to the temple in all his magnificent glory, with much pomp and ceremony.
当献祭正在进行时，祭司手中的刀突然纷纷掉落，祭坛上的火也立刻熄灭了。 Now while the sacrifice was being offered up, suddenly the knives for the sacrifice began to fall from the hands of the priests, and the fire of the altar was instantly extinguished.
在场的每一个人都知道发生了超自然的事。 Everyone there knew that something supernatural had taken place.
偶像的祭司察觉到原因，便大声喊道：「这里是否有 一位刚受洗、并以圣油和圣香油傅抹的基督徒？」 The high priest of the idols figured out what the cause of this was, and he cried out, Is there here present a Christian who has recently been baptized with water and anointed with oil and chrism?
这时，一位刚受洗并领受坚振的年轻人站起来说：「祭司啊，我就是那人，那位基督徒，我 所做的一切，只是划了十字圣号，并宣告耶稣的名字，就使你的偶像倾倒，使你蒙羞。」 Now just then, a young man who had been just baptized and confirmed rose up and said, O priest, I am that one, that Christian, and all that I had to do to overturn your idols and bring this disgrace upon you was to make the sign of the cross and to pronounce the name of Jesus.
这位曾是基督徒、了解我们信仰奥秘的皇帝，顿时惊恐万分，害怕 神的惩罚即将临到他身上，便慌乱地逃出神庙，一句话也没说。 The emperor, who at one time had been a Christian and knew the mysteries of our faith, was seized with such panic and fear that the vengeance of God was then about to fall upon him that he ran out of the temple in confusion without saying a word.
这位勇敢的耶稣基督的战士立刻去向信徒们讲述所发生的事。 This courageous soldier of Jesus Christ immediately went and told the faithful what had happened.
这就是圣灵的力量，藉着一位刚领受坚振、刚在灵魂上印 上十字圣号的人运行的力量——靠此圣号，他得胜了。 This is the power of the Holy Ghost working through someone who had just been confirmed, who had just had the indelible mark of the cross imprinted on his soul, the sign by which he conquered.