【鹽與光傳媒資訊】香港時間2025年5月24日下午3時，天主教香港教區於聖母無原罪主教座堂舉行「為中國教會祈禱日彌撒 」，由天主教香港教區主教周守仁樞機主禮。在彌撒講道中，周樞機指出：「為在國內的教會，不同地方的教會，不論是公開或地下的，因為不同的因素，處境也就不一樣。但他們各自心中的那份非一般的感受，我們只可以用心意及祈禱陪伴著他們。」

宗 1:12-14

若 19:25-27

主耶穌升天後，在那閣樓的房間陪同宗徒們一起祈禱和等待的是耶穌的母親瑪利亞和一些色括婦女的門徒。但是，聖神尚未降臨時的宗徒和門徒們還是恐懼迫害。同時亦不知他們的團體應該怎樣走下去，怎樣傳福音呢？所以，耶穌的母親選擇留下來陪伴她兒子的團體，相信她的臨在為他們會是重要的。正有「阿媽在大廳」的意義。

為在國內的教會，不同地方的教會，不論是公開或地下的，因為不同的因素，處境也就不一樣。但他們各自心中的那份非一般的感受，我們只可以用心意及祈禱陪伴著他們。

請大家不要以一竹篙打一船人，無論是公開或地下的。因為影響他們的因素只有他們才知道，只有上主才能鑒察他們的內心。並不會是某些報導或人士所說的就是事實的全部。也請不要太簡單地看待國內教會的情況。只有上主才能對人作判斷。「你們應當慈悲，就像你們的父那樣慈悲。你們不要判斷，你們就不受判斷；不要定罪，也就不被定罪」（路六：36-37）

我們可以相信無論是公開和地下的團體，大愛公義的天主也是和他們同在。聖父，聖子及聖神從來沒有離棄他們，而是在引導他們走向更大的自由、真理、安慰和光明的境界。同時，他們對聖三的開放和接受也是重要的。那是一個逾越的旅程，為他們是死而復活，以虛空自我的愛去服務，為主作見証。我們可以為他們在這方面多祈禱。

「中華聖母及瑪利亞進教之佑」也必定是在陪伴和安慰她兒子在國內的姊妹弟兄。願他們平安喜樂，也願他們共融合一。更願他們以共融的精神和行動為天主對中華兒女的大愛作見証，一起建設一個更具真、善、美、愛的中國！這是我們基督徒要活出的信德，望德及愛德。

我們也要祈禱和相信上主會用祂超越人類智慧的辦法去祝福祖國和國家的政府，讓中國能夠在當今的自私自利世界裡，成為一個活出更具真理、公義、不同實力，也能夠與這個世界同舟共濟，守望相助的真正大國。

+周守仁樞機

Imagine you are Mary. Yes, the mother of Jesus. How do you see your son hanging on the cross? What emotions well up in you and how do they hit you? But Jesus did not forget his widow mother even at his last breaths. He entrusted his mother to John, his beloved disciple. “Woman, behold, your son.” “ ‘Behold, your mother.’ And from that hour onward the disciple took her into his home.”

If we read today’s gospel passage from a theological angel, we can understand Jesus was making this “woman”, the new Eve, the mother of the faith community or the Church of the beloved John the Apostle. The Johannine Christianity was handed down to us in writing through the Gospel and the Letters of John. This early Church had the Mother of Jesus accompanying them during its post-Ascension inception period.

Similarly, what we have read from today’s passage in the Acts of the Apostles, we are informed of an early faith community living in fears that they could also be persecuted. There they “devoted themselves with one accord to prayer.” In this prayerful and synodal spirit they waited in faith, hope and love for the day when their community would be filled with the promised gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially the gifts of truth and consolation.

Again, the mother of Jesus was there, accompanying and praying with them. What more would she be afraid of losing? Nothing, after what had happened to her dear son. But what she would be aware of was that, these disciples of her son would appreciate her accompaniment and consolation. We believe that Our Lady of China and Mary Help of Christians has been with the People of God in China all the time. Praying for and assuring them with her maternal consolation.

+ Cardinal Stephen Chow