A Review of Eight Selected Dreams of Don Bosco
《聖若望・鮑思高八個精選夢境評析》
作者: 何家輝
出版者: 何家輝（澳門教區准印）
出版日期: 2025年9月
【中文介紹】
作品概述
何家輝神父的 "A Review of Eight Selected Dreams of Don Bosco"《聖若望・鮑思高八個精選夢境評析》深入分析了聖若望·鮑思高多個夢境所體現的靈性、神學及歷史意義。本書探討鮑思高神父的夢境如何成為天主智慧與指引的顯示，揭示其聖召、使命及與其接觸之人內心生活的真理。這些夢境提供了對天主透過非凡經歷傳遞啟示的洞察，展現了預言、個人啟示及故事敘述之間的豐富交融。
何神父以學術性視角，依據歷史紀錄、傳記敘述、鮑思高行實、證言及鮑思高神父本人的著作，重建了這些夢境的重要意義。通過聚焦於153個夢境記錄中的八個關鍵夢境，本書提供了專注而具深度的探討。
這些夢境以時間順序及主題方式進行分析，構建了一個有結構性的敘述，展示鮑思高神父的一生，包括他兒童時期的早期夢境以及在成年期引導其使命生涯的重大夢境。何神父的學術嚴謹與靈性深度反思令本書深入反思鮑思高神父使命及神恩。
結構與內容
本書分為十章，核心分析集中於鮑思高神父的八個重要夢境：
1. 初次奇夢（九歲或十歲，1824或1825年）： 在第2章中廣泛討論，奠定了鮑思高神父的生命方向及使命。該夢境揭示他的聖召，同時也展現了他擔憂。
2. 又一個夢（1844年）： 發生在人生重要階段的夢境，提供了他未來使命方向及面臨試煉的預示。
3. 在冷照的夢境（1876年）： 深具象徵意義的夢境，揭示善惡之間的靈性衝突，並突顯鮑思高神父作為牧者的角色。
4. 有關慈幼會未來聖召的夢境（1879年）： 描述了與慈幼會全球使命相關的預言願景及其使命的成果。
5. 在 San Benigno Canavese 的夢境（1881年）： 該夢境反映出鮑思高神父的牧養關懷及提醒慈幼會會士及青年人的生活行動。
6. Provera夢境（1883年）：生動且實用的夢境，給予鮑思高神父在艱難工作中的保障與希望。
7. 有關南美洲傳教使命的夢境（1883年）： 清晰的預言性夢境，強調慈幼會在南美洲傳教工作的神聖使命，並刻畫慈幼會向全球擴展的幅度。
8. 主的婢女之夢境（1887年）： 在鮑思高神父生命晚期呈現的靈性豐富及深刻的夢境，象徵其對天主及聖母持久的信任。
最後一章強調這些夢境的靈性意義，顯示鮑思高神父的信德互動及回應，從而強化慈幼會的使命。探索了服從天主旨意、師徒關係的重要性，以及鮑思高神父作為青少年牧者及教育者之角色。
方法論與貢獻
何神父的研究結合了靈修神學、歷史學及敘事分析以探討鮑思高神父的夢境。研究的主要來源包括鮑思高神父的著作、鮑思高行實及傳記證詞。特別值得一提的是，Michael Mendl 神父在序言中的觀察，將鮑思高神父的夢境納入聖經傳統背景中，並與經文中的偉大夢者進行比較。
何神父仔細檢視每一夢境的神學及牧民洞察。本書展現了預言性與牧民關懷之間的結合，強調天主的旨意如何通過夢境引導鮑思高神父個人及慈幼會，實踐照顧貧苦無告青年的使命。
作者也反思了夢境所伴隨的懷疑與深信，指出鮑思高神父早期對夢境的疑惑及在一些導師（如聖若瑟‧賈發束神父）指導下最終完全理解夢境的意義。這些論述幫助當代讀者理解鮑思高神父人性與靈性的成長。
批判性分析
優點：
1. 專注深入的探討： 聚焦於八個夢境使得本書在深度上有所提升，又避免了冗長描述153夢境的困擾。
2. 歷史嚴謹： 作者依賴鮑思高行實、鮑思高神父本人的著作及當代歷史記錄，確保了歷史準確性。
3. 跨領域洞察： 本書融合了神學、歷史及牧民反思，對學者及牧民工作者均具有啟發性。
4. 敘事吸引力： 每章精心構建，以生動故事呈現鮑思高神父的夢境，同時保留其靈性意義。
結論
本書通過深入的學術探討，揭示了鮑思高神父夢境如何推使他在信德上回應天主的召叫。本書不僅加深了人們對鮑思高神父神恩使命的理解，還鼓勵讀者深入探討在天主恩寵之下，人如何達致靈性及人性的成長，從而實踐聖召。
撰寫：何家輝神父
【英文介紹】
A Review of Eight Selected Dreams of Don Bosco
Author: Ho Ka Fai
Publisher: Ho Ka Fai
(Macau Diocese Imprimatur)
Date of Publication: September 2025
Overview of the Work
Fr. Ho Ka Fai’s A Review of Eight Selected Dreams of Don Bosco provides an in-depth analysis of selected dreams of St. John Bosco, connecting their spiritual, theological, and historical significance. The book explores Don Bosco’s dreams as moments of divine wisdom and guidance, revealing truths about his vocation, the future of his ministry, and the inner life of those who encountered him. These dreams offer insights into how God communicates through extraordinary experiences, offering a rich interplay of prophecy, personal revelation, and storytelling.
Fr. Ho's scholarly approach draws upon historical accounts, biographies, chronicles, testimonies, and Don Bosco's own writings to reconstruct the significance of these dreams. By focusing on eight key dreams from the vast corpus of 153 recorded dreams, the book provides a thoughtful and focused investigation.
The dreams are analyzed chronologically and thematically, offering a structured journey through Don Bosco’s life, from his early dreams as a child to those that guided pivotal moments in his ministry during adulthood. Fr. Ho’s intellectual rigor and spiritual depth make this book a valuable resource for understanding the prophetic dimension of Don Bosco’s life and his unique charism.
Structure and Content
The book is organized into ten chapters, with the core analysis focusing on eight significant dreams of Don Bosco:
1. The First Dream (age nine or ten, 1824 or 1825): This foundational dream is discussed extensively in Chapter 2, as it sets the course for Don Bosco’s life and mission. The dream reveals his divine calling while highlighting his initial skepticism.
2. Another Dream (1844): Occurring in a critical phase of his life, this dream provides a glimpse into his future work with youth and the trials he would face.
3. The Dream in Lanzo (1876): This dream is deeply symbolic, offering insight into the spiritual battle between good and evil and emphasizing Don Bosco’s role as a shepherd of souls.
4. The Dream about Future Salesian Vocations (1879): A prophetic vision concerning the growth of the Salesian order, highlighting its global mission and the fruits of his ministry.
5. The Dream in San Benigno Canavese (1881): This dream underscores Don Bosco’s pastoral care and his direct involvement in guiding his Salesians and the youth entrusted to them.
6. The Provera Dream (1883): A vivid and practical dream that provides reassurance to Don Bosco amidst challenges in expanding his work.
7. The Dream about the South America Missions (1883): A clear prophetic vision about the Salesians’ missionary work in South America, emphasizing divine providence in the expansion of the mission across continents.
8. The Dream of the Handmaid of the Lord (1887): A spiritually rich and profound dream near the end of Don Bosco’s life, symbolizing his enduring trust in God and the Blessed Virgin’s role in his ministry.
The final chapter emphasizes the spiritual significance of these dreams, framing them as moments of divine interaction and guidance. It explores recurring themes such as obedience to God’s will, the importance of mentorship, and Don Bosco’s role as a spiritual leader entrusted with prophecy.
Methodology and Contribution
Fr. Ho’s work combines spiritual theology, historiography, and narrative analysis to explore Don Bosco’s dreams. The sources for the research include Don Bosco’s own writings, the chronicles of early Salesians, and biographical testimonies. Of particular importance are Father Michael Mendl’s observations in the preface, which contextualize Don Bosco’s dreams in light of biblical tradition, comparing him to the great dreamers in Scripture.
Fr. Ho carefully examines each dream for its theological and pastoral insights. Through these dreams, the book showcases the interplay between prophecy and pastoral care, highlighting how divine revelation through dreams guided both Don Bosco personally and the Salesian movement collectively.
The author addresses both the skepticism and the profound faith surrounding dreams, acknowledging Don Bosco’s initial doubts and ultimately the full realization of their meaning under the guidance of mentors such as St. Joseph Cafasso. This treatment helps modern readers appreciate the tension between the human and divine elements of Don Bosco’s dreams.
Critical Analysis
Strengths:
1. Focused Analysis: By narrowing the scope to eight dreams, the book provides depth without overwhelming readers with excessive detail from the 153 known dreams.
2. Historical Rigor: Fr. Ho utilizes reliable primary sources such as the memoirs of early Salesians, Don Bosco’s own writings, and contemporary chronicles, ensuring historical accuracy.
3. Interdisciplinary Insight: The book merges theology, history, and pastoral reflection, making it relevant for scholars and spiritual practitioners alike.
4. Narrative Appeal: Each chapter is carefully crafted to present Don Bosco’s dreams as captivating stories while preserving their spiritual significance.
Conclusion
Fr. Ho Ka Fai’s A Review of Eight Selected Dreams of Don Bosco offers an insightful and scholarly exploration of Don Bosco’s dreams, illuminating their significance as moments of divine revelation and guidance. The book not only deepens our understanding of Don Bosco’s prophetic charism but also challenges readers to explore the role of divine wisdom in shaping individual and collective vocations.
This work serves as a valuable resource for theologians, historians, spiritual directors, and anyone interested in learning from Don Bosco’s unique spiritual legacy. While its academic tone might be demanding for some readers, those willing to engage deeply with its content will find profound lessons in faith, obedience, and prophetic vision.
Written by:
Fr. Albert Ho Ka Fai
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