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Kiven S. Choy 蔡少琪

撮要

奧古斯丁在《懺悔錄》第十章中關於「記憶」的默想被一些學者認為是離題的插曲。但奥古斯丁自己卻聲明這默想是要介紹他現在作為主教的屬靈提升狀況，是前九章和最後三章的重要連貫點。在深入探討第十章的講論以後，本文作者指出第十章是《懺悔錄》整體計劃中重要的一環。藉對「記憶」的默想，奧古斯丁向他的會眾顯露他屬靈提升的光景和秘訣。他要教導他的會眾，神是屬靈的。並且，當神創造我們的時候，祂已經將祂的樣式和名字刻在我們心靈中。雖然因為墮落犯罪，我們不敏銳於我們記憶深處的這個印記。正因為這印記，我們若不能尋找到神，心靈就不能得到真正的安息和喜樂。「記憶」的默想是主教奧古斯丁為他的會眾所寫的回憶、見證、懺悔、讚美、教導和禱告。

ABSTRACT

Augustine’s meditation on “memory” in Book X of his Confessions is regarded by some scholars as an excursus. But Augustine himself mentions that this refers to his spiritual ascent as a Bishop, and it is a key connecting point between the first nine books and the last three books of his Confessions. After reading the texts of Book X closely, the author of this article points out that Book X is an essential part of Confessions. Through the meditation exercise of “memory”, Bishop Augustine reveals to his congregation the state of his present spiritual pursuit. The meditation on “memory” is the experience, the witness, the confession, the praise, the teaching and the prayer of Bishop Augustine for his congregation.

原載於《教牧期刊》第8期及《建道學刊》第13期合刊（1999年12月），頁153-168。