2014 倫敦隨筆（6) 古老的教堂

在倫敦，霹靂貓去探訪了不同的教堂：到聖保羅教堂參加了晚間崇拜，到劍橋大學的官方教堂，大聖瑪麗教堂，參加了主日崇拜，到國王學院禮拜堂參加下午崇拜，還有到西敏寺教堂參加了主日崇拜，晚間崇拜，和一年一度的禱告日。

1-聖保羅大教堂（St. Paul's Cathedral）是英國最大的教堂，也是世界第二大圓頂教堂，僅次於梵蒂岡的聖彼得大教堂。聖保羅教堂的晚間崇拜是Thomas Cranmer 大主教首先開始的；是一個從十五世紀開始持續至今全年都有的晚間崇拜活動。

聖保羅大教堂的穹頂：在耳語廊照了這張照片後，看到不許拍照的提示 :(


登到塔頂俯瞰倫敦城：






2-在劍橋，霹靂貓參加了大聖瑪麗教堂的主日崇拜和國王學院禮拜堂的下午崇拜。主日講道的內容是關於謙卑和聆聽。霹靂貓再一次認識到要在神的麵前和人的麵前謙卑下來，要安靜的思考，要多聽，少說，要記住基督耶穌與我們同在並保守我們每一天的工作和生活。霹靂貓慕名參加國王學院教堂的下午崇拜是因為要聽教堂詩班的演唱。國王學院詩班的聖誕節演唱，每年都通過無線電和電視向全世界廣播。大聖瑪麗教堂和國王學院禮拜堂都不允許照相，在劍橋的遊記中會放些外景照片。

3-西敏寺教堂:




1045年英格蘭國王“懺悔者”愛德華答應教皇去聖地朝聖卻沒有去，為了“贖罪”，他應教皇要求在此興建新的教堂獻給聖彼得， 教堂建成後不久，愛德華就去世了。因為對基督教信仰有無比的虔誠，愛德華被稱作懺悔者，並在1161年被封聖。十月十八日是紀念愛德華的朝聖禱告日。下麵是從西敏寺網站的轉載：

St Edward the Confessor National Pilgrimage Saturday 18 October 2014 from 9.00 am

The annual pilgrimage day offers a unique opportunity to visit the Abbey along with other pilgrims to experience its beauty and space in a prayerful atmosphere. Most importantly, all our pilgrims will have the opportunity to pray at the Shrine of St Edward - the only shrine in this country which still contains the body of the saint.

All our pilgrims are offered a prayer tour which takes them into every part of the Abbey, its precincts and gardens - so you will see the stunning Lady Chapel, the Royal Tombs, Poet's Corner, the Chapter House, the Museum and the College Garden which now has a special herb garden where you can sit on a Camomile bench and take in the fragrant scents of the herbs and flowers. Activities for children will be offered in the Education Centre and around the Abbey and its precincts. School groups are very welcome.

During the course of the day priests will be on duty for individual spiritual counselling and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In addition there will be regular opportunities to renew Baptism Promises and to participate in Healing Liturgies with the Laying on of Hands and Anointing, a lecture will be given on the life of St Edward, and walking pilgrims will be welcomed with a foot washing rite.

霹靂貓有幸參加了這個活動。伴隨著每一個腳步，霹靂貓都在禱告，感恩，並經曆著神與她的同在。霹靂貓在西敏寺度過了平靜，充實，而美好的一天。









這幾個教堂建築設計優雅、完美，內部靜謐、安詳。 會眾們以音樂，詩歌，和禱告來敬拜神。聽著優美的的管風琴，唱著聖歌，感到異常的平靜和滿足。