LETTER VII.

第七封信

To the same.

同上

To the Reverend Father in Christ, Brother Elias, Vicar-General of the whole Order, Brother Francis, greeting in the Lord.

致基督内尊敬的神父，埃里亚斯兄弟，整个修会副总会长，方济各兄弟在此致以主内的问候。

 I recommend much to thee, Brother Elias, in all that thou doest great charity and patience; thou must be prepared to suffer much, for the burden laid upon thee is great and heavy, namely, many souls. In the old law, the High Priest bore suspended from his shoulders, and hanging on his breast, the rational of judgment, on which were engraved the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, signifying that as Supe¬riors have to bear their subjects on their shoulders, they must also bear them on their breast, for they cannot bear them if they cease to love them. Our Lord Jesus Christ, before making St. Peter the head of His Church, and giving him the care of His sheep, questioned him as to his love. Take care then that no brother should sin, but if anyone should fall into sin, let him not depart from thee without correction and pardon; and as thou art a physician, offer medicine to the sick man, because, as Our Lord says : c They that are well need not a physician, but they that are sick.' Watch, admonish, labour, feed, love, wait, and fear. Farewell in the Lord.

我给你的建议太多了，埃里亚斯兄弟，在一切事务上你都怀着仁爱与忍耐，你必须准备好遭受更多苦难，因为你的担子是巨大而沉重的，也就是说，很多人的灵魂。在旧约法律中，大祭司厌烦在肩上和胸前悬挂东西，审判的胸牌，那上面刻着以色列十二支派的名字，说明宗教领袖必须在他们肩上和胸膛上承担他们的人民，如果他们不爱他们的人民，他们将不能承受这些。我们的天主耶稣基督在立圣伯多禄做祂教会的牧首，并委托他照看自己的羊群之前，曾问过他是否爱祂。经由照顾之后应该没有兄弟会犯罪，但是如果有谁陷入罪恶中了，在没有纠正他们的行为并给予他们宽赦之前不要让他们离去，就像医生给病人药物一样，因为我主曾说过：“不是健康的人需要医生，而是有病的人。”（路：5：31）看护、劝诫、劳作、喂养、爱、等待和敬畏。主内再见。

（注：在《圣经》旧约历史中，以色列大司祭会穿戴一种叫“breastplate of judgment”的胸牌，见（出谷纪：28：6-30，出谷纪：39：1-21））