星期六, 5月 28, 2011

single point of failure

我把玩他的車匙:「怎麼有三條匙這麼多的呢?」

他定睛在看電視,口裡隨意說:「spare 吖嘛另外果兩條。」

" oh you are turning something spare into a single point of failure."

星期五, 5月 06, 2011

主禮:因父、及子、及聖神之名。
 眾:亞孟。
主禮:天主父從死者中復活了耶穌基督,願他的恩寵及平安常與你們同在。
 眾:也與你的心靈同在。
主禮:各位親友,我們的弟兄/姊妹(某某)曾接受水和聖神的洗禮,又在感恩禮中得到聖言的教導,和基督聖體聖血的滋養。我們知道,世上的感恩禮原是天國盛宴的預像。我們在這感恩禮中,聯同整個教會,紀念基督耶穌帶領我們由死亡進入永生的奧蹟,並祈求天主垂顧(某某)弟兄/姊妹,恩賜他在天上參與天國的盛宴。現在我們懷著信心,向主基督呼求。

垂憐經
主禮:主基督,你是羊群的善牧,你引導亡者到達永生的居處。求你垂憐。
 眾:上主,求你垂憐。
主禮:主基督,你藉十字架與人修好,你使亡者擺脫一切罪過的桎梏。求你垂憐。
 眾:上主,求你垂憐。
主禮:主基督,你已從死亡中進入復活的永生,你把同樣的恩寵賜與亡者。求你垂憐。
 眾:上主,求你垂憐。

集禱經
主禮:請大家祈禱:(默禱片刻)
全能的天父,在你內,亡者得到生命,聖者得到圓滿的喜樂。求你俯聽我們為你僕人(某某)所作的祈禱,他已不再依戀繁華繽紛的塵世。求你收納他進入天上的聖城,得見你慈顏的榮耀,並在來日使我們在天鄉重逢。因我們的主耶穌基督,你的聖子,他和你及聖神,是唯一天主,永生永王。
 眾:亞孟。

聖道禮
(讀經、答唱詠、福音及信友禱文可視情況而定。請參閱各式守靈祈禱、出殯祈禱,和聖道禮範例)
(講道後,可按情況舉行「追悼儀式」)

呈奉麵餅
主禮:上主,萬有的天主,你賜給我們食糧,我們讚美你;我們將這麥麵餅,呈獻給你,這是大地的產物,也是人類勞動的成果,願它成為我們的生命之糧。
 眾:願天主永受讚美!

呈奉葡萄酒
主禮:上主,萬有的天主,你賜給我們飲品,我們讚美你;我們將這葡萄酒,呈獻給你,這是大地的產物,也是人類勞動的成果,願它成為我們的精神飲品。
 眾:願天主永受讚美!
主禮:各位兄弟姊妹,請你們祈禱,望全能的天主聖父,收納我和你們共同奉獻的聖祭。
 眾:望上主從你的手中,收納這個聖祭,為讚美並光榮他的聖名,也為我們和他整個聖教會的益處。

獻禮經
主禮:全能的天主,基督在十字架上奉獻自己,救贖了我們,求你垂視(某某)弟兄/姊妹,他既在生前決心追隨基督,願他藉此獻禮,如願以償,獲得永遠與基督結合的保證。因主耶穌基督之名,求你俯聽我們的祈禱。
 眾:亞孟。

感恩經
主禮:願主與你們同在。
 眾:也與你的心靈同在。
主禮:請舉心向上。
 眾:我們全心歸向上主。
主禮:請眾感謝主、我們的天主。
 眾:這是理所當然的。
主禮:主,聖父、全能永生的天主,我們時時處處感謝你,實在是理所當然的,並有助我們獲得救恩。
你的聖子由死者中復活,帶給我們新的希望;他賜給我們永生的許諾,驅逐因死亡而來的哀痛與失望。天主,為信仰你的人,生命只是改變,並非毀滅,當我們世上的寓所拆除後,你又賜給我們天上永恆的居所。
為此,我們隨同天使,總領天使,以及天上所有聖人聖女,歌頌你的光榮,不停地歡呼:
全體:聖、聖、聖、上主、萬有的天主,你的光榮充滿天地。歡呼之聲,響徹雲霄。奉上主名而來的,當受讚美。歡呼之聲,響徹雲霄。

主禮:上主,你實在是神聖的,你是一切聖德的根源。因此,我們求你派遣聖神,聖化這些禮品,使成為我們的主耶穌基督的聖體聖血。
主禮:他甘願捨身受難時,拿起麵餅,感謝了你,把麵餅分開,交給他的門徒說:

你們大家拿去吃:
這就是我的身體,
將為你們而犧牲。

晚餐後,他同樣拿起杯來,又感謝了你,交給他的門徒說:

你們大家拿去喝:
這一杯就是我的血,
新而永久的盟約之血,
將為你們和眾人傾流,
以赦免罪惡。
你們要這樣做,來紀念我。

主禮:信德的奧蹟:
 眾:主,我們傳報你的聖死,歌頌你的復活,期待你光榮地再來。
主禮:上主,因此我們紀念基督的聖死與復活,向你奉獻生命之糧、救恩之杯,感謝你使我們得在你台前,事奉你。
我們懇求你,使我們在分享基督的聖體聖血之後,因聖神合而為一。

上主,求你垂念普世的教會,使你的子民和我們的教宗(某某)、我們的主教(某某),以及全體聖職人員,都在愛德中,日趨完善。

求你垂念我們的弟兄/姊妹(某某),你(今天)從人世將他召回。他已藉著聖洗與基督同死,求你也使他和基督一樣地復活。

求你垂念懷著復活的希望而安息的弟兄姊妹;並求你垂念所有去世的人,使他們享見你光輝的聖容。

求你垂憐我們眾人,使我們得與天主之母童貞榮福瑪利亞、諸聖宗徒,以及歷代你所喜愛的聖人聖女,共享永生;並使我們藉著你的聖子耶穌基督,讚美你、顯揚你。

全能的天主聖父,願一切崇敬和榮耀,藉著基督,偕同基督,在基督內,並在聖神的團結中,都歸於你,直到永遠。
 眾:亞孟。

天主經
主禮:我們既遵從救主的訓示,又承受他的教導,才敢說:

全體:我們的天父,願你的名受顯揚;願你的國來臨;願你的旨意奉行在人間,如同在天上。求你今天賞給我們日用的食糧;求你寬恕我們的罪過,如同我們寬恕別人一樣;不要讓我們陷於誘惑,但救我們免於凶惡。
主禮:上主,求你拯救我們免於一切凶惡,恩賜我們今世平安,使我們仰賴你的仁慈,永久脫免罪惡,並在一切困擾中,安然無恙,虔誠期待永生的幸福和救主耶穌基督的來臨。
 眾:天下萬國,普世權威,一切榮耀,永歸於你。

平安經
主禮:主耶穌基督,你曾對宗徒們說:「我將平安留給你們,將我的平安賞給你們。」求你不要看我們的罪過,但看你教會的信德,並按照你的聖意,使教會安定團結。你是天主,永生永王。
 眾:亞孟。
主禮:願主的平安常與你們同在。
 眾:也與你的心靈同在。
主禮:請大家互祝平安。

羔羊頌
全體:除免世罪的天主羔羊,求你賜給他們安息。
除免世罪的天主羔羊,求你賜給他們安息。
除免世罪的天主羔羊,求你賜給他們永遠的安息。

領聖體
主禮:請看天主的羔羊;請看除免世罪者。被邀請來赴聖宴的人是有福的。
全體:主,我當不起你到我心裏來,只要你說一句話,我的靈魂就會痊癒。

領主後經
主禮:上主天主,我們為所領受的天上食糧而感謝你。你既恩賜我們藉這生命之糧而與基督結合,求你使我們與(某某)弟兄/姊妹一同蒙受你聖子的救贖,今世生活在基督內,來日與基督和眾聖者一起,永遠在天國的喜樂中生活。因主耶穌基督之名,求你俯聽我們的祈禱。
 眾:亞孟。


禮成祝福∗
主禮:各位兄弟姊妹,天主的愛超乎人的想像。他創造了人類,又藉聖子基督賜給我們永生的希望。願天主聖父賞賜亡者永享真福,並振作你們的信德,幫助你們善盡本分,繼續世上的生活。
 眾:亞孟。
主禮:願善牧基督引領亡者安抵天鄉,也幫助你們擺脫俗世的羈絆。
 眾:亞孟。
主禮:天主聖神既使亡者獲得復活的保證。願聖神也幫助你們在他的慈愛中生活,彼此扶持,期待來日的重逢。
 眾:亞孟。
主禮:願全能的天主,聖父、聖子、聖神降福你們。
 眾:亞孟。
主禮:彌撒禮成。
 眾:感謝天主。

追悼儀式
(可視情況於講道後,或降福前舉行)
(主禮及親屬可到遺照〔亡者紀念台〕前獻花)
主禮:(某某)弟兄/姊妹:我們紀念你在我們中間的情誼,尤其基督鍾愛了你,召喚你跟隨他,願你現在歡喜地到主台前,參與天國永恆的聖宴,期待來日的重逢。
(主禮及親屬奉香)
主禮:(某某)弟兄/姊妹:你是天主所愛的,我們向你奉香,因為天父創造了你,聖子基督救贖了你,聖神曾以你的身體為居所;願你的善行,伴隨著你,猶如馨香,蒙主悅納;願你的身體,在基督再來時,復活起來,進入永生。

A Letter from the West about the Past

Sonia,

I’m saddened to hear the news of your father’s passing.


Your father was a good man. I will miss him. Although I didn’t get to talk to him the other day, I’m glad that I was able to see a glimpse of him via the computer video.


From as far as I can remember, your father was with my family. I don’t know how I come into possession of it but I have one very old photo of him taken on the roof of the building (at Cheung Sha Wan Rd.) where I and my brothers and sisters grew up as children. In the photo was your father, my older sister, older brother, Memfus and I. Memfus was sitting in a tricycle and your father was squatting down with one hand on my shoulder and the other on the tricycle. I was probably 4 years old. He was a handsome young man probably in his mid-20s. He was like an older brother or a young uncle to me. We’ve always addressed him as brother Chiu.


When I was young, my family used to have outings at certain festivals…not very often as the factory stayed open nearly every day of the year. I do remember that for Dragon Boat Festival we used to go to some fishing village in NT to watch dragon boat races and have hot spicy sea food (clams, shrimps, crabs, etc.); it was an all-day affair. Your father was a good swimmer and he would always have a good time swimming during these outings. As a young boy, naturally I was very impressed by that.


He was a very good fisherman as well. On many occasions, he would take me and Memfus fishing and show us how to tie hooks and all the little intricacies with fishing. I remember that he would always catch fish. In those days, my father was always too busy with his business and had little play time for us so I was fortunate to have your father to fill in some of these gaps. From what I learned from your father about fishing, I’ve taught my sons how to fish when they were young. As I mentioned before, your father introduced me to swimming: how to tread water, swim on my back, on my side, etc. I don’t know how he learned to swim but he was very good at it.


He loved the outdoors and nature. At one time, he kept quite a large number of pigeons (20 to 30) on the roof at Apliu Street. He was very good at it: he built a nice cage for them with little partitions for them to lay eggs and so on. He would feed them, wash and clean the cage, let pigeons out every day. It was fascinating and a never ending source of entertainment for us children watching these pigeons. On top of that, we would have pigeons for dinner every now and then.

There are a few other things about your father that came to mind: he was from a different part of Kwangtung province, therefore, he used to speak Cantonese with a funny and cute accent though I think he had probably lost most of his accent over the years. His craft was in making ivory balls and he was very good at that. I remember spending hours watching him work those ivory balls and make intricate layers out of a solid piece of ivory. He was also a very handy person and was good at figuring out how things work and how to fix things. He loved to tinker with electrical and mechanical things when he wasn’t working with ivory. Like most people in those days, he smoked but I don’t remember him as a heavy smoker.

He enjoyed alcohol every now and then but never drank irresponsibly. One could always tell when he had had alcohol because his face would turn red and he would be much more talkative. For a few years, my father used to hold a banquet on his birthday. It was really an occasion for the factory to get some time off and have some fun. I remember your father along with my uncle would get into some of those wild drinking contests…lots of laughs; we children would have a really good laugh about these silly grown adults.

He didn’t gamble much and he had absolutely no interest in mahjong at all, which was rather unusual as just about everyone played mahjong in those days. He would go home to mainland China every so often to visit his family. In those days, traveling to China was not a simple thing like today. I do remember that it was during one of these trips that your father got married and years later he brought your mother to Hong Kong.

I left Hong Kong in 1973 and was busy with my life so there’s a long time when I was really out of touch with your father. Although we have spoken on the phone a few times around Chinese New Year and he would fill me in what you and your sisters were up to. The last time I saw him was probably 5 years ago during one of my trips to Hong Kong. My mother, my older brother, Memfus and I had lunch with your father, my uncle and a few old family friends from the good o’days. I probably have some photos somewhere from that lunch.


Your father was a good man: hard-working, honest, loyal, cheerful, full of energy and had a good heart. I have very fond memories of him and I will miss him. You and your sisters should be very proud having him as a father.


Losing someone we love is indeed sad but it is a fact of life, the cycle of life. All we can do is to hold on to our memories of him and celebrate his life.


Please give my condolences to your mother and your sisters. (Sorry I didn’t write in Chinese as it would have probably taken me days to write in Chinese because I’m very out of practice.)


Barry

星期四, 5月 05, 2011

當時我在用 iPad 讀【文匯報】一篇關於【紅樓夢】中的幾位女子的文章,行文至襲人一段時,細細妹及契姐姐輕呼起來,我放下iPad ,湊到父親病榻前,只見已經昏迷了一整天的他好像有點意識。姊妹們用棉花棒沾水給父親淺嚐。不一回兒,父親呼吸開始漸弱,細細妹連忙把媽媽喚入病房,我則走出去向護士報告。護士為父親接上心電圖機,隨著媽媽為父親合上眼瞼,心電圖便是一行直線。

大家都流了眼淚,包括契姐姐年輕的兒子。媽媽要我帶領大家禱告。我這個 former KATSO Chairlady,便捏著喉,引領家人一同為父親祈禱。我當時一邊領經,一邊在幻想父親的靈魂是否在以光速飛昇,還是尚在人間徘佪著,打著轉。

其後基叔叔趕到醫院,和我商量父親的身後事宜。此時理性的我完全取締了感性的那個我。我應用我在IT同事身上所學到的flowchart,critical process,checklist,mindmap 等等的思考方法,去籌劃喪禮事宜及訂立communication protocal。在IT這四年的工作經驗,訓練了我成為一個臨危不亂的command centre。

非常感謝基叔叔陪我們渡過這個下午。如果只有我們五個女人,都不知會不會你喊我又喊,亂成一團。

也感謝君叔叔於星期天攜同師太駕臨病房,為病房平添許多笑聲。還有雲姐姐和群姐姐的關切問候。以及達叔叔,雖然WebEx方案最終行不通(不過WebEx收我很多錢呀!),但你在email中提起父親青年時代與你們一起放風箏游泳去的種種往事,令我們感到前事依依,溫暖無限。

還有小劍媽媽的來訪,誠然是對我們母親的一種心理支持。

我的白色LV銀包現在有兩張身份証,一張是我的,一張是父親的。

我很喜歡這個有關耶穌的故事:有一個人夢見和耶穌在沙灘上走,回首過去,看見沙灘上留下兩行足印,似乎主耶穌一直與他同走人生之旅。但是,他發現在他最艱難最痛苦最軟弱的那些時刻,沙灘上卻只有一雙足跡。這個人不禁質問主耶穌竟為什麼在他最艱難痛苦的歲月裡離他而去。主耶穌回答這個人說:「親愛的孩子,你看見的那一行足印是我的。因為在你最痛苦軟弱時,是我背起你走。」

事實亦証明一切皆有祂為我安排。如果我不是在轉職中,我不會放假,那麼這個星期我根本就不能在父親床前守候。

還有我得多謝梁小姐,一年前你提醒我父親年紀老邁,要開始好好想一想,做心理準備。我便開始思考 contingency。所以,當事情真的發生了,我沒有發癲。